"While the OTF here is the catch-all place for anything you want to discuss that's not games-related, we request that users refrain from starting overtly political and religious threads here, or others that are very likely to veer to such topics. Such threads more often than not degenerate into flamewars and do nothing to engender friendship and camaraderie among fellow players; in fact they often do the opposite and drive players away."

I sit corrected. Memory rarely serves.

Well for one i don't give a fat rats ass what other people believe. My idea of Christmas is being with family, sharing a table and having one big fat love fest with those people who mean the most to you. If people don't like that....tough shit, deal with it. I don't preach to them so they can't preach to me. Have a fantastic Christmas or holiday season no matter what you believe in, may it be full of love and wonder and may you all be safe. That is all

I'm not a Christian HouseRalan, but I wish you a very happy holiday. 

I don't wish anyone anything.  Let life bring to all of us what it will.  I will celebrate the temporary and cyclic renewal of light that the winter solstice observably demonstrates for me.  Other than that, it seems like sound and fury to me, whatever I might want to think or believe.

So what happened to FESTIVAS?  Or is that it?

I think they were recalled...something about a faulty starter.

LOL...Giz, you're a nut.

All Fords were recalled.  

Well said.

I think.... 

You're all sick...you know that.

I love it!.

" A caring heart is equal to a rose. A rose by any other name is still a rose". I heard it someplace.

Happy Holidays to everybody.

Those who "believe in those bible" this chirstmas or holiday don't honor Messiah at all, it's dishonor and mocking Him and it's not even His birthday or it's not His way, it's was birthday belong to Tammuz who are calm to be rebirth of Nimrod (his father? Odd that he marry his mother)...Chirstmas belong to pagon or counter to His feast, while name of chirstmas might be since more than 500 year old? but basic and tradition on winter end is far, far older than that. Jer 10:2-5, Mat 15:9, Mark 7:9,

 I do a flaver to you, nothing had to do with my believer or whatever so, that nothing, but seach truth...like I said I do you flavor, drop a bible in trash if you want keep chirstmas or drop chirstmas if you flaver Messiah and bible you holding...so you may not be a hypocrites. I'm not put you down, I'm here to point out. If you want fun of feast and keep Feast, doing Bible's feast in Lev 23...(it's not Jew or Moese, it's His own way of feast, He had one in Lev 23 speaking to Moses said "My") (No He don't done His word away on so called cross, that make no sence, that's just other lie from major church who come from pagan, so odd that church stealing from Isael and calm as their own and changed it whatever they like to and seem as fit in order control and profit)

Just a saying, though I don't understand Bible feast full since it's basic follow moon, but bible didn't said detail what new moon look like or whatever that is, but I stay away from chirstmas due horror history about many people (Mass) Sacrifice (mass) children on "chirstmas" day to honor baal on winter for rebirth of sun as well. and chirstmas is pointless as well, I guess I had no wife and family, even so I don't want them follow this sick history if I can.

Don't get me wrong, Just enjoy your family time on dinner everyday, why set one a day a year to spend time with family? Why not everyday, do you not see your children or your wife everyday untill chirstmas or something?

Many Christians know the history of Christmas and where it came from.  We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on a date that corresponds to a former pagan holiday, and there are a bunch of traditions that really date back to the pagan traditions.  So what?  I'm not worshipping a tree.  I put one up in my house to remind us of the tree Jesus was nailed to.  I put lights on it to remind me that Jesus is the light of the world.  I put ornaments on it to remind me of family, beauty, and joy.

We give gifts at Christmas to remind us that Jesus was the greatest gift ever given to the world.

Where is came from doesn't matter.  You take something a person can relate to and turn it into a message for Christ, and you reach people for Him.

Why not worship a tree?  A tree seems like as valid, or much more so than any God.  A tree is a real thing, I can at least see, touch, experience a tree and others can verify the tree exist.  A tree can be very old, some can be ancient.  Doesn't something alive and ancient deserve some respect and have some magnificence?  And a tree gives the breath of life, many religions say such a thing came from God, but I know a tree creates oxygen for me to breath.  I'm not inclined to worship a tree or anything, but I think I would respect the choice to do so  more than worshiping an imaginary friend that demands I don't eat bacon.

I don't know any group that has ever worshiped a tree, though animists (whose numbers include indigenous peoples in South and North America, Africa, and Asia) believe that spirits exist in all living things, some more active and intelligent than others.

I don't recall whether humans count among the more intelligent ones, however.

Empty pockets but a heart of gold !
 Why do i post this ? since everytime i see it, it reminds me that there is folks out there especially to that cold winter time that have it by far worse than i have.
SO i take the time each Dezember to help my neighbours that are older to fix the house for the winter, whenever i see someone sitting outisde the market i go and buy them some food or at least give them 10 euros so they can get themselves something.
I see people walking by having a nice car and good clothes but all that counts for them is to have a nice evening with their familys sorry but christmas for me at least is not about that while it is part of it to be with your beloved ones its more about caring and sharing for me i rather give away my money to someone that needs it instead of having a big christmas tree in my house...if you believe in god and in jesus you should think about who broke the bread and continue to carry on that message if not your are failing your own believe. No offense -Anyway i wish you all a save and warm Dezember time and good Health for the next year.

Euell Gibbons was a tree worshipper, and a nut. I rest my case. 

Just for the record, I'm not really wanting to get into all this, but I can't help but to point out that the story of Jesus is history, not fairy tale.

I understand the freedom of religion, but this is just plain stupid.

I didn't see most things that have happened and are fully accepted throughout history. This doesn't mean they aren't true.

I believe in things I cannot see, touch, smell. I have no choice.  Here is why:

This great universe did not just "happen".  The human body working the way it does did not come from chaos. My ancestors were not monkeys, or even sea slime.

There is a divine plan behind it all. Can I explain it? No. Neither can you (or anyone else). Other than to believe in something we humans can't fathom. It's called faith, and if you don't have any, I am sad for you.

This is my last post on this thread. I won't be responding further.

I wish you all.....believers and non believers, a Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays!

RE reply #26 & #39 by a game player who chooses to believe in 'magic and mystical powers' and imagines himself as some sort of Lord(certainly NOT mine. I only came to believe in a higher power, he isn't it.)

 "engender friendship and camaraderie among fellow players"

Is this what you feel you are accomplishing? I think the reverse is true. 

"in fact they often do the opposite and drive players away."

That indeed is what you appear to be trying to achieve.

If you have no beliefs, came from nothing, mean nothing, and are going nowhere, then I cannot be angry at you. I can, however, pity you.

I cannot see gravity or the wind, yet I can feel the effects. I need no "further proof' that it either exists or does not.

If the time ever comes in your life when are suffering at your worst, reached your lowest point or lost the last person on Earth that you loved or loved you and you have nowhere to turn, no-one to help you and nothing to believe in....You are on your own.

That is a very, very, very lonely place to be. Pardon me if I don't want to join you there.

Ridiculing ones faith, or lack of the same is against the rules, as you seem to be aware of.

Yes, a special season in the liturgical year to prepare, to reflect, to repent and rejoice. It's a time of celebration too, of Almighty God come to earth as Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords..."Emmanuel," God with us.  

How do we do that? Where do we begin to find Him?

In one of his sermons, St.Augustine tells us.

"You too come to Christ. ...Don't think of the long journeys...One reaches Him, the omnipresent one, through love, not by seafaring. Yet, since the floods and storms of manifold temptations are common enough on this voyage, too, believe in the crucified one, so that your faith is capable of climbing onto the wood. Then you will not sink...."

We find Christ through love, but not love the sentiment for that comes and goes.

St.John wrote: "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him."

True love is spread about in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, and every act of genuine love in our lives, every personal and  moral effort we make to our family, friends, neighbor or stranger, is connected with the spirit of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The best gift we can give to anyone is love.

Gratitude....

Louie Schwartzberg, photographer talks about “Gratitude" Video at TEDxTalks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ

or

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxSF-Louie-Schwartzberg-Grati