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Will you be going to mass at Christmas?

1356

Comments

  • #62
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    donkeykong5 wrote:
    I go to mass because I enjoy it. I had the privilege of been baptised a roman catholic. I agree about some of the priests years ago been scum. But I find mass a great way of connecting with god and praying for myself and family and friends.


    I'll take a chance here and guess that you were christened and not baptized. Christening they sprinkle water. Baptism you get dunked in water


  • #63
    donkeykong5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,259 ✭✭✭donkeykong5


    Sleeper12 wrote: »
    donkeykong5 wrote:
    I go to mass because I enjoy it. I had the privilege of been baptised a roman catholic. I agree about some of the priests years ago been scum. But I find mass a great way of connecting with god and praying for myself and family and friends.


    I'll take a chance here and guess that you were christened and not baptized. Christening they sprinkle water. Baptism you get dunked in water
    Whatever. !.


  • #64
    Galwayguy35
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,184 ✭✭✭✭Galwayguy35


    donkeykong5 wrote: »
    I go to mass because I enjoy it. I had the privilege of been baptised a roman catholic. I agree about some of the priests years ago been scum. But I find mass a great way of connecting with god and praying for myself and family and friends.

    I know the fella I quoted is probably a WUM but saying anyone who is Catholic and goes to mass at christmas is ok with what paedos did is just taking the piss, he'd get dropped for saying that to someone in real life.


  • #65
    Grandeeod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,318 ✭✭✭✭Grandeeod


    Kathnora wrote: »
    It always puzzles me as to why people who don't believe in Christ celebrate Christmas!!!

    It always puzzles me why people that don't believe in a god, have no problem letting their children think a fat man in a red suit delivers presents on Christmas morning. Then own up to the fact that it was all hocus pocus once the child reaches a certain age.


  • #66
    MadDog76
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,162 ✭✭✭MadDog76


    Dr Crayfish wrote: »
    I can't believe people even post things about Mass in 2016. I can understand old people going, but anyone who can use the internet at this stage should have more sense ffs.
    Then again I see the OP is Mod of Waterford City, maybe it's still a bit backwards outside of Dublin when it comes to religion etc.
    realdanbreen wrote: »
    Yeah I mean Dubs are so progressive and smart. A bit strange though that dubs pay more for houses, drink, insurance, spend hours per week in traffic jams, have high crime rates, than the 'backward' folk in the country do.

    Two complete opposite ends of the spectrum opinions-wise yet both equally as ignorant ......... it'd be funny if it wasn't so sad.


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  • #67
    Elmo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,641 ✭✭✭✭Elmo


    Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »
    Ach, I've no issue with the social aspect. But when people attend, it lets the church stick their oar in on issues that affect us all like abortion, gay marriage, equal access to schools and so on. That's where my issue is.

    From a school aspect that is really the gov using church run schools as a scapegoat because of the lack of school space, any so-called religious school with available places won't prevent children entering due to differing beliefs, in the same way other schools won't prevent students who don't have older siblings. If you refuss on those grounds with available places then there is an issue.

    On the other issue as I said it is not just Catholics or Christians per se that have those views.


  • #68
    Cabaal
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 28,725 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal


    realdanbreen wrote: »
    Is that not a bit hypocritical? If you are a non believer you should'nt go near a church at all.

    So if you had a Muslim, Jewish or Hindu friend you wouldn't attend their wedding, funeral or or life event which they choose to celebrate in a religious manner?


  • #69
    MadDog76
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,162 ✭✭✭MadDog76


    Always went as a child, stopped going as an adult (except for the usual Weddings, Christenings, Funerals etc.) but now that I have children of my own we all go ......... it's tradition and I want to pass on my childhood memories of great Christmases to my children.


  • #70
    Grandeeod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,318 ✭✭✭✭Grandeeod


    Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »
    Well Christmas originally had nothing to do with Christ, it's a pagan day of worship, so it's actually mind-boggling why people who believe in Christ celebrate Christmas.

    As for me, I'm atheist and will stay home with the dogs and cat while my folks and sister go to mass. The strangest thing is, I'm more aware of catholic beliefs and information that all three of them, but it doesn't take knowledge to be a typical Irish Catholic. Just obedience and sticking with tradition.

    Its called Christmas - Christs Mass. The only thing mind boggling here is your lack of understanding of the term "Christmas". The date chosen by Christianity to celebrate "Christmas" is not a predominatly pagan festival date either. The Winter solstice which was a pagan celebration was always around the end of December. This assumption that christianity hijacked a pagan festival is unproven.


  • #71
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 21,740 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I don't go to mass and won't be going for Christmas. Lots of people will, people who are casual mass goers and who are strong catholics. I'm atheist but something I really detest in other people is the way they shít all over someone's beliefs and assume they are stupid/ignorant for having them.


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  • #72
    Grandeeod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,318 ✭✭✭✭Grandeeod


    Deleted User wrote: »
    I don't go to mass and won't be going for Christmas. Lots of people will, people who are casual mass goers and who are strong catholics. I'm atheist but something I really detest in other people is the way they shít all over someone's beliefs and assume they are stupid/ignorant for having them.

    You are a proper atheist. I have a lot of respect for that.


  • #73
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 21,740 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Grandeeod wrote: »
    You are a proper atheist. I have a lot of respect for that.

    :) So many people get comfort from their faith. I don't have any but it's not for me to say they are wrong or stupid.


  • #74
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Grandeeod wrote:
    Its called Christmas - Christs Mass. The only thing mind boggling here is your lack of understanding of the term "Christmas". The date chosen by Christianity to celebrate "Christmas" is not a predominatly pagan festival date either. The Winter solstice which was a pagan celebration was always around the end of December. This assumption that christianity hijacked a pagan festival is unproven.


    Sorry but you have that totally wrong. This date was used because it was a pagan festival already. Don't you know the story of the birth of the son of God? The church themselves believe the birth (if there ever was one) was in February or March. The lambs in the stable are a bit of a giveaway. Yuletide out dates Christmas. Trees being decorated was part of the yuletide celebration.
    The church themselves acknowledge that they deliberately picked days for most religious days on or around pagan celebrating. Christmas and all souls day being the two most obvious. It's not a secret that the church try to hide. It happened & it was successful. The church aren't ashamed using pagan days, why should you?


  • #75
    Grandeeod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,318 ✭✭✭✭Grandeeod


    Sleeper12 wrote: »
    Sorry but you have that totally wrong. This date was used because it was a pagan festival already. Don't you know the story of the birth of the son of God? The church themselves believe the birth (if there ever was one) was in February or March. The lambs in the stable are a bit of a giveaway. Yuletide out dates Christmas. Trees being decorated was part of the yuletide celebration.
    The church themselves acknowledge that they deliberately picked days for most religious days on or around pagan celebrating. Christmas and all souls day being the two most obvious. It's not a secret that the church try to hide. It happened & it was successful. The church aren't ashamed using pagan days, why should you?

    Totally wrong? That's a very definitive statement. The only reference to December 25th in pagan terms, that I am aware of is that the Romans celebrated the Winter Solstice on this date. The facts surrounding yuletide and decorating trees are disputed by many academics. It could be right. It could be wrong. I accept that christianity may have selected pagan dates and it was in an apparent attempt to convert and I'm not ashamed of any pagan date being used by christianity.


  • #76
    RayM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,973 ✭✭✭RayM


    I haven't been to mass at Christmas since 1998 or '99. I'd kind of like to go this year, but I don't have anyone to go with and I can't really be bothered going alone. The last few times I've been to mass (for anniversaries), I've liked it. The quiet reflection, the hymns, the nostalgia. I'm agnostic, but I find it comforting at a very bittersweet time of year.

    I'll probably end up watching midnight mass on RTE.


  • #77
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,069 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    Cabaal wrote: »
    Will you be going to mass at Christmas?

    I'm not a Catholic by any stretch of the imagination but this question was asked in the Catholic Christian Forum. - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057683323

    So I thought a better way of getting this answer is to put it to the general public in the good old After Hours forum.

    Just how important is the mass stuff to you and will you go?

    Fixed the above for you^

    And if you wanted to include all Church attendees in your poll you might have put 'Church' instead of Mass, just saying like ....


  • #78
    Summer wind
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,285 ✭✭✭Summer wind


    I don't go to mass every Christmas but when I do I love it. It's so different to the ordinary Sunday mass. It's so special with the beautiful singing the lights down low and the glinting of the candle light. It's lovely looking at the little children's faces knowing they are so excited because santy is on his way. For me it really does give a lovely feeling of peace to everyone. That's what Christmas means to me love peace and happiness.


  • #79
    Jimmy Bottlehead
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭Jimmy Bottlehead


    Grandeeod wrote: »
    Totally wrong? That's a very definitive statement. The only reference to December 25th in pagan terms, that I am aware of is that the Romans celebrated the Winter Solstice on this date. The facts surrounding yuletide and decorating trees are disputed by many academics. It could be right. It could be wrong. I accept that christianity may have selected pagan dates and it was in an apparent attempt to convert and I'm not ashamed of any pagan date being used by christianity.

    As has been pointed out, it was a piggybacking off the existing winter solstice. Its easier to get people to follow a new belief system if it's not that big a leap from the old one. And when I spoke of Christmas previously, I of course was referring to the event, and not the etymology of the name; I assumed that the Christ in Christmas didn't have to be discussed as it's connection is clear, but with your flawed argument, I guess you had to grasp at any straw available.
    However, I wish you a merry christmas when we celebrate the winter solstice!


  • #80
    MadDog76
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,162 ✭✭✭MadDog76


    Deleted User wrote: »
    I don't go to mass and won't be going for Christmas. Lots of people will, people who are casual mass goers and who are strong catholics. I'm atheist but something I really detest in other people is the way they shít all over someone's beliefs and assume they are stupid/ignorant for having them.

    Well said Perse!


  • #81
    alan partridge aha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,406 ✭✭✭alan partridge aha


    Ya I'm defo going to celebrate the birth of Christ.


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  • #82
    Grandeeod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,318 ✭✭✭✭Grandeeod


    Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »
    As has been pointed out, it was a piggybacking off the existing winter solstice. Its easier to get people to follow a new belief system if it's not that big a leap from the old one. And when I spoke of Christmas previously, I of course was referring to the event, and not the etymology of the name; I assumed that the Christ in Christmas didn't have to be discussed as it's connection is clear, but with your flawed argument, I guess you had to grasp at any straw available.
    However, I wish you a merry christmas when we celebrate the winter solstice!

    I appreciated your post until you mentioned flawed argument and grasping at straws. After that I could sense the smartarse contribution.


  • #83
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 31,828 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Reluctantly, for the sake of the missus, if she didn't insist that we go, I wouldn't go at all.


  • #84
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Grandeeod wrote: »
    Totally wrong? That's a very definitive statement. The only reference to December 25th in pagan terms, that I am aware of is that the Romans celebrated the Winter Solstice on this date. The facts surrounding yuletide and decorating trees are disputed by many academics. It could be right. It could be wrong. I accept that christianity may have selected pagan dates and it was in an apparent attempt to convert and I'm not ashamed of any pagan date being used by christianity.

    As is the birth of the son of god or in fact the actual existence of a god at all. It's a little unfair to bring in academics on the date of yuletime, trees etc but not mention that the same academics have no proof or agreement on the existence of god? strange logic imo:(


  • #85
    realdanbreen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,311 ✭✭✭realdanbreen


    Sleepy wrote: »
    Not really, my own wedding was a civil service, our kids aren't baptised and if my wishes are followed, my funeral won't be held anywhere near a church.

    I respect a friend or family members choice of marriage or funeral ceremony though in the same way as I'd expect them to respect mine. I think it's utterly ridiculous that so many of them put on a charade of piety in order to get to use a pretty building for such an occasion but neither event is really the time to be pointing that out...

    The real non believers that I know pay their respects at the funeral home or outside the church and attend the wedding reception only. To do otherwise is the height of hypocracy as far as they are concerned.


  • #86
    Grandeeod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,318 ✭✭✭✭Grandeeod


    Sleeper12 wrote: »
    As is the birth of the son of god or in fact the actual existence of a god at all. It's a little unfair to bring in academics on the date of yuletime, trees etc but not mention that the same academics have no proof or agreement on the existence of god? strange logic imo:(

    Just for you - Academics and many other people of good standing, including me, have no proof or agreement on the existance of a god in any form whatsoever. Its not strange logic, because I never mentioned logic at all. I am merely making a few points about the religious aspects of Christmas Vs those whose have no religious beliefs, but still celebrate it and yet use the very Christian term - Christmas.

    For the record, there appears to be an assumption that I'm christian/Catholic, because I have questioned why non religious people get into the whole Christmas thing.


  • #87
    MadDog76
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,162 ✭✭✭MadDog76


    Grandeeod wrote: »
    Just for you - Academics and many other people of good standing, including me, have no proof or agreement on the existance of a god in any form whatsoever. Its not strange logic, because I never mentioned logic at all. I am merely making a few points about the religious aspects of Christmas Vs those whose have no religious beliefs, but still celebrate it and yet use the very Christian term - Christmas.

    For the record, there appears to be an assumption that I'm christian/Catholic, because I have questioned why non religious people get into the whole Christmas thing.

    For traditional and cultural reasons ......... thought that was quite obvious.


  • #88
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    They would be wrong. It would be hypocrisy to take the wafer and not believe it's the body and blood of Christ. But just to attend the service definitely not. I know people of just about every region and none, that have gone to a Catholic wedding or funeral. They were also welcomed in by the priest


  • #89
    realdanbreen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,311 ✭✭✭realdanbreen


    Cabaal wrote: »
    So if you had a Muslim, Jewish or Hindu friend you wouldn't attend their wedding, funeral or or life event which they choose to celebrate in a religious manner?

    Of course I would as I respect their beliefs. I was referring to non believers who don't have that respect.


  • #90
    realdanbreen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,311 ✭✭✭realdanbreen


    Grandeeod wrote: »
    You are a proper atheist. I have a lot of respect for that.

    Hear hear


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  • #91
    Cupcake_Crisis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 21,448 ✭✭✭✭Cupcake_Crisis


    We always went up until we were old enough to to say we didn't want to go. My mam was great that way.


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