Sand wrote:
Robdemanc wrote:
Christmas day does actually have significance to all people living in the northern hemisphere (40+ degrees from equator). It is the first day after the winter solstice that the sunrise and sunset positions have noticeably moved a little further north again. It is the one sign the ancients would have had that the sun had finished its descent south and was now starting its ascent north again. Those people who built Stonehenge and other stone circles had very good knowledge of the suns annual cycle, and knew about the solstice and equinoxes. I like to think about this on Christmas day.
Interestingly, to an observer on earth, the solstices last for 3 days. So the winter solstice is 22nd Dec to 24th Dec. During these days the sun appears to have stopped in its descent south and instead it rises and sets at the same positions and its arc through the sky is unchanged. Then on 25th Dec it rises slightly further north. The ancients would have said the sun (their saviour) had died for 3 days and was now reborn (or resurrected) and was on its ascent again. To them the 25th Dec was a sign that their saviour would return…..hmmmmmm that should sound familiar to many Christians.
The problem arose when they misinterpreted the word sun. The ancients assumed it meant our local star whereas the Christians confused it with the word "son" as the son of God. English was not well understood in those days so the concept was confused in translation.
Considering the amount of rational logic in the Bible, that theory fits in well with the rest.
LOL if only that were the case. English was not the original language of the bible or are you telling me that it is only in the english speaking world that people think jesus was son of god?
24 Dec 2010, 2:28 pm
