Why Any Pagan Origin Of Christmas Is Irrelevant

Much like those needlessly frightened by the linguistic connection of the word "Easter" to the name of the pagan goddess Ishtar to the point of condemning Easter, those wary of Christmas because of its alleged pagan history grasp at non sequiturs, perhaps out of unnecessary guilt.  The aspects of Christmas they focus on the most ironically matter the least.  With Christmas on the horizon (not that our December 25 is even when Jesus was likely born to begin with), some Christians will have to hear more of this legalistic nonsense once again, but, regardless of historical events, no one needs to view Christmas with suspicion or hostility.

Would pagan origins of Christmas even be relevant in evaluating its moral legitimacy in the Christian worldview?  Not at all!  Its beginnings do not particularly matter one way or another because the issue is irrelevant to how and why many modern people celebrate Christmas--both outside and inside of the church.  Perhaps the true beginnings of the holiday are rooted in paganism, and perhaps they are not.  The more important fact is that it does not ultimately matter.  Neither possibility would make participating in standard annual Christmas celebration sinful by Biblical standards.

If Christmas had pagan origins, that does not mean that those who celebrate the modern version of Christmas endorse pagan values or metaphysics.  If Christmas did not have pagan origins, then the motives of people celebrating it today are likewise largely unaffected.  In short, what someone may or may not have intended in starting the practice has nothing at all to do with how the typical contemporary American celebrates Christmas each year!  There is no reason to dwell on the historical origin of Christmas in particular except out of personal interest or to correct misconceptions of historical evidence and its relevance to other issues.

I have never met or heard of a single person that I recall basing their participation in Christmas on what some pagan culture potentially did centuries ago.  I have, however, talked to people who object to participating in Christmas celebrations on the basis of what pagans allegedly did in the far past.  The latter group would even likely assume that to not condemn Christmas festivities misrepresents Christianity to the world, but many people, Christian or otherwise, have little concern for what others say about the origins of holidays.  Many people do indeed develop strong attachments to arbitrary holiday customs that have nothing to do with logical necessity or Biblical obligation, but they seem to rarely be swayed by the motivations behind why a holiday became widely celebrated in the first place.

The grand irrelevance of pagan origins, whether or not the origins of Christmas are in fact pagan in the first place, is one of the most important truths that one could emphasize in reaction to the Christians who condemn Christmas as an outlet for paganism.  Those who feel unnecessarily conflicted over participation in Christmas festivities are free to abstain out of personal preference, but, make no mistake, there is no Biblical reason to object.  The Bible actually insists the opposite.  Where there are no divine commands, the Christian worldview defaults to personal expression of subjective desires.

Logic, people.  It is very fucking helpful.