Random Stuff X: Something Weird

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

6 minutes ago, bleeder said:

This is true.

Pagan-sun-worship appropriation... yay...

The appropriation allegation is debatable. Many, if not all, cultures throughout the Northern Hemisphere have held some sort of celebration during or near the Winter Solstice; before Christianity became the major religion in the West, it was the Roman holiday Saturnalia that was mainly celebrated. Christians simply began holding their holiday around the same time, and adopted some Roman traditions. 

(Besides, if you're going to argue appropriation in the ancient world, you'll have to look at what happened when the Romans adopted the Greek deities first. ) 

[marsoupial they/them]

Just now, TwiLyghtSansSparkles said:

The appropriation allegation is debatable. Many, if not all, cultures throughout the Northern Hemisphere have held some sort of celebration during or near the Winter Solstice; before Christianity became the major religion in the West, it was the Roman holiday Saturnalia that was mainly celebrated. Christians simply began holding their holiday around the same time, and adopted some Roman traditions. 

(Besides, if you're going to argue appropriation in the ancient world, you'll have to look at what happened when the Romans adopted the Greek deities first. ) 

This is very true.

Merry [HOLIDAY], everyone; have a pope meme.

Spoiler

 

[Delightful]

8 minutes ago, TwiLyghtSansSparkles said:

The appropriation allegation is debatable. Many, if not all, cultures throughout the Northern Hemisphere have held some sort of celebration during or near the Winter Solstice; before Christianity became the major religion in the West, it was the Roman holiday Saturnalia that was mainly celebrated. Christians simply began holding their holiday around the same time, and adopted some Roman traditions. 

(Besides, if you're going to argue appropriation in the ancient world, you'll have to look at what happened when the Romans adopted the Greek deities first. ) 

But didn't Christian Rome mash Christian concepts with pagan cultures to keep the pagan peasants interested? Like deliberately?

[Left he/him]

1 minute ago, Deliiiiiightful said:

But didn't Christian Rome mash Christian concepts with pagan cultures to keep the pagan peasants interested? Like deliberately?

That's what I've heard. 

 

Getting ready for Christmas by watching Die Hard on vidangel. Works for me. 

[TwiLyghtSansSparkles she/her]

38 minutes ago, Deliiiiiightful said:

But didn't Christian Rome mash Christian concepts with pagan cultures to keep the pagan peasants interested? Like deliberately?

It wasn't exactly an uncommon practice at the time. The Romans adapted the Greek deities to their own religion, and the Old Testament has many mentions of the Jewish people integrating pagan practices into their worship. In the Christian Bible, when the Pharisees accuse Jesus before Pilate, they allege that he's been inciting rebellion, rather than claiming to be God, because although the latter charge was the one the Pharisees cared about, the Romans wouldn't have seen adding Jesus to their pantheon as a big deal, if it would keep the masses happy. 

[The Honor Spren she/her]

Time to get all these Christmas memes I have in my photos out of the way:

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

[Erunion he/him]

2 hours ago, Oversleep said:

PHere you go: https://www.facebook.com/TehLurdOfTehReingsOfficial/videos/856687867806499/

... Happy Sol Invictis?
(not that I celebrate it, I'm a catholic. But Christmass has taken over the pagan celebration of the winter solstice)

Ahahah nice

it's not complete, but it does use LOTR audio...

 

Interestingly enough, Sol Invictus wasn't proclaimed an official Roman Holiday until after Christians started using that date for Christmas. About 50-100 years after. However, the solstice itself has been celebrated for generations, millennia even, before Christianity.

And yes, there was a lot of syncretic practice in the first 1,000 years of Christianity, as Christianity was and is not a culturally defined religion; it is a religion for all cultures to embrace and adapt. So that happened a lot. 

Sometimes it was intentional (Catholics would often place relics in shrines where old pagan shrines used to be in order to switch the focus of worship, for example), but more often it was natural (see the many Christmas practices around the world, and the many Easter/Pacha practices). As Christianity has almost no defined rituals or holidays in scripture, it could easily be adapted to various cultures. (The only rituals that are in the New Testament are Baptism and Eucharist, and for both there's no set form or procedure).

Edited December 25, 2016 by Erunion (The Incorrigible)
Expansion on topic

[Silverblade5 he/him]

Which looks better?

 

[Mestiv he/him]

11 hours ago, Deliiiiiightful said:

Uh wow thanks! I don't think I'm ready for the responsibility of owning an animal just yet, I was hopIng I could like bribe Theodosia Purr with I dunno milk or something.

oh and Merry Christmas y'all! It's the first night of Chanuka too!

Milk is fine as long as it's lactose free there are also special milks for cats in pet shops.

Don't worry if you have given her regular milk already, in the worst case this would probably cause only minor problems with her "stomach".

Edit: @Silverblade5 I like the last one the most

Edited December 25, 2016 by Mestiv

[Pinnacle-Ferring he/him]

7 hours ago, Erunion (The Incorrigible) said:

Ahahah nice

it's not complete, but it does use LOTR audio...

Here you go...

Bask in its glory.

 

Edited December 25, 2016 by Pinnacle-Ferring

[Sunbird she/her]

@Silverblade5 The first dragon is my favorite.

Also, merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and happy every other December holiday! *group hugs*

[Delightful]

 

8 hours ago, Silverblade5 said:

Which looks better?

 

The first, but context also matters. The last is most ominous.

1 hour ago, Pinnacle-Ferring said:

Here you go...

Bask in its glory.

 

That was surprisingly emotional.

[Silverblade5 he/him]

@Deliiiiiightful

Context: my girlfriend's favorite mythological creature is a fairy. Mine is a dragon. The first two came up when I searched "fairydragon". The last showed when I searched "dragonfairy"

[Straw he/him]

Happy Christmas!

[Orlion Blight he/him]

Another merry Christmas meme

Spoiler

 

[Delightful]

48 minutes ago, Silverblade5 said:

@Deliiiiiightful

Context: my girlfriend's favorite mythological creature is a fairy. Mine is a dragon. The first two came up when I searched "fairydragon". The last showed when I searched "dragonfairy"

In that case not the last one. The middle one looks like it's about to bestow magic power and send you on a quest, or drive you away with scary magics. The top is more pretty creature living in fairyland type of thing.

[marsoupial they/them]

Apparently, one of the associate pastors at my church is a Sanderfan.

Whaddya know.

[Kaymyth she/her]

17 hours ago, Voidus said:

Merry Christmas all, anyone want some celebratory christmas cookies? 

....no. 

(Seriously, dude, these mod spikes itch how do you stand it why do you think I want more of them?)

12 hours ago, Silverblade5 said:

Which looks better?

I'll take one of each, please.

[The Honor Spren she/her]

This is how I feel after trying to install the necessary software for my new Wacom for an hour:

Spoiler

 

[Exalted]

A bit late to the party, but: Merry Christmas, 17th Shard!

[Zathoth]

It was christmas for me yesterday, but merry whatevermas.

Some news from Zathothia: I spent most of the day at my dads place, avoiding his mother who was visiting my mom. Grandmother is... I cant tell you my opinion of her with the cuss filter on. Dad does not like her either.

I entered another short horror ("Creepy Pasta", but it's a dumb term) contest my favorite podcast held. I didnt even get the honorable mention this time, but I lost to some amazing stories. The winner was written by Slimebeast, who is seriously one of my favorite writers. Its like entering a Fantasy short story contest and losing to Sanderson.

Oh yeah christmas... it happened...

[+Slowswift]

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I went to church with my parents today. I've been going to the single's ward for a while now, so it was nice to be back and holy cow I forgot how amazing an actual pipe organ sounds

Oh, @bleeder, where would you say is the best place to acquire vinyl records?

Edited December 25, 2016 by Slowswift

[marsoupial they/them]

3 minutes ago, Slowswift said:

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Oh, @bleeder, where would you say is the best place to acquire vinyl records?

Merry Christmas, Slowswift!

It really depends on what kind you want. More popular music can be acquired at, say, Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, FYE. If you want older stuff, a good place to look is thrift shops and antique stores. For more obscure stuff, independent record stores are great. You're in college, right? Most college towns have a good music store or two. If all else fails, scour the internet.

Edited December 25, 2016 by bleeder

[+Slowswift]

1 minute ago, bleeder said:

Merry Christmas, Slowswift!

It really depends on what kind you want. More popular music can be acquired at, say, Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, FYE. If you want older stuff, a good place to look is thrift shops and antique stores. For more obscure stuff, independent record stores are great. You're in college, right? Most college towns have a good music store or two. If all else fails, scour the internet.

My interest are more classical and modern stuff, as opposed to, say, classic rock. And I'm not in college yet, but there are a few thrift stores around town, and last I checked B&N had a decent selection.

Thanks for the advice!  

[Zathoth]

I have a decent amount of money and no job next year... I am very seriously considering seeing the world.