That the Gods ever may be with us for our gain, our guardians day by day unceasing in their care. – Rig Veda 1.89.1

It has become common even among more staunch circles to hear Hindus wishing each other a “Merry Christmas”.  It is easy to see why Hindus might be misled into this practice since Christmas as of late has become extremely commercialized and people often forget its underlying religious message.  Also, there is a growing trend among Westerners to recognize the truly pagan origins of the Christmas holiday and so many Hindus innocently believe that they can say “Merry Christmas” without supporting Christianity. However, this practice is more dangerous than some assume.  When you say “Merry Christmas” (Christ’s Mass) it gives credence to the person behind the artificially constructed holiday, Jesus Christ himself. But who was Jesus, and is he someone Hindus should inadvertently be praising?

First, Hindus may want to take a look at the name of this holiday.  The word “Christmas” is a truncation of “Christ’s Mass”, meaning it is a time to focus on and commemorate Jesus Christ.  It is now widely acknowledge (even by Christians) that no where in the bible does it say that Jesus was born on December 25th, it has also become common knowledge that Santa Clause (aka the pagan god Odin) and Christmas trees are borrowed from Northern European paganism. Indeed, Christmas is nothing more than the old Germanic Yule festival, misappropriated by Church founders who lacked any enticing culture of their own. The old pagan solstice holiday has been completely co-opted and its warm festive feeling is now used to lure people to the Church. The colorful lights, the gift giving, the carol singing are not used to venerate the Germanic god Odin, but have been cynically retrofitted to propagate Christian mythologies surrounding the birth of Jesus.  The misuse of pagan imagery and concepts to bring people to Christianity is called “enculturation”. Through enculturation the once pagan Yule holiday has become a time for Christians to venerate the founding prophet of their religion, their foretold messiah who would fulfill the covenant of the god of the bible and bring the entire earth to the “one true religion”.  Certainly, Jesus is claimed to be the “King of Kings”, the one ruler and sovereign in this world to whom all other peoples should and eventually will bend.

But who was Jesus anyway, what was he the messiah of?  Jesus was supposedly the messiah foretold in the old testament of the bible, the one who would come and influence the entire earth to accept the teachings of the one true god of Israel… “A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse… Yahweh’s Spirit will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh…   for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:1-9) . Jesus (if he existed) practiced the religion of the old testament of the bible then prevalent in Israel and proclaimed to be the messiah who would fill the earth with the knowledge of Israel.  Following the suit of the foretold messiah of Israel, Jesus was a proponent of biblical morality, biblical prophecy and biblical tradition.  Jesus himself stated that he did not come to abolish the old testament but to fulfill it: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Mathew 5:17). While Christians frequently state that Jesus loved all, they also often don’t know that just like the old testament, he also expressed hatred for pagans.

 

Before we get to Jesus’ opinion about members of other religions, we might want to take a look at where he was coming from, meaning his biblical tradition. Jesus’ biblical religion had replaced the old and indigenous Canaanite and Phoenician religions some centuries earlier, the bible says this was done by force.  The Canaanites’ sin was that they did not worship the one true god of the bible and the Israelites were instructed to invade them and destroy their religious institutions: “Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places” (Deuteronomy 12:13).  While many try to claim that the Canaanites were depraved and practiced child sacrifice, it is only fair to point out that the bible also commanded child sacrifice; children who did no worship the one true god were ritually stoned to death or slain per divine biblical law: “If one still prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall say to him, “You shall not live, because you have spoken a lie in the name of the Lord.” When he prophesies, his parents,father and mother, shall thrust him through.” (Zechariah 13:3)

Once the religion of the bible was established over the Canaanite peoples, their temples destroyed and their religion forbidden, the native people were then forced into indentured labor and various forms of slavery: “Solomon conscripted the descendants of all these peoples remaining in the land–whom the Israelites could not exterminate –to serve as slave labor, as it is to this day.” (1 Kings 9:21)  These harsh conditions were not created by superfluous ideology but were the central tenets of the Old Testament of the bible. The people of Israel were commanded to mass murder the people of the land and wrote several stories eulogizing these genocides. For commands from the bible to kill “pagans” see the end of this article. Some argue that the bible’s description of events are not historical, but still they are of course an “ethical” narrative which teach people how to behave and think, regardless of their reality.

Now fast forward to Jesus’ time. The Old Testament prophesied of a coming messiah (or perhaps messiahs) who would lead the entire earth to the recognition of the one true religion.  Jesus claimed to be this messiah, the very one to fulfill the old testament’s promise. But the Old Testament had called for the death, enslavement and severe mistreatment of the pagan peoples of the region along with the abolition of their religion.  Many people believe that Jesus spoke kindly of all peoples, but Jesus did not care for pagans at all.  While one might think that he would have made reconcile for past hatred and atrocities, Jesus was very clear that “pagans” were to be treated as if they were foreign usurpers (Roman tax collectors) and he despaired of them as being superficial, materialistic, babbling and immoral.

What Did Jesus Christ Say About Pagans?

 Pagans Are Materialistic 

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33 NIV)

Pagans Babble
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, Who is unseen. Then your Father, Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:6-8 NIV)

Pagans Are Like (Roman) Tax Collectors
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:15-17 NIV)

Some Things Are Too Low, Even For Pagans
“He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matthew 5:45-47 NIV)

So when you say “Merry Christmas” you are definitely inadvertently recognizing and even endorsing the messiahship of a man who cared little to repent for the hatred and death his religion had reaped upon pagan peoples.  Further still, the religion which he founded, whether intentionally or unintentionally, caused the mass murder of pagans across Europe, North America and Australia.  It was both old and new testament hatred for pagans which led Christianized people across the globe to lift up arms against their own societies to wipe out their own indigenous culture. Christian disdain for pagans eventually found its way to India under British colonialism.

Some may object to this analysis, they may think that to them Christmas is more about fun than religion.  But let every Hindu ask themselves this, even if Islam eventually became much less of a threat and resembled something closer to modern Christianity, how comfortable would you feel in saying “Happy Birthday Prophet Mohammad”, providing legitimacy to a man who mass murdered the pagans of Arabia?  Even if Islam were not an imminent threat, you would certainly think twice before endorsing the murderous and anti-pagan founder of the Muslim religion.  It is a fact that the Muslim world has experienced extended periods of enlightenment and secularism, however the trappings of the religion such as its holidays always kept the embers of hate and destruction alive, ready to flare back up when the opportunity arose.  The same applies to Christianity.

However, Hindus may also want to use this occasion to spread a new message that can counter the messiah of the bible.  Refusing to say “Merry Christmas” gives us a good opportunity to explain who we are and why we don’t celebrate Christmas, allowing others to learn more about our religion.  Or, an alternative to this would be to point out that Christmas is actually built upon ancient pagan holidays which were misappropriated by Christians.  Either way, these are better alternatives to openly celebrating the birth of Jesus.

 

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BIBLE COMMANDS TO MURDER “PAGANS” 

Kill Those Who Worship Other Gods

“6 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship othergods” (gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, 7 gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), 8 do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them. 9 You must certainly put them to death. Your hand must be the first in putting them to death, and then the hands of all the people.10 Stone them to death, because they tried to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 11 Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and no one among you will do such an evil thing again.” – Deuteronomy 13:6-11

Stone To Death Those Who Lead Others To Foreign Worship

“2 If a man or woman living among you in one of the towns the Lord gives you is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant, 3 and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars in the sky, 4 and this has been brought to your attention, then you must investigate it thoroughly. If it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done in Israel, 5 take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death.” – Deuteronomy 17:2-5

Kill And Destroy Entire Towns Of Those Who Worship Other Gods

“13 that troublemakers have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods you have not known), 14 then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you, 15 you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. You must destroy it completely, both its people and its livestock. 16 You are to gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the Lord your God. That town is to remain a ruin forever, never to be rebuilt, 17 and none of the condemned things] are to be found in your hands. Then the Lord will turn from his fierce anger, will show you mercy, and will have compassion on you. He will increase your numbers, as he promised on oath to your ancestors— 18 because you obey the Lord your God by keeping all his commands that I am giving you today and doing what is right in his eyes.” –Deuteronomy 13:13-19

Death To Accurate Psychics Of Other Gods

“If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the Lord your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.” – Deuteronomy 13:1-5

Death To “False Prophets”

“But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” 21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.”- Deuteronomy 18:20-22

Kill Unrecogniz ed Prophets, Even Your Own Children

“If a man still prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall say to him, “You shall not live, because you have spoken a lie in the name of the Lord.” When he prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall thrust him through.”  – Zechariah 13:3

Kill Mediums

“And as for a man or woman in whom there proves to be a mediumistic spirit or spirit of prediction, they should be put to death without fail. They should pelt them to death with stones. There own blood is upon them.” – Leviticus 20:27

Kill Practitioners Of Magic; Sorcery Is Likened To Child Sacrifice

“10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.”  – Deuteronomy 18:10-12

Sorceresses Must Not Live

“You must not preserve a sorceress alive” – Exodus 22:18

Kill People Who Don’t Listen To Priests

“Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel.” – Deuteronomy 17:12

Death For Blasphemy

“10 Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. 11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse; so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.) 12 They put him in custody until the will of the Lord should be made clear to them. 13 Then the Lord said to Moses: 14 “Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him.15 Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who curses their God will be held responsible; 16 anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.” – Leviticus 24:10-16

Destroy Pagan Nations

“16 You must destroy all the peoples the Lord your God gives over to you. Do not look on them with pity and do not serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you. 17 You may say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?” 18 But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. 19 You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the Lord your God brought you out. The Lord your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear. 20 Moreover, theLord your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished. 21 Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God. 22 The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you. 23 But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed. 24 He will give their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand up against you; you will destroy them.” –Deuteronomy 7:16-24

Drive Out Pagan Nations

“When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are about to enter and occupy, he will clear away many nations ahead of you: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These seven nations are all more powerful than you.  When the LORD your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry with them, and don’t let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters.  They will lead your young  people away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and he will destroy you.”  – Deuteronomy 7:1-4

No Sacrifices To Others Gods

“7 They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.’ 8 “You shall say to them, ‘Any man there is of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9 and doesn’t bring it to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to sacrifice it to Yahweh; that man shall be cut off from his people.” –Leviticus 17: 7-9

No Idolatry

“Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.” – Leviticus 19:4

No Enchantments Or Sorcery

“You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it. You shall not use enchantments, nor practice sorcery.” – Leviticus 19:26

Mediums And Sorcerers Defile

“Don’t turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don’t seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God.” –Leviticus 19: 31

Mediums And Wiz ards Likened To Prostitution

“The person that turns to those who are mediums, and to the wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.” – Leviticus 20: 6

Chiefs Of Israel Are Hung For Foreign Worship

1 Israel stayed in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Moab; 2 for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. The people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 Israel joined himself to Baal Peor. Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel. 4 Yahweh said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up to Yahweh before the sun, that the fierce anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel.” – Numbers 25: 1-4, World English Bible

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BIBLE STORIES WHICH GLORIFY THE MURDER OF “PAGANS” 

The Tribe of Dan Murders And Burns The Peaceful Tribe Of Laish

“27 Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a people at peace and secure. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city. 28 There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there. 29 They named it Dan after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city used to be called Laish.” – Judges 18:27-29, NIV

Jeroboam says Josiah will sacrifice the Pagan priests

“By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering.  By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’” – 1 Kings 13:1-2, NIV

Josiah kills the Pagan priests as Jeroboam said

“Josiah slaughtered all the priests of those high places on the altars and burned human bones on them. Then he went back to Jerusalem. The king gave this order to all the people: “Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” Neither in the days of the judges who led Israel nor in the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had any such Passover been observed. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to the Lord in Jerusalem. Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the temple of the Lord. Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turnedto the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.” – 2 Kings 23: 20-25, NIV

Source: Justice For Hindus