It shows that Christmas is not too far away. Malls are full, and people are buying alot. People around here aren't too religious. Maybe 10% of people are active in their religion, but 99% will buy Christmas gifts.
I remember in the book of revelation, the witnesses said that when babylone the great would be destroyed, that it would hurt the "merchants of the earth".
The economy is not just based upon religious feasts. I doubt that the fall of Babylone the great would affect the economy, since people are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Take away God or Babylone the great, and lovers of pleasures will keep on making the economy roll.
This never made sense to me either. No connection to religion and money. Most congs are independant totally. (Their greatest enemy must be the Roman Catholic Church).
You are absolutly right. Many people of different faiths celebrate some form of Christmas.
They always have, always will. In America at least, Christmas has become a secular holiday for many non-christians. It is about love of family and showing love by gifts....
Not to say that many christians do not keep the spirit of the season, far from it.
JH - I have begun to wonder if Babylon is not a symbol for religion but perhaps the literal place. At some point in the future Iraq (original Babylon) could be a center of wealth and power - and a source of fossil fuels for many nations. Makes you wonder.......
The great thing is that I can ponder, talk about, wonder, and yet now I'm not AFRAID of it all like I was before. It's just......well.......interesting to speculate - but I'm not worried about being struck down by God anymore. What a breath of fresh air!
