Comments on: Happy Winter Solstice!

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:00:09 +0000

Noell,
I have just ran across you & your husbands websites. I just subscribed to become a premium member IZZYvideo (bonus pts), loved paperclipping.com and then hit this site. I just want to say that I’m curious. I prob know a lot of agnostic people, but not many (none) that live what they believe. I’m going to keep up with your blog & see if I can learn more.
BTW, you & your hubby are OOBER creative! I hope your work and the new commitment for Israel to go full time IZZYvideo for him is a huge success.
MO

By: Mary Ann

Mary Ann — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:57:29 +0000

Um, wish I had an academic offering, but all I can come up with right now is The Gospel of Thomas. If you are considering including Jesus as a man, not so much a god (or even so), then consider the sayings in this text that was found along with the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Nag Hammadi library (basically a compliation of the texts, I think) might have it included OR just get the paperback; it’s a short book http://www.skylightbooks.com/NASApp/store/Product?s=showproduct&isbn=9781893361454

I mention it because it reads like a man who had these very cool thoughts that he shared with people. He talks a lot about light as well. I’m atheist, but fascinated by what people tend to believe in (and out of) this world.

Good luck pulling this together for next year. Sounds like fun research!

Mary Ann

By: donna

donna — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:31:21 +0000

Nice rundown of sun gods here:

http://edwinkagin.blogspot.com/2008/12/deities-born-on-december-25th-from.html

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:36:24 +0000

essential reading:
http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Christmas-Stephen-Nissenbaum/dp/0679740384

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:32:03 +0000

Wonderful idea, Noell – and very encouraging that you aren’t the only one thinking along these lines (very cool, Tanya!).
I’ve thought of doing such a thing myself – the trouble being that my motivation for the idea always crops up when there is so much already going on during the holiday season

Very happy to see you posting new things here!

your post reminded me of this page:
http://skepticsplay.blogspot.com/2007/12/axial-tilt-reason-for-season.html

By: Tanya

Tanya — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:20:20 +0000

Our school’s planetarium runs a show called Season of Light. It is basically a tale of the Solstice and how/why people in various cultures and times celebrated the season. It also mentions how the various traditions got incorporated into the Christian version of the day. I’m sure it is something the school purchased, not an original production, so you might be able to find the script or something.

By: Mike Brennan

Mike Brennan — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:18:24 +0000

Noell!!!!!!! It’s Mike Brennan! I was just thinking about you last week and I ran into Brooke Meyers in Topeka and she told me about your website. I love the site and you look FANTASTIC! I’m living in Las Vegas, working as the musical director for Le Reve at the Wynn Hotel. I will be back there tomorrow night. We HAVE to catch up. I just found a bunch of letters you wrote me while on your mission, and it brought back so many memories. Please e mail or call me. I’m at 702-339-6360.

Have a wonderful holiday!
Michael Brennan

By: Noell

Noell — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:40:10 +0000

Here is a very basic resource…

http://www.religioustolerance.org/winter_solstice.htm