Issues, Etc. Myths about the Christian Observation of Christmas – Pr. Joseph Abrahamson, 1/2/26 (0021, Encore)
Jan 1, 2026
Pastor Joseph Abrahamson, a scholar and author known for his insights on Christian traditions, dives deep into the myths surrounding the observation of Christmas. He argues that Christmas is not a pagan holiday, unpacking the history of December 25th and various calendar influences. Abrahamson addresses misconceptions about Sol Invictus and critiques the modern narratives linking Christmas to pagan origins. He emphasizes the importance of liturgical traditions and the need to counter misinformation with scriptural evidence.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Why Early Dates Were Chosen
- Early Christians debated Christ's birth date but established feast days to teach salvation history and liturgy.
- Church fathers used chronologies to connect incarnation, passion, and festivals for catechesis.
Calendar Differences Make Claims Anachronistic
- Ancient calendars varied widely so December 25 as a Roman date didn't exist universally.
- Claims that pagan deities were born "on December 25" are anachronistic and unreliable.
March 25 And December 25 Link
- Many churches tied Jesus' conception to March 25 and thus his birth nine months later to December 25.
- Evidence for these dates appears across Alexandria, Rome, and Asia Minor by the 3rd century.