The Pope is Jesus' nephew.

The Pope is the direct human connection to God. It's a like a democracy now, we humans elect a human to have direct communication. he's basically the middleman. he's the in-between.

:hug: Where have you been hiding anyway Alex?

Oh it's a very long gay sexual story...I've been busy lol When i was a regular here i was basically an agoraphobic. I've been getting out of the house for the past 3 years lol.

Seriously though that is actually what you are taught in religion class/bible studies in Catholicism anyway

:laugh:

Well in that case sounds like it's good you weren't here?

this is what I learned, Niamh wasn't listening in class

You weren't listening in class it seems :nono:

I never listened in class much :hee:

typical Marsh weekend

I really think straight men hear something different. I noticed this in my religious classes. They really don't get the idea what God is part of EVERYTHING. they compartmentalize God. They really don't get that God is everywhere and everything, like they really think they can get away with stuff, and still be perfectly pure. It's bizarre how straight men justify their fakery and fouckery. they can beat the **** out of their wives, but if anyone treats their mom or sister or daughter badly, they will go ballistic.

I think shops can be open 10 to 4, or 11 to 5, so they may open an hour earlier

no one should have to work Christmas Day, its bad enough that they start the online sales now on Christmas Day, in Ireland the shops close for 2 days Christmas and Stephens Day (Boxing) and that is how it should be, the staff need a break after the rush and before the sales start

There are certain industries that have to work over Xmas.

I work in the medical sector so some of us have to work Xmas day. Its always good fun though and the shifts are normally shorter than normal.

That is completely different to somewhere like Tesco being open is it not? obviously some places have to be staffed, as it would be completely inhumane and impractical not to have medical services available, but I think if someone has run out of milk they can manage for a day without it?

The corner shop I live 10 seconds away from is open every Christmas day. I usually end up popping in there for some Rennies.

I agree. Leading up to Christmas always makes me laugh. People shop like there's about to be a 2-month famine.

My nan used to be really bad like that.

Then she'd spend most of January passing food around to family to see who will have it before it goes out of date.

Awe Bless her. :hee:
Its funny how nans always cook enough to feed the household cavalry!

Me. :hee:

Seems like a storm in a teacup but I wouldn't necessarily scream racism since no one is complaining about mixed race or ethnic families in the ad which would be racist, just about another cult/religion being featured since the ad is about a religious festival. I can see why some might find that strange and some muslims might be offended to see the ad promoting them as being part of a celebration that isn't part of their cult. In fact I'm an atheist but we do Christmas because not everyone in the household is an atheist and because I love turkey and fairy lights are pretty and who doesn't like presents? So I'm sure that would upset someone somewhere too.

We all are atheist too but I think Christmas has gone far beyond a religious holiday anymore anyway. I have reclaimed it as a holiday for family and friends and presents and food and drink and board games and movies and fluffy socks and PJs :hee:

Merry fluffy socks for next month Naimh. :wavey:

:laugh:

Backatchya Jaxie :love:

We're all atheists here too but Santa will still be coming :fist:. He's an atheist, too, because he knows everything and therefore knows that God doesn't exist... :omgno:.

Elf on the Shelf is also very real :hee:

My family and I always celebrate Christmas. We have a tree and decorations etc.. although it's so much nicer when Hanukkah falls around Christmas too. When I left uni I worked in an east London college which was totally multicultural. Whenever there was anything to celebrate people (women I mean!) would bring in lovely food... Diwali, Eid... everything got celebrated, really. No one was up in arms about it and I find the reaction to a Muslim family joining in with Christmas to be not only hypocritical, but also surely flies in the face of the spirit of Christmas, whether you're a Christian or not.