cjh (01/12/83)
In response to your message of Fri Jan 7 14:31:55 1983: I'm curious about your contention that the early Christians moved the celebration of Christ's birthday to a "safer" time; what I've read strongly indicates that the solstice festivals were coopted by dominant Christians as a way of gaining converts or controlling subordinate peoples. With certain exceptions (e.g. during the reign of Nero) the early Christians were treated better than the way they treated assorted pagans once Christianity became dominant (don't believe everything you were told in Sunday School about early Christian martyrs---remember who was doing the telling). In fact, once Christianity became significantly hierarchical (by ca. 100 AD) it was distinguished by intolerance and schisms even within its own small group.