Re: Comparison of philosophical languages

You can't really argue that a fir is a universal religious symbol, but then
few things are.  However, the Christians (and I'm one) definitely borrowed
evergreen plants (of all sorts) as a religious/spiritual symbol from various
European pagan groups, for the simple reason that not a whole lot grows in
the winter, and the stuff that's still green when not much else is, is
inspirational even without any specific doctrinal definitions (I used to be
highly impressed by evergreens in the mountains, surrounded by snow -- and
this was way back when I'd only ever lived in Southern California, land of
no coldness, AND wasn't raised in/had yet to be exposed to any firm
religious tradition at all).  Remember that probably 50% (or more) of all
modern religious symbols have subliminal significance -- for example,
shockingly, we have lots of "renewal" celebrations right when winter FINALLY
breaks and spring rolls in, and a ton of "hey, remember all those dead
people" type ceremonies right when summer dies and fall rolls in...

JOOC, does anyone know what plants grow all year long in India?  Or New
Zealand, or Haiti, or Indonesia?

Sarah Marie Parker-Allen
lloannna@surfside.net
http://lloannna.blogspot.com
http://www.geocities.com/lloannna.geo

"There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even
though the end may be dark."
-- J.R.R. Tolkien

> -----Original Message-----
> Behalf Of Padraic Brown
> I don't know, Joe. Why don't you try asking a
> Jew?
> I bet 100% of all Hindus, for example, would
> state that the Xmas tree is not a Hindu religious
> symbol.
>
> Padraic.
>
---
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