Sunday, December 19, 2004
At Christmas: "If I am a Christian, I am the least of all..."
Christmas; I am not a big fan. And since I am a little rusty at writing lucid blogs, I will go through the reasons why I don’t like Christmas in a list format. Call me Scrooge, Grinch, or wrong… whatever. Anyway, I made an attempt to explain why I am not big on Christmas.
1. Christians go nuts over Christmas, but the birth of Christ was nowhere close to as significant to Christianity as the martyrdom of Christ, which is celebrated on Easter. Jesus’ birth is a shallow reason for a holiday, especially since the holiday isn’t really about his birth (see #2). Easter should really get the focus that Christmas does.
2. Christmas is not about the birth of Christ. You’d never know it, by all of the whining and crying that we Christians do about the “reason of the season” and the commercialization of our holiday. Here is a short history lesson for you, just to put Christmas in perspective. When Constantine unified the world (more or less) under the banner of Christianity, he systematically eliminated all stink of other religions. There was a huge festival on Dec. 25 celebrating the birth of a deity called Sol Invictus, or the Invincible Sun. The festival was largely enjoyed as a secular celebration, so to retain popularity with the people, Constantine merely changed the name of the holiday, and artificially assigned the birth of Christ as the reason for it. The holiday is artificial, and basically secular in nature. Jesus’ birth is still a few months away. So when I hear Christians get very indignant about how the World is stealing the season, I get angry. And when I see the “Happy Birthday Jesus” parties that have come en vogue, I laugh to myself. Again, Easter is far more significant and historically based.
3. Good will to man. A great time of year, right? People bending over backwards to do good to others… well, if you are in the right group. In the three weeks before Christmas we have the Pope saying that (the push for) homosexual marriage is an attack on society and Charles Dobson calling for President Bush to be tougher on homosexuality. If you are gay, I guess “peace on Earth” doesn’t apply to you, even during Christmas. In WWI and II, Germans and American soldiers celebrated together, laying down arms to celebrate. In today’s world, there is no disintegration of barriers. No sameness.
4. The hassle. The obligation. The buying presents for people because they may buy you one. The going to six places so no one is offended. Getting up early, staying up late. The people who come out of the woodwork to stake a claim of spirituality (momentarily). The temporary interest in Jesus. The charitable posing and photo ops. Squeezing in a church service that does little to lift your knowledge or spirit, just because church is the place you should be on Christmas Eve. The competitive nature of home decorating. The gaudy lights and the inflatable snowmen. The malls, the long lines, the overspending, and the overeating. The holiday has become a monument to waste, gluttony, selfishness, and hypocrisy; which would be fine if someone would admit it. Instead most folks claim that it is everything BUT those things.
5. The gifts. Just once I wish that people in my family who feel the need to buy gifts for me would give out of appreciation and love, rather than obligation. My mother always demands a list so that she can get me something I like. I oblige her, but deep down it makes me mad that I am making a shopping list. My wife almost never gets me something that touches me in any way. As the 25th approaches, she starts asking me half-heartedly what I want. What I “want.” Sometimes, what I “need.” Never realizing that I really want her to try and get to know me, and select something that will surprise me and let me know she is paying attention to my life. Needless to say, I get shirts and sweaters. Or, on rare occasions, something that I did want, but has some sort of practical use for both of us (like my bookcases that are littered with her crap, or my digital camera that she uses more than I do). The spirit of giving during Christmas should be about appreciation. I give because I want to share with others that they are important to me. Not that they were a name on a list that I needed to tick off to feel polite.
6. Santa Claus getting a bum rap. This time of year I always hear some Christian getting all self-righteous and denouncing Santa. I know why it is a touchy subject, but they won’t admit to it. It is because Santa is too close to Jesus/God. The season, the miraculous powers, the loving nature, the separation of good and evil, and the blessed and magical helpers… They are identical in many aspects. What happens when our children hit their first cognitive years and start to figure out that Santa is an impossibility? Jesus surely won’t be far behind. The difference lies, Christians will say, that Jesus really IS real, and Santa is just for fun. But once that seed of doubt is placed, I think Christians worry about dealing with it. A fairy tale is a fairy tale, and if scientific method rules one jolly minion of December, where does that leave the other? It makes for some sticky discussions, and some wary minds. To me, this is no reason to hate Santa. A kid has such a small window of opportunity to be innocent, and to enjoy life. All too soon the world becomes a real and dark place. Let children be children. Santa is no less real than the holiday itself. If you present Christianity to your family in the proper, responsible way, and not as just-so stories, tall tales, and folk legends (as most people do), you will not need to explain how Yahweh differs from Saint Nicolas.
But it is not an all-hate relationship. I enjoy the small moments. I enjoy watching my niece (3 years old, the epitome of selfishness) open her presents. I enjoy making and eating cookies. I enjoy the small but meaningful gifts that are sent to me from friends overseas. And most of all, I enjoy the peace and tranquility of the world at midnight Dec. 24. Most stores are closed, people are with their families, the roads are bare, and for a small moment, you may get a glimpse of true peace. And in this peace, my heart turns to those elsewhere who are not so lucky, and I am reminded of the responsibility I have to be humanistic and caring, and to be a good steward of what my life is blessed with.
Merry Christmas. Horns up.
1. Christians go nuts over Christmas, but the birth of Christ was nowhere close to as significant to Christianity as the martyrdom of Christ, which is celebrated on Easter. Jesus’ birth is a shallow reason for a holiday, especially since the holiday isn’t really about his birth (see #2). Easter should really get the focus that Christmas does.
2. Christmas is not about the birth of Christ. You’d never know it, by all of the whining and crying that we Christians do about the “reason of the season” and the commercialization of our holiday. Here is a short history lesson for you, just to put Christmas in perspective. When Constantine unified the world (more or less) under the banner of Christianity, he systematically eliminated all stink of other religions. There was a huge festival on Dec. 25 celebrating the birth of a deity called Sol Invictus, or the Invincible Sun. The festival was largely enjoyed as a secular celebration, so to retain popularity with the people, Constantine merely changed the name of the holiday, and artificially assigned the birth of Christ as the reason for it. The holiday is artificial, and basically secular in nature. Jesus’ birth is still a few months away. So when I hear Christians get very indignant about how the World is stealing the season, I get angry. And when I see the “Happy Birthday Jesus” parties that have come en vogue, I laugh to myself. Again, Easter is far more significant and historically based.
3. Good will to man. A great time of year, right? People bending over backwards to do good to others… well, if you are in the right group. In the three weeks before Christmas we have the Pope saying that (the push for) homosexual marriage is an attack on society and Charles Dobson calling for President Bush to be tougher on homosexuality. If you are gay, I guess “peace on Earth” doesn’t apply to you, even during Christmas. In WWI and II, Germans and American soldiers celebrated together, laying down arms to celebrate. In today’s world, there is no disintegration of barriers. No sameness.
4. The hassle. The obligation. The buying presents for people because they may buy you one. The going to six places so no one is offended. Getting up early, staying up late. The people who come out of the woodwork to stake a claim of spirituality (momentarily). The temporary interest in Jesus. The charitable posing and photo ops. Squeezing in a church service that does little to lift your knowledge or spirit, just because church is the place you should be on Christmas Eve. The competitive nature of home decorating. The gaudy lights and the inflatable snowmen. The malls, the long lines, the overspending, and the overeating. The holiday has become a monument to waste, gluttony, selfishness, and hypocrisy; which would be fine if someone would admit it. Instead most folks claim that it is everything BUT those things.
5. The gifts. Just once I wish that people in my family who feel the need to buy gifts for me would give out of appreciation and love, rather than obligation. My mother always demands a list so that she can get me something I like. I oblige her, but deep down it makes me mad that I am making a shopping list. My wife almost never gets me something that touches me in any way. As the 25th approaches, she starts asking me half-heartedly what I want. What I “want.” Sometimes, what I “need.” Never realizing that I really want her to try and get to know me, and select something that will surprise me and let me know she is paying attention to my life. Needless to say, I get shirts and sweaters. Or, on rare occasions, something that I did want, but has some sort of practical use for both of us (like my bookcases that are littered with her crap, or my digital camera that she uses more than I do). The spirit of giving during Christmas should be about appreciation. I give because I want to share with others that they are important to me. Not that they were a name on a list that I needed to tick off to feel polite.
6. Santa Claus getting a bum rap. This time of year I always hear some Christian getting all self-righteous and denouncing Santa. I know why it is a touchy subject, but they won’t admit to it. It is because Santa is too close to Jesus/God. The season, the miraculous powers, the loving nature, the separation of good and evil, and the blessed and magical helpers… They are identical in many aspects. What happens when our children hit their first cognitive years and start to figure out that Santa is an impossibility? Jesus surely won’t be far behind. The difference lies, Christians will say, that Jesus really IS real, and Santa is just for fun. But once that seed of doubt is placed, I think Christians worry about dealing with it. A fairy tale is a fairy tale, and if scientific method rules one jolly minion of December, where does that leave the other? It makes for some sticky discussions, and some wary minds. To me, this is no reason to hate Santa. A kid has such a small window of opportunity to be innocent, and to enjoy life. All too soon the world becomes a real and dark place. Let children be children. Santa is no less real than the holiday itself. If you present Christianity to your family in the proper, responsible way, and not as just-so stories, tall tales, and folk legends (as most people do), you will not need to explain how Yahweh differs from Saint Nicolas.
But it is not an all-hate relationship. I enjoy the small moments. I enjoy watching my niece (3 years old, the epitome of selfishness) open her presents. I enjoy making and eating cookies. I enjoy the small but meaningful gifts that are sent to me from friends overseas. And most of all, I enjoy the peace and tranquility of the world at midnight Dec. 24. Most stores are closed, people are with their families, the roads are bare, and for a small moment, you may get a glimpse of true peace. And in this peace, my heart turns to those elsewhere who are not so lucky, and I am reminded of the responsibility I have to be humanistic and caring, and to be a good steward of what my life is blessed with.
Merry Christmas. Horns up.
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