Posted on 12/20/2010 7:11:15 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Christmas is hard for everyone. But it’s particularly hard for people who actually believe in it.
In a sense, of course, there’s no better time to be a Christian than the first 25 days of December. But this is also the season when American Christians can feel most embattled. Their piety is overshadowed by materialist ticky-tack. Their great feast is compromised by Christmukkwanzaa multiculturalism. And the once-a-year churchgoers crowding the pews beside them are a reminder of how many Americans regard religion as just another form of midwinter entertainment, wedged in between “The Nutcracker” and “Miracle on 34th Street.”
These anxieties can be overdrawn, and they’re frequently turned to cynical purposes. (Think of the annual “war on Christmas” drumbeat, or last week’s complaints from Republican senators about the supposed “sacrilege” of keeping Congress in session through the holiday.) But they also reflect the peculiar and complicated status of Christian faith in American life. Depending on the angle you take, Christianity is either dominant or under siege, ubiquitous or marginal, the strongest religion in the country or a waning and increasingly archaic faith.
Happily, for those who need a last-minute gift for the anxious Christian in their life, the year just past featured two thick, impressive books that wrestle with exactly these complexities.
The first is “American Grace,” co-written by Harvard’s Robert Putnam (of “Bowling Alone” fame) and Notre Dame’s David Campbell, which examines the role that religion plays in binding up the nation’s social fabric. Over all, they argue, our society reaps enormous benefits from religious engagement, while suffering from few of the potential downsides.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The author does not seem to know that Christmas *begins* on December 25, rather than ending. If he'd ever been pregnant or known anyone pregnant, it would be intuitively obvious that one is NOT celebrating in the last four weeks before delivery.
Ross Doubt-hat is a pathetic excuse for a journalist. That is all.
The "mainline" Protestant churches are shrinking. But evangelical ministries are growing.
There is no escaping the culture war. What are people of faith supposed to do--surrender?
total bull sh*t
I don’t really agree that Christmas is hard for believers. I would guess that those who feel slighted every time “Baby It’s Cold Outside” or “Winter Wonderland” come on the radio might not be happy. Mostly though I would think it hard and possibly annoying for non-Christians. Many that aren’t believers still celebrate Christmas “in their own way” but the religious content is, fortunately, inescapable...beginning with the name “CHRISTmas”.
dribble crap from from the source of evil.
NOTHING is difficult for those of Faith. Another day is just the next step in the process. We grow and learn, and are refined by trials set before us.
When Christ is with you, who or what can overcome you.
.......last week’s complaints from Republican senators about the supposed “sacrilege” of keeping Congress in session through the holiday.....
Sorry NYT! Keeping Congress in session through the last weeks of Advent, and into the Eve of the Nativity—IS a sacrilege!!!!
Especially sacrilegious was last year’s Nativity-Eve “gift” from Congress—the Senate passage of the horrible obama “health care” bill. That deadly gift from Satan was then used in 2010 to ram the evil DeathCare law down our throats, even though the 2010 Senate would no longer be able to muster the votes to block a filibuster.
As for the celebration of the Nativity, the Orthodox way of preparing for (including the Nativity Fast) and celebrating the Feast, together with the subsequent Feast of Theophany, strongly mitigates the cultural garbage that cloud the Western Christmas.
And, Ross, I'm not anxious or frustrated--I'm rejoicing! Perhaps Ross could benefit from reading Charles Henrickson's excellent sermon series on Advent's O-antiphons. (keyword: antiphon)
Come, O Key of David, come!
Notice that compared to Christmas the secularists have pretty much kept their claws off of Easter? (yea there’s the odd easter bunny but no biggy). Some Divine intervention there I suspect.
Thank You! Christmas BEGINS on Dec 25th. The ‘12 days’ start counting then. It ends on Jan 6th, Kings Day. Many here in the New Orleans area traditionally waited till then to give gifts, as the Magi did the Baby.
Nothing makes me sadder than to see every sign of Christmas disappear on Dec 26th. Trees in the trash, decorations down, stores putting out ‘spring’ merchandise. It’s like ‘hurry, hurry, get it over’. Sad.
I say merry Christmas till January 6th- deal with it! Pressure is off on the 26th and prices are cut. What could be better? Then we swing into Mardi Gras, with King Cakes!
We are finding that this year Christmas is especially inspiring. Tough times can make you reflect on the blessings of simple things like family and helping others. The birth of Christ is a celebration that should make us all feel better in a time of crisis. Merry Christmas!!
RE: Notice that compared to Christmas the secularists have pretty much kept their claws off of Easter?
I am willing to bet that this coming Easter, you will again see the mainstream press ( NY Times, Time, Newsweek, etc. ) come up with an article from some so called “expert” “Professor” or “Researcher” or “scholar” claiming to have “discovered” an alternative understanding of the resurrection ( implying it isn’t literal ).
Count them — Bart Ehrman, Karen Armstrong, The Jesus Seminar, John Dominic Crossan , etc. etc. ... these parade of “scholars” always get trotted about when the Easter weekend comes near.
It happens like clockwork almost every year as far as I can remember.
Keep this post handy because I always tell my friends “It’s that time of the year again....” whenever articles like these come out.
The appearance of Christmas on November 2 is pretty sad, too. What happened to Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving?
My family doesn't have any decorations up yet, except for some colored balls hanging from the tree out front. Maybe I'll get a son to put out some lights later, since it's supposed to get above freezing today.
“Some Divine intervention there I suspect.”
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Interesting observation.
I like it.
What I find particular sad, tragic and depressing is how quickly any sign of Christmas disappears after the 25th. It's most obvious in the media, but it's trickled down to the average family where the tree is on the curb even before New Year's.
We're an anticipatory culture that expends all its energy in advance of a thing and has nothing for the thing itself.
LOL what a goofy article. Why would I feel embattled? This and Easter are my two most joyous times of the year.
If I hear a materialistic wrangling of a Christmas Carol (”We Dish you a Merry Christmas” for instance) I just put it on mute or change the radio station. If just find such things tacky and distasteful, but I hardly let it affect my joy.
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