The Christmas Clause
It's that time of the year again where those who hold to the Christian faith are mostly celebrating the 'birth of Christ'. Most understand that the early christian church co-opted pagan celebrations into their religion in order to further the growth of the church. So I was thinking about all this while driving through a maze of merchandise seekers on the way to a Christmas party last night.
It seems to me that despite all the church celebrations and well-meaning individuals-- Christmas is all about giving and getting (mostly getting). This same 'give me' philosophy has permeated the Christian church. There are many mega-churches who now preach the message that God promised bounty and to be a rich Christian is fulfilling a promise that Christ made. It has also affected the fundamentalist christian view of science. They feel that science should give them what they believe and that creationism/ID should be awarded the status of science simply because they claim it to be science. That's not how life is and the sooner Christianity returns to its true roots, the better we all will be.
Cheers
Joe Meert
posted by Unknown @ 4:31 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
It would seem to me the prevalence of materialism in our culture is better explained by materialistic beliefs.
It might to you but the evidence suggests you are wrong. The US is predominately a Christian country. Christianity permeates our society and many Christian churches are presenting materialistic gains as part of Christian teaching. Christians are driving the materialism and this might lead an outside observer to conclude that christianity is materialistic.
Cheers
Joe Meert
Well, we already know the teachings of Christ are anti-materialistic (in both senses of the word) so what remains is to answer in what sense can materialistic Americans who call themselves Christians be said to actually be so?
What did you buy your kids for Christmas?
They got to go on a trip to Florida with their grandparents to see their cousins; yours?
Hmm, nothing like good old materialism. Mine certainly had a find Christmas in the true pagan tradition.
Cheers
Joe Meert
Hmm, nothing like good old materialism. Mine certainly had a find Christmas in the true pagan tradition.
Certainly; for many that is the reason for the season. (Most seasons actually)
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