Taken from Is Bush Antichrist Blog
The War On Christianity
Probably the most cynical ploy yet devised is the so-called ‘war on Christmas’. It’s worse than the commercialization of Christmas, because they’re using Christmas to attack their political enemies. It’s like selling and profiting from religious intolerance. At least retailers sell you something useful, or something you can exchange later. All O’Reiley is pushing is bigotry, and it seems there’s no escaping it. The fact that so many Christians have bought into it says more about where they are spiritually, than whether or not they say ‘Merry Christmas’.
What’s changed about Christmas is now even Christmas can be used to attack your political opponents. Seems nothing is sacred or out of bounds anymore. It used to be Christmas inspired a feeling of goodwill towards all people. We all put aside our differences for a while and tried to get along with each other. No more. For some, Christmas is now about separating the real Christians from everybody else. About advertising and making clear what Christians don’t have in common, and to hell with everybody else.
What’s more contrary to the spirit of Christmas than religious pride or political intolerance? The real difference isn’t secularization - that’s always been around, ever since the three wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. The real difference is the politicalization of Christianity by the religious right.
If Christianity means anything it's that what we have in common as human beings created in God’s image, is something much deeper and more important than however our politics or religious beliefs may divide us. God humbled himself and was born as a child, so that we could recognize God’s image in every child and person. If we neglect that fundamental truth, then we are the ones attacking Christmas.
Celebrating Christmas can be a bad idea if it leads Christians to think that the only time of the year they should practice be loving and tolerant is at Christmas. But it’s an even worse idea if it gives others an excuse to attack people for having different religious beliefs or political views.
There are many religions, but there are basically only two kinds of religion. There is the kind that brings people together in the spirit of love, and the kind that divides us. The kind that forgives and the kind always ready to judge and condemn; the kind that is tolerant and the kind that’s sanctimonious; the kind that makes us humble, and the kind that makes us prouder.
As we read the Gospels, we can’t help but notice that on almost every page there is a direct contrast between two basic religions, and two distinct methods for overcoming sin: There is Gospel of love, forgiveness, forbearance, and inclusion as taught and practiced by Jesus, and the theology of hypocrisy and excluding others, as promoted by the Pharisees. These two religions are held in stark contrast throughout the Gospels, and for a very good reason - only one actually works in overcoming sin, and only one can make us better people.
The reason that Jesus didn’t teach the same legalistic hypocrisy the Pharisees were known for practicing against others, was not because he was much more liberal than they were. It’s not because the morals and standards of Christians are much lower than the Pharisees. It’s because the Pharisee’s religion didn’t work. It had only transformed them into the sort of self-righteous hypocrites, who were only too ready to condemn and set themselves apart from their sinful and unclean neighbors, in order to seem more righteous in their own eyes. That’s a relatively easy task for any of us, however evil we are.
The hardest thing for many Christians - even on Christmas - is to love and respect those who have different views, beliefs, or lifestyles from their own. Christmas really isn’t about pushing our views or religious beliefs on others. It’s about loving and being more tolerant, and recognizing that what we have in common will always be more enduring than what divides us. That’s always true, even if we only practice that attitude once a year. It’s when we’ve lost that spirit completely, that we’ve lost not only the spirit of Christmas, but Christianity.
Merry Christmas
Probably the most cynical ploy yet devised is the so-called ‘war on Christmas’. It’s worse than the commercialization of Christmas, because they’re using Christmas to attack their political enemies. It’s like selling and profiting from religious intolerance. At least retailers sell you something useful, or something you can exchange later. All O’Reiley is pushing is bigotry, and it seems there’s no escaping it. The fact that so many Christians have bought into it says more about where they are spiritually, than whether or not they say ‘Merry Christmas’.
What’s changed about Christmas is now even Christmas can be used to attack your political opponents. Seems nothing is sacred or out of bounds anymore. It used to be Christmas inspired a feeling of goodwill towards all people. We all put aside our differences for a while and tried to get along with each other. No more. For some, Christmas is now about separating the real Christians from everybody else. About advertising and making clear what Christians don’t have in common, and to hell with everybody else.
What’s more contrary to the spirit of Christmas than religious pride or political intolerance? The real difference isn’t secularization - that’s always been around, ever since the three wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. The real difference is the politicalization of Christianity by the religious right.
If Christianity means anything it's that what we have in common as human beings created in God’s image, is something much deeper and more important than however our politics or religious beliefs may divide us. God humbled himself and was born as a child, so that we could recognize God’s image in every child and person. If we neglect that fundamental truth, then we are the ones attacking Christmas.
Celebrating Christmas can be a bad idea if it leads Christians to think that the only time of the year they should practice be loving and tolerant is at Christmas. But it’s an even worse idea if it gives others an excuse to attack people for having different religious beliefs or political views.
There are many religions, but there are basically only two kinds of religion. There is the kind that brings people together in the spirit of love, and the kind that divides us. The kind that forgives and the kind always ready to judge and condemn; the kind that is tolerant and the kind that’s sanctimonious; the kind that makes us humble, and the kind that makes us prouder.
As we read the Gospels, we can’t help but notice that on almost every page there is a direct contrast between two basic religions, and two distinct methods for overcoming sin: There is Gospel of love, forgiveness, forbearance, and inclusion as taught and practiced by Jesus, and the theology of hypocrisy and excluding others, as promoted by the Pharisees. These two religions are held in stark contrast throughout the Gospels, and for a very good reason - only one actually works in overcoming sin, and only one can make us better people.
The reason that Jesus didn’t teach the same legalistic hypocrisy the Pharisees were known for practicing against others, was not because he was much more liberal than they were. It’s not because the morals and standards of Christians are much lower than the Pharisees. It’s because the Pharisee’s religion didn’t work. It had only transformed them into the sort of self-righteous hypocrites, who were only too ready to condemn and set themselves apart from their sinful and unclean neighbors, in order to seem more righteous in their own eyes. That’s a relatively easy task for any of us, however evil we are.
The hardest thing for many Christians - even on Christmas - is to love and respect those who have different views, beliefs, or lifestyles from their own. Christmas really isn’t about pushing our views or religious beliefs on others. It’s about loving and being more tolerant, and recognizing that what we have in common will always be more enduring than what divides us. That’s always true, even if we only practice that attitude once a year. It’s when we’ve lost that spirit completely, that we’ve lost not only the spirit of Christmas, but Christianity.
Merry Christmas