Religion
Related: About this forumBah! Humbug!
WHATS WITH THE HUMBUG? (12/21)
In earlier years I often got my knickers in a twist fuming about the commercialization of Christmas. Santa has replaced the manger child! Aint it a shame? Grumble, grumble, grumble! The issue has not gotten any simpler. The whiskered man in the red suit still increasingly dominates the season, and the manger has been increasingly replaced by the mall. But an important change has taken place in me. I am devoted to the story of the manger child. And while I still tend to avoid the malls and the hectic shopping sprees, I now spend more time and energy listening to those I casually encounter as they talk about childhood memories, family gatherings, the empty place at the Christmas table and ways they plan to do something for needy people they dont even know. Some of those to whom I listen find themselves regularly in church. Some just show up at Christmas, and perhaps Easter. And others never darken the church door. But regardless of their religious practice, or even their religious attitudesor lack of themthere is something about the carols and songs, the decorations, the colored lights framing the eves of houses or viewed through picture windows, the manger scenes and even the plastic snowmen silently performing their sentry duties on neighborhood lawns.
Some people sing out Merry Christmas to friends and strangers alike. Others say Happy Holidays, but its the same message. No matter who you are, we are neighbors on this troubled planet, and at least for this short time, we have each other.
Sometime during these days many of us will either see a production or listen to a reading of Dickens Christmas Carol, and take pity on Ebenezer Scrooge with his dismal humbug. And if we run across someone who also sneers at the season because it is too religious or not religious enough, we will smile, perhaps invite them in for a hot drink and recall the words of Scrooges nephew when confronted with his lonely, old, grumpy uncle.
Humbug uncle? I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!
And finally we will recall the words of Tiny Tim, who was not making a theological statement, but offering a heart-warming song of love to anyone with ears to hear and hearts softened by the season, when he said, God bless us, every one.
So whoever you are and wherever you find yourself in lifes journey, my word to you echoes that sentiment, and I also say, God bless us, everyone!
rrneck
(17,671 posts)And Merry Christmas to you too. I am about as big a Scrooge as anybody (are you surprised?) but nevertheless, there is a general attempt to see and hope for the best in people. While I am more likely to attribute that turn toward optimism to the solstice I won't begrudge others for their own expressions of hope. We need as much of it as we can get.
Thats my opinion
(2,001 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)It reaches very deep in a lot of humanity (at least those who live outside the equatorial regions) because of our connection to the planet and its seasonal cycles, which quite poetically echo the stages of our lives. I try to imagine what it was like for the first member of our species who recognized the end of the shortening of daylight, that moment of chronological awareness - what an awesome feeling of accomplishment, the beginning of being able to analyze and predict the power of nature, and use that knowledge to better our condition as a species. The beginning of science, of rational inquiry and observation and prediction.
The winter solstice is freaking awesome.
Thats my opinion
(2,001 posts)The darkness dominates and humans cry for light.
It is no secret why the early church chose December 25th for Christmas. There is no evidence that Jesus was born then. In fact there is evidence that he was not. But it was the darkness which produced the date. That is why at Christmas we are aglow with candles, little lights, lights on trees etc. It is all spelled out in the first Chapter of the gospel according to John. "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not been able to put it out."
During the years I lived and taught in Australia the whole imagery was lost. But manny Aussies tried to pretend they were in England. But the whole darkness of the winter solstice is in June and the December date doesn't fit.
Best to you this season and the new year.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)The solstice is a celebration of the fact that we KNOW the light is coming back. We figured it out by ourselves. And of course the celebration elements of the solstice like candles and lights and evergreens predate Christianity by centuries.
Enjoy the celebration.
Thats my opinion
(2,001 posts)far predates the Christian era. We borrowed a lots of stuff from others, just as others have borrowed a lot of stuff from us. It is a free intellectual exchange. Everybody gets enriched by everybody else. It's called "civilization."
About December 25. Ancient saw that date as the first indication that the light may be slowly coming back.
laconicsax
(14,860 posts)trotsky
(49,533 posts)So there's that.
laconicsax
(14,860 posts)Go figure.
Thats my opinion
(2,001 posts)Come on Trotsky, you can do better than that. Some of the shots you take are near some target. This one isn't.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)Thats my opinion
(2,001 posts)any gallery, any town or village, any library, any university and you will see an rich tapestry of western thought infused with ideas both from Christian sources and a whole collection of other sources. You cannot peal religion out of culture and do nothing but denude it.
laconicsax
(14,860 posts)Thanks for replying.
Thats my opinion
(2,001 posts)But it has had a substantial voice. It provides one major theme in the great weaving of what has made our culture. As have other voices. It didn't do it all,but it's contribution is substantial.
Before you say it--yes and it has also offered a lot of negative things as well, like the conquest of Latin America, and the Salem witch trials and much more.
cleanhippie
(19,705 posts)In what way has religion helped to bring humanity into the modern age? What accomplishments, what advances, what anything has religion contributed that ONLY came from religion, and that without, we would be worse off?
There is no attack, no snark, no anything but a legitimate question posed to you. Will you answer?
tama
(9,137 posts)Christianity can take a lot of credit for ending animal sacrifice as religious practice, and child abandonment as form of family planning. Of course both can still happen in predominantly Chritian(ized) cultures, but marginally so, they are no longer common practices.
tama
(9,137 posts)Why pick 25th instead of winter solstice? If not purposefully to make it slightly of the actual solstice?
Starboard Tack
(11,181 posts)Maybe to just prolong the party as the days started to get a little longer.
Happy holidays to all!
laconicsax
(14,860 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)I am sorry that we will not be able to spend the time together, but you will be in my thoughts.
It is, indeed, a time when people seem to soften up, become more open and affectionate with each other. We might even see some of that right here in R/T!
LeftishBrit
(41,212 posts)I'm something of a 'Bah! Humbug!' type myself on the whole. Not due to the religious or nonreligious aspects, or even the commercialism, but because of the stress that many people experience over what is after all supposed to be a holiday. In the last few years, the commonest greeting that I hear is 'So are you *ready* for Christmas?' or sometimes 'Are you organized for the Big Day?' , as though Christmas was intended to be some big adminstrative chore and hassle.
But, sentimental as I might be called I do like the original idea of the 'Christmas Spirit'; the concept of a 'kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time' as you say.
Merry Christmas!