Christian Conservatives have Ruined Christmas

December 11, 2005

Many political and media conservatives wish to put “Christ back into Christmas” and they are often supported by Christian groups who frequently decry the “secularization of Christmas”. They contend, as a predominantly Christian nation, we must not ignore Christ during the holiday season. This is certainly admirable but they need to look at themselves first.

More than a thousand years ago, Christ's birthday was an invention to win over paganists who celebrated “The Solstice” in late December.  It was a great way to get pseudo-converts. “Christmas” trees, lights, Santa and gifts came centuries later. To make it even more secular, Christmas was declared a national holiday more than a century ago. By that time, Christ was gone from Christmas.  It became a season of parties and gift giving for our “Christian” nation.

Where was Christ?

Christ in Christmas was disregarded by Christians centuries ago and continues to this day. It is conservative Christians who have mercilessly attacked and destroyed Christmas with their indifference and hypocrisy.

What is worse, Christian conservatives now widely use their Republican allies as the force behind their annual Christmas victimization campaign. They have unquestionably made Christmas political when it should not be. By doing this, they have ruined Christmas by diverting attention from what it should be; a time to remember that Christianity started with a birth of a man millennia ago which is the real  “Joy of Christmas”.

Further, Christian conservatives see nothing wrong with the consumerization of the Christmas season and support an economy pegged to it. This overshadows what Christmas is all about. And, it is not about things.

Would Jesus approve of slick TV ads, shopping malls and credit card debt? Would He approve of decorated and lighted pine trees and Santa Claus as his Christian followers currently do? Or, would He rather spend his time and money to help others and make His birthday celebration have meaning?

Unquestionably!

Right now, conservative “Christians” only care about complaining and politicizing. They perceive Christmas as a battle between their religion and a secular society. They no longer understand that Christmas and Jesus should live in their hearts every day and because of their religious ignorance, evil has triumphed and Christmas is ruined.