Should Christians allow Secularists to insidiously downgrade Christmas?

Question

It would appear that the Institute for Public Policy Research is trying to downrade Christmas by giving major festivals from other religions equal prominence. Aparently Christmas cards issued by MP's avoid any reference to the Christian festival. Birmingham City Council replaced Christmas with the celebration of 'Winterval'. Yet the 2001 Census showed that 72% of British citizens described themselves as Christian.

Are they too embarrased to openly defend their claim to be Christians? Are they so apathetic that they will allow the secularists to continue this stealthy and incremental corrosion of a major Christian festival? Does anyone care?

NOTE: I am all in favour of other faiths being allowed to celebrate their religious festivals. That is not the issue. It's the principle of secularism being allowed to dictate 'terms and conditions' to Christians that is the issue here.

Oh, what fun this is! I'm having such a good time dishing out thumbs up (I don't do thumbs down). Salar, you get a thumbs up for your honesty, and Barbara for reminding us that there are a lot of people out there who don't have enough to eat. I am suitably chastened.

I appreciate Sunlight's comment that people in public office can not show any religious bias - good point. Thank you.

Just a reminder - we're not arguing about the origins of Christmas - I know what the origins are, and I know that Jesus was not born on the 25th December. But that's not the point!

David C's suggestion that any artist who makes a Christmas song be crucified had a certain appeal (although even I consider that to be a little harsh). However, I must take exception to the notion that an example be set with (Sir) Cliff Richard. I fell in love with Cliff Richard when I saw him in the file 'Summer Holiday' and I've even bought his music. Anyway, he's a practising Christian so I think that excuses him (lol)!

My thanks to Elder Moon81 for a very well researched piece on the origins of Christmas. Had that been the question, you'd have got BA. I discovered recently that the sheep kept near Jerusalem (for sacrifice) were kept out in the fields all year round, therefore it is possible that there were shepheards out in the fields with their flock near Bethlehem during winter. However, the evidence suggests Jesus was born either in Spring or early October. Thanks for the website details.

Answer 1

Christians have been 'allowing' Secularists to insidiously downgrade Christianity for hundreds of years. That is why what is called 'Christmas' is already a secularist event, so there's a delicious irony tucked away in a corner here! Of course, this will come out into the open when the Secularists show themselves up in their true colors by insisting that all the commercial aspects of 'Christmas' remain intact! (Mustn't damage the British economy, uh?)

The British Labour Party think-tank is this Institute for Public Policy Research, and its other bright ideas have included making everyone in Britain carry ID cards on their persons and taxing them to have refuse taken away (they already pay Council tax for that, but now that land-fill sites are overflowing and Britain is going to be fined by Europe, more tax is deemed to be the answer to consumeristic trash). Oh, and this think-tank also wants to charge British motorists for driving on roads - by the mile (they already pay road tax for that, and massive tax on fuel, but congestion on the roads must be tackled by more taxation!) I suppose this think-tank is comprised of Three Wise Men.

Anyway, celebrating the birth of Christ is best done privately. There should not be a great song and dance about it because the mysterious gift of Christ was given quietly and majestically with very few people knowing what had happened. Christians are nowehere commanded to make a festival out of his birth - it's his death and resurrection that is the highlight of the Christian calander. Millions of Christians know this. Their Easter and Christmas celebrations are worshipful and quietly joyous and the world is oblivious to them. Whatever the British government does will not affect them. Christians will always worship the risen Christ, Christmas or no Christmas.

Answer 2

It would appear from the answers so far that very few people care a toot about Christmas in particular and Christianity in general. Perhaps the 2001 Census is not painting a true picture of the religious beliefs of this country? It's easy enough to tick a box - but when it comes down to defending one's faith, that requires positive action. Not so easy.

Anyway, regarding Christmas, as lots of people have kindly pointed out, it's based on pagan traditions and celebrations. The Christ has been taken out of Christmas and it is now just a secular holiday where people can eat, drink and spend too much money. Hardly anyone goes to church to actually worship Jesus and remember the significance of his birth. And, to make things worse, Jesus was NOT born in December. How the clergy can stand up in their pulpits and pretend otherwise is beyond me.

However, that's not the point. The point, as you mention, is the steady corrosion by secularists upon what is supposed to be the religion of this country (the Queen is still the head of the Church of England). People should be asking themselves, what next? It's the thin edge of a very large wedge. Where will it all end? Will it become politically incorrect to call yourself a Christian? Will you be ridiculed and persecuted for standing up for your beliefs? Will the state bring in legislation to close down churches and persecute Christians and drive them underground? It's happened before (and yes, in Britain).

Christmas may not be Christian. Easter may also be viewed unfavourably in the light of history. BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT! The point is freedom of religion and the right to practise that religion. Wonder how many Christians will actually bother to post an answer to defend their faith?

Answer 3

Christmas is no more a major Christian festival than Bonfire Night is. It is thoroughly secular and commercial. None of its common symbols have religious origin. Its historical origin is the Roman festival of the winter solstice, Saturnalia. Its traditions date back in general no more than 200 years (tree date back about 120, cards a little more, presents a little less). And it is widely celebrated in countries that have never had a large Christian following - but not as a religious festival. It is purely cultural.

And the UK is a secular and NOT a Christian country. Surveys I have seen show that around 70% say they believe in God, but this does not make them Christian. The census question was highly misleading, and a lot of people (me included) chose not to answer it. Hence its results are meaningless. In terms of practicing Christians - those who actually take the term seriously by, say, going to church - the figure is around 2%. And its falling.

However, I do think the rebranding of Christmas is pointless and cutlurally insensitive.

Answer 4

The erly church did not celebrate the birth of christ in december until telesphorus, the second bishop of rome from 125 to 136 a.d., declared that church services should be held during this time to celebrate the "nativity of our lord and saviour". Prior to this, this was a time celebrated by the pagans known as Yule, which occoured around the winter solstice, dec, 20-22 december. the roman celebrated satunalia between the 17th and the 24th of december.
in 320 a.d. pope julius 1st, specified that december 25th as the official date of jesus's birth. prior to this, it had always been celebrated on different dates. In 325a.d. constantine the great, introduced christmas as an immovable date on dec 25th. He also introduced sunday as a holy day, and the movable feasts of easter. Even though constantine made it official, early christians recognized the date as close to the pagan festival, and did not share the emporers good meaning.
If you consider how hard a time christmas had in the beginning. Oliver cromwell banned christmas feastivals from 1649 and 1660, believing christmas should be a solomn day.
Christmas wasn't even a legal holiday until the 1800's. Alabama being the first state in 1836 to declare christmas a legal holiday, the last state to so was oklahoma in 1907.
The song "silent night, holy night" does give an indication that jesus was actually born in the spring, describing sheppards watcching over their sheep at night on high. this was done during the spring when the flock was due to give birth, the sheppards tended them to ensure there were no problems, also, in december, the sheep and cattle were kept on low grounds that could provide grass, to eat, on high in the winter, there is no grass or plants. even the bible makes mention of this.
many pagan uses are reflected in christmas, the use of holly and mistletoe, decorating the interior of the house. P.S. those who were standing under mistletoe, were subject to more than a kiss in ancient rites. The celebrations end on the 6th of january, (12 days of christmas), the same amount of days that the return of the sun was celbrated by the ancient roman pagans. Also it is when the magi were supposed to finally present their gifts to baby jesus.
Christians both puritan and conservative shouldn't be upset that christmas is not as religious as it was ment to be, after all, it wasn't really celebrated until recently.
As for christmas being a pagan holiday, it is not, Yule, is celebrated on the winter solstice, december 20-22. But we love to celebrate it as much as christians do.

Answer 5

I all for Christmas being restored to a religious festival, to get rid of all the cards, gifts and tic tac adopted from Pagan culture, and move it into a more low key role, starting with the Crucifixion of any artist who makes a Christmas song, Cliff Richard should be done immediately as a warning to the others.

Answer 6

People define themselves culturally as christian due to their heritage (parents) etc. That does not mean they are christian with a belief in the fairytale. Being an inclusive society does not mean sending cards of a christian festival to hindu, atheists, etc it is silly and offensive.

You should pride yourself you live in a secular democracy (trust me you would not want to live in a theocracy) you take all the wonderful things this gives you and if that includes respect and political correctness, I say deal with it.

Answer 7

It is called fairness to others who do not ascribe to the holiday. At my work, on the vacation schedule it is called winter break because we have a number of people whose ancestors came from Laos & Thailand and they do not celebrate christmas like some other cultures do. I have no problem with this as WASP is not the only ethnic designation in this country.

Remember, this is not a christian nation, it is a ~secular~ country. I'm an atheist and I have no problems seeing Nativity scenes out in public, why should this bother you so much. I think there are bigger fish to fry like how many people will not have enough to eat as winter comes.

Answer 8

This sounds like a propaganda question. No-one educated believes that 'Christmas' is anything other than an attack on Christianity, surely? The Establishment is red-faced because it has been caught out with its own PC, shoving 'Christmas' at atheists, Muslims and Hindus! No sympathy.
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Answer 9

I am a Christian and I want to get as far away from celebrating Christmas as I can. It's pagan origin is plainly known. It's 'Christianizing' is also. So, I do not regard the day. I don'[t judge others who regard the day, but to the Lord I do not regard the day.

The world is the world because it is against God. It doesn't care about what you think or what you plan to do about it. Jesus said that the world hates Christians, and I believe Him.

Answer 10

I don't know about the UK, but here in the US Christmas is under assault by leftists and secularists. Most schools do not have christmas pageants any longer--they celebrate the winter holiday. While Santa still shows up at the malls, religious displays are minimzed or even removed. Of course, people go out of their way to recognize Hannukah, Ramadan and Kwanzaa.

I'm not a christian, though I was raised to be christian. My christmas memories are some of the best of my childhood (also the worst, but that's a different story). I would not want to deprive any child from celebrating christmas because I don't believe in Jesus. It's a sickness of the left.