tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719459558369549533.post5327326373730905742..comments2023-07-28T11:57:04.354+01:00Comments on Malc in the Burgh: Mistletoe and whineMalchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18191161151984519900noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719459558369549533.post-52715191557166925452008-12-12T10:58:00.000+00:002008-12-12T10:58:00.000+00:00I love Christmas and all the fuss that goes with i...I love Christmas and all the fuss that goes with it. I love the build up, the nights out, the shopping. But as a Christian I fully understand the significance of the occassion. <BR/>I also hope that others can still see a glimpse of Christ in it all. <BR/>I have no real beef about 'aethiests' indulging. My hope would be that they are at least touched by the real Christmas.<BR/><BR/>But I do have a beef about the word 'Christmas' being ditched in favour of 'Winter' i.e. Winter Festivals that finish after Twelth Night??? As a Christian can I not be offended by this??Shunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09708314474230619379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719459558369549533.post-55735857867631510402008-12-11T20:31:00.000+00:002008-12-11T20:31:00.000+00:00PJ, Ewan,Thanks for the comments. And I agree wit...PJ, Ewan,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the comments. And I agree with you both. Wholeheartedly in fact. Which is why I have to say this: at no point (Ewan!) did I say people shouldn't participate in Christmas activities. All I did was ask if anyone thought the charge of hypcrisy could be levelled at people who engage in Christmas on a purely commercial level.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, that's not really my point, because, like you, I don't think it is for us to judge. <BR/><BR/>I guess there's always been a feeling, for me personally, that Christmas has been hijacked by commercial interests, and that detracts from the enormity of the occasion and what it means. Does that make more sense? <BR/><BR/>What I mean, really, is at what point it stops being a celebration and starts being... something else? And that is what concerns me.<BR/><BR/>But yes, I do hope that reflection upon the meaning of Christmas is something that happens in every household.Malchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18191161151984519900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719459558369549533.post-21637312472273079762008-12-11T20:23:00.000+00:002008-12-11T20:23:00.000+00:00I wholeheartedly agree - and wish I'd said that!I wholeheartedly agree - and wish I'd said that!PJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02866725578902456528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719459558369549533.post-80831970142101861582008-12-11T19:47:00.000+00:002008-12-11T19:47:00.000+00:00No Christian worth the name would ever say people ...No Christian worth the name would ever say people should not participate in Christmas activities, even the purely commercial ones, for even in those activities their lies the possibility that they will reflect on the deeper meaning or roots of the moment and ask what it is they do believe.<BR/><BR/>And more importantly, its not for Christians to judge, it is for each of us to make choices with integrity and not to wake up in the morning with regrets...Ewanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08013208725859078505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719459558369549533.post-66590625758521294302008-12-11T15:50:00.000+00:002008-12-11T15:50:00.000+00:00I have a strong view!I am a church-attending God-l...I have a strong view!<BR/><BR/>I am a church-attending God-loving Christian. For me Christmas is not about the presents and the meal. I used to get a bit disillusioned about the commercialisation of Christmas and the PC brigade's insistence that we celebrate a non-denominational holiday - whatever that was meant to be! But now I don't and there's two reasons for that.<BR/><BR/>Firstly, I have two young children who are almost turning themselves inside out with excitement about Christmas. We've had a pretty rough year as a family and this Christmas is about being together and being happy - the rest of life will be put to one side for a few blissful days. It's not just about religion or faith, it's also about enjoying a brief respite from whatever our normal lives burdens may be.<BR/><BR/>Secondly, I would love to live in a world where my faith and beliefs were shared by everyone but I don't. What I see happening at Christmas is a glimpse of the kind of behaviour that I value - kindness, consideration and love. Not always and not everywhere but I see it more at Christmas than any other time. That to me is what Christmas should be about for all people regardless of faith, belief in a better future. <BR/><BR/>Anything that unites people in this fragmented society and world can only be a good thing. My favourite Voltaire quote is that "if there were not a God there would be a need to create one". We all need some peace in our lives and if we find a little at Christmas we can be thankful to whatever God we might believe in.PJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02866725578902456528noreply@blogger.com