What Christmas is really all about
On December 25 of every year, a wonderous celebration takes place: We scarf down copious amounts of food, imbibe generous portions of alcohol, and give and receive presents in joyous approbation of the money, greed, free enterprise, industriousness, decadence, and gluttony that define our culture. We should do that; it promotes recognizance of what we are, which is a good thing. But let’s stop calling the day on which we indulge in a capitalist wet dream “Christmas.”
Jesus Christ, from whom Christmas takes its name, preached against love of wealth. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven,” said Jesus in Luke 18:25. He deplored coveting a neighbor’s possessions, hording things for oneself, valuing the material world before God, harboring pride, etc. He urged his followers to give to the needy, whom Jesus extolled as “blessed” (Luke 6:20).
Jesus would like the communism of Karl Marx more than the capitalism of Adam Smith. (At least, he’d prefer the economic aspects of communism, not the atheistic parts.)
So naming the December 25 holiday, which features the best and worst of capitalism, after Jesus makes no sense. Volunteering in soup kitchens, while sending thanksgivings to the Lord for what we have in life, would celebrate Jesus. What we actually do on a day ostensibly in honor of Jesus is broadcast a huge “Sod off!” to him.
Let’s officially rename the holiday “XMas” already and stop pretending we care about Jesus on that day.
About the Author
I'm Jason Vines, a web developer at a research institution in Washington, DC. I graduated from George Washington University with a bachelor's degree in political science, with a minor in journalism. I enjoy philosophy and web scripting, as well as reading, writing, history, video games, travel, and photography.
