And a Bah, Humbug to all

[naomikritzer]

I've been meaning for a couple of days to post about the War On Christmas. Because, after all, if I fail to wish you a Merry Christmas, this is a huge intrusion on your rights as a Christian in America and you should absolutely feel persecuted over it. I mean, where do I get off, leaving my house in December and talking to people, if I'm not Christian?

I was going to note that as a First Amendment extremist, I would defend to the death the right to wish people a Merry Christmas, were it in fact under threat by anyone at all, but I'd really appreciate it if you would at least respect my right to wish you something else, should I choose to do so.

I was also going to point out that religious pluralism is one of the most essentially American values. George Washington visited a Jewish synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, while serving as President, and wrote a wonderful, moving letter about America's embrace of all citizens, regardless of their religion. You can read the letter in its entirety here (scroll down to "Washington's Letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport"), but here's a sample:

It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

I was also thinking of quoting orangemike, who posted his perspective on this issue as a devout Christian in a comment to a post by pegkerr: As I told the whackjobs at www.savemerrychristmas.org, "As a Christian, I wish to see the nativity of our Lord and Saviour severed from the pagan rituals of the 'holiday season' as thoroughly as possible. I therefore welcome anything which disassociates our Lord's birthday from the orgy of commercialization which is the winter holiday season. I think you people are on the wrong track entirely."

So yeah, that would have been my post about the whole Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays issue. But then -- then, today I read THIS.

It's worth clicking, but if you're not registered at the NYT, I'll give you a quick summary: Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, when most churches hold a service of some kind -- even the ones that normally hold their big Christmas service the night before. But since it's inconvenient to go to church on Christmas -- what with the food and present-opening and, you know, all the stuff that Christmas is all about -- several high-profile megachurches have cancelled their Sunday service.

Instead,

Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., always a pacesetter among megachurches, is handing out a DVD it produced for the occasion that features a heartwarming contemporary Christmas tale.

"What we're encouraging people to do is take that DVD and in the comfort of their living room, with friends and family, pop it into the player and hopefully hear a different and more personal and maybe more intimate Christmas message, that God is with us wherever we are," said Cally Parkinson, communications director at Willow Creek, which draws 20,000 people on a typical Sunday.

Another church quotes a church leader saying that

His church offers streaming video of the Sunday service, and Bishop Long said he expected a spike in viewers this Christmas. "They have an option if they want to join their family around the computer and worship with us," he said.

This is a C&P direct from the article. I am not making this up.

So, after being struck totally speechless by this article -- a DVD? A DVD? WORSHIPPING AROUND THE COMPUTER? -- I have recovered sufficiently to ask a question.

At what point do you just HAVE to look around and say, "Oh my God, I've turned into an Onion article making fun of people like me"?

Edited to add:

I feel compelled to state that I have no problem with Christians who don't go to church on Christmas. I have a problem with holier-than-thou Christians who want to dictate how everyone else celebrates the season (either by demanding that EVERYONE celebrate Christmas along with them, or by demanding that people who aren't celebrating Jesus STOP celebrating Christmas), who cancel their usual Sunday service because it's Christmas and church is just too much trouble. It's the naked hypocrisy that astounds me. And yes, I am making an assumption about the attitudes of people who go to megachurches, without investigating the precise stance of the churches in the article; if anyone with time on their hands wants to show me up by demonstrating that really, these are super-tolerant liberal pluralism-embracing folks and exactly not the sort of people who would ever dream of judging how other folks celebrate their holiday -- well, have at.

Comments

[patchwork-prose.livejournal.com]

Strangely enough, when I was not able to attend the local meeting for worship because of chemical fumes in the building, I did worship online regularly at http://worship.quaker.org/

Probably not in the same category, its being unprogrammed worship and there actually being other peoople also sitting at their computers at the same time, some of them offering (written) "vocal" ministry. I have found online Quaker worship to be a good experience.

[naomikritzer]

Disability accomodation is very, very different from "oh, we can't ask people to come to CHURCH on Christmas Day; they're too busy eating and opening presents!"

I can actually think of all sorts of legitimate reasons that a church might offer online worship, at least temporarily. But none of those apply to the megachurches that are cancelling their Christmas services.

[lenora-rose.livejournal.com]

I was told that our church has asked before whether we would need a Christmas service (This is *my* first Christmas with them, but I've got this one from several long-timers). Invariably the answer is a shocked look and a "we must have a Christmas service!"

And then three people show, since everyone else was up at midnight.

This year, they made a compromise. Christmas Eve is still the big one. The Christmas service is at noon, not 10:30 as every other Sunday, involves no choir, and features instead an agape table and sandwiches for the hungry. I've decided that, barring Colin's veto, I should stop in. (not for the food)

Then again, we're no superchurch. we're teeny.

[naomikritzer]

I bet you also don't go around getting offended when people say "Happy Holidays!" to you, instead of "Merry Christmas."

[lilisonna.livejournal.com]

Because, God forbid that you have to actually, you know, get out of your PJs and pause in the loot-counting to go celebrate Christmas.

[notthatedburke.livejournal.com]

It's worth noting that these churches are not merely canceling Christmas, but regular Sunday worship. Many churches choose to have their primary or only services on Christmas Eve. It's not how I would do things, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. (Actually, I think it often is wrong, because people do it this way for the wrong reasons. But that's beside the point).

But, well, Christmas is a Sunday this year. So, even if you're not going to have a Christmas service (because that was Christmas Eve), since it's Sunday, and you're a Christian church, you're supposed to have a service. And maybe not that many people are going to go. Shouldn't you at least be tending to those in your flock who want to go to church on Sunday?

[mrswebchik.livejournal.com]

My church is actually one of the most relaxed, laid back churches around. There to support, but not condemn. There's a Seventh Day Adventist church that actually uses the building for their Saturday services. In the 10 years it's been around, they've ALWAYS given the first 10% of their offerings to another charitable cause. And there have been non-Christian speakers who came and gave guest services.

We actually have many members who drive quite a distance to attend.

And as you can see, there is going to be a Christmas Day service. Nothing fancy or long, a regular service at the usual time.

Interestingly enough, I read this post right after having a friend ask if we'd mind getting Hannukah cards from her this year (since she's Jewish) rather than the typical holiday card. I thought it was funny that she felt the need to ask if it bothered anyone. I would expect her to send a card that reflected her belief system. I think that you should wish people whatever you want to wish them. Just like presents - it's the thought that counts. And the person on the receiving end should just be happy that you acknowledged them in this busy time of year.

[mrswebchik.livejournal.com]

And yes, I plan on attending on Christmas day. The only thing that would keep me from going is the fact that I'm wrangling 3 small children by myself.

[mobilemom.livejournal.com]

I salute you!

[fehler.livejournal.com]

Ah, I wish I still had a copy of the "Naomi Christmas Tree Rant" somewhere. That is my idea of a holiday tradition.