I recently read this post by Swistle about how she approaches the Christmas season as a non-practicing Christian. The title is obviously clickbait, but the whole post left me with a yucky feeling. I understand that Swistle and I disagree on a lot of topics, which has never stopped me from reading her posts that I have always considered to be well thought out and written. She can write about the most mundane topic in such a way that makes it interesting and presents viewpoints I hadn't thought of before. Even when I don't personally agree with her viewpoints, I have appreciated her thoughts. But "Taking the Christ out of Christmas" feels wrong to even retype here. Go ahead and read her post if you haven't already.
OK, so here are my thoughts as humble and inadequate as ever. Know thyself :)
If there was a religious holiday (let's say Hanukkah) happening but I did not believe what Hanukkah was about, why would I celebrate it? Why would I light the menorah and celebrate eight days of a holiday that means nothing to me? I wouldn't because that would be disrespectful, a slap in the face to Jews who fervently believe what they practice. I can't just take the best parts of a religion without all of the other parts too. That would be completely disingenuous.
And it goes deeper than just celebrating holidays of a faith in which we don't believe. It's the concept of people belonging to a religion and trying to change it to suit themselves. I see it all the time in my Catholic faith. People who call themselves Catholics but then publicly live a life that does not align with Catholic beliefs. Now I'm not saying we're not sinners. Of course we are, and we mess up, but we should be trying to live a life in full agreement with our faith. We are practicing Catholics, not fake Catholics. When a "Catholic" politician votes for laws that go against church teaching, I'm not "judging" them, they are revealing themselves publicly.
I have seven children, and I am trying to raise them in the Catholic faith. We struggle and sacrifice to send them to Catholic schools from preschool through college because our faith is that important to us. Some of their classmates in these schools are there solely for the quality of education, discipline, and family values. But they aren't all there for the faith aspect of the school. Then do you know what happens? They complain about having theology as a subject, about having to attend Mass as a school, and they make fun of tenets of our faith.
Can you imagine if we treated other religions this way? If I sent my kids to a Muslim school and had them complain and refuse to follow the rules and practices? If I called myself a Hindu publicly but then ordered beef every time I'm out to eat? I would never disrespect those religions by mocking them in these ways.
I don't know why people seem to have no problem doing it to Christians.
Is it because Christians are taught to love others? To see Jesus in the hearts of everyone? To turn the other cheek? Has our faith been so watered down by the way others have treated it disrespectfully that we have lost our way a bit? Are we afraid to stand up and say "Hey, that's not right" because we will be labeled a hater and cancelled? Let us not forget that Jesus flipped tables when people weren't respecting his church, and he loved sinners but told them to go and sin no more.
I don't have all the answers, and I'm not even sure what advice I would give to non-believers who want to celebrate the fun parts of our holiday (Holy Day). I think I would want them to first and foremost respect Christians enough to realize that Christmas (Christ's Mass) is a religious holiday all about Christ. There's no taking Christ out of Christmas, just as there is no taking you out of your birthday celebration. What else would we be gathered around to celebrate? On that note, would you show up to a friend's birthday party to have a good time and then ignore that friend the rest of the year? Why do it with Jesus?
If you want to participate in the secular aspects of doing good works, giving gifts, spending time with family...well those are all good things, and you should go right ahead. Call it a family gathering, call it a celebration of lights, call it Festivus if you want. But let's not redefine the true meaning of Christmas to rationalize a lack of faith.
P.S. If you are feeling confused about what to celebrate this season, or feeling nostalgic for a faith you have lost along the way, please consider reading the Bible and being open to God's desire for you to know and love Him. I would also recommend the
Catechism and a
book about the faith. He loves you and will always go after his lost sheep. Please listen to His gentle calling. I will be praying for you! Merry Christmas!
