Are you a Christian? In the U.S.?
Have you opposed health care reform? Said we shouldn't take in Haitian refugees? Said that people should stop throwing money at Haiti? Opposed proposed extra funding for food stamps?
If you answered "yes" to the first two questions, and any of the remaining ones, I'd like you to do me a favor. Go get your Bible. Open it up to Matthew 25. Start reading at verse 31, and finish up the chapter.
I'm not going to say anything else. I think that really about covers it.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Happy Epiphany
I skipped right over Christmas, but since this holiday is frequently forgotten even by some observant Christians, I figure I might as well post something today.
Epiphany, for those who aren't up on their Christian tradition, is more or less the celebration of Christ's, erm, Christliness. Interestingly, though Christmas celebrates his birth, this day also celebrates his birth, along with the revelation of his (literal or symbolic, as you will) son-of-Godness to the magi or three wise men who brought him gifts and possibly his baptism.
Since the U.S. is the major source of the complaining about secular Christmas, it's interesting that there isn't more widespread celebration of Epiphany, which would give such people a purely religious holiday. Not that it isn't celebrated here at all (if not today, at least this coming Sunday), but at this point the gift-giving is over (no myrrh in sight), the tree may already be down, and anyone who went to visit their family over the holidays is probably home. (And, of course, it's not a bank holiday.) You'd think the existence of a purely-religious holiday would be marked with more fuss if people are so upset that their Christmas is too secularly oriented. Plus at least this day doesn't seem to have co-opted any former non-Christian seasonal celebrations...
Eh, I shouldn't expect it to be logical.
In any event, Happy Epiphany! It's a day of joy for anyone who believes in Christ.
Epiphany, for those who aren't up on their Christian tradition, is more or less the celebration of Christ's, erm, Christliness. Interestingly, though Christmas celebrates his birth, this day also celebrates his birth, along with the revelation of his (literal or symbolic, as you will) son-of-Godness to the magi or three wise men who brought him gifts and possibly his baptism.
Since the U.S. is the major source of the complaining about secular Christmas, it's interesting that there isn't more widespread celebration of Epiphany, which would give such people a purely religious holiday. Not that it isn't celebrated here at all (if not today, at least this coming Sunday), but at this point the gift-giving is over (no myrrh in sight), the tree may already be down, and anyone who went to visit their family over the holidays is probably home. (And, of course, it's not a bank holiday.) You'd think the existence of a purely-religious holiday would be marked with more fuss if people are so upset that their Christmas is too secularly oriented. Plus at least this day doesn't seem to have co-opted any former non-Christian seasonal celebrations...
Eh, I shouldn't expect it to be logical.
In any event, Happy Epiphany! It's a day of joy for anyone who believes in Christ.
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