Monday, December 12, 2005

Holy war: the Pope vs. the Christian Right

According to this AP article, not all Christians believe that the best way to honor the spirit of Christmas is via Target circulars and store greeters.

Why, no less a personage than Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday that Christmas festivities have been tainted by consumerism: "In today's consumer society, this time (of the year) is unfortunately subjected to a sort of commercial 'pollution' that is in danger of altering its true spirit, which is characterized by meditation, sobriety and by a joy that is not exterior but intimate," said Benedict. "Assembling the Nativity scene in the home can turn out to be a simple but effective way of presenting the faith to pass it on to one's children. The Nativity scene helps us contemplate the mystery of the love of God, which is revealed to us in the poverty and simplicity of the grotto in Bethlehem."

But what about the poverty and simplicity of ads for Target?

(Poor Target. The reproductive rights crowd is mad at them for allowing some pharmacists to refuse to dispence emergency contraception, and the Christian Right crowd is boycotting them. Who is left to shop at Target? Only the middle-of-the-road folks who skip the news.)

6 comments:

Agent 31 said...

"And from this day forth, dancing shall be illegal within city limits."

Mignon said...

The true spirit of Christmas is meditation, sobriety, blah blah blah? Yeah, maybe in the Vatican. But even then I doubt it. We heathens yell, get drunk and buy so much shit the Christmas tree levitates. Humph. Poverty and simplicity is for the other 364 days of the year.

thenutfantastic said...

don't forget the people who live, er, don't live, in a bubble.

Anonymous said...

There are no less than four radio stations in Pittsburgh playing non stop Christmas music...trust me, there is no attack on Jesus Christ.

Rock said...

Arguing about reproductive rights is so 1970 - and boring - and non-productive (because nothing will change).

So pass the whatever and let's just party.

Anonymous said...

Here is my favorite response to the "Christmas isn't about Christ any more!" crowd. :-)