Peace, goodwill, merriment, and the death of Christmas
Bob of Gratitude and Hoopla makes a strong case that Dickens's A Christmas Carol may deserve much of the credit for de-Christianizing Christmas:
Why do I say that Dickens may have been the father of the de-Christianization of Christmas? Because this most famous of secular Christmas stories depicts a reformation of the heart and soul that is prompted not by a revelation of our desperate need for a Savior, and the corresponding realization of the "good news of great joy" that that Savior has indeed come. No, Scrooge is merely confronted with his own mortality. Scrooge is born again, yes, but apparently not from above. In fact, Dickens' story, though it is saturated with fine feeling and Christmas ideals, carefully skirts the real issue.I think Bob's right.
posted by Milton Stanley at 7:34 AM
4 Comments:
This is a very thought-provoking idea.
I think so, too, Kim.
I don't think you have read A Christmas Carol. Only after Scrooge identified with the Wounded Savior was he transformed.
You're right. My exposure to A Christmas Carol has been exclusively through popular screen adaptations. I assume it's the same with most present-day North Americans familiar with the story. I'm glad to hear that Dickens included Christ in ACC. I shouldn't be surprised that present-day adaptations do not.
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