Former Church of England Head Bemoans Secularization of Christmas

By Al Webb
Religion News Service

LONDON -- Former Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey has slammed attempts to "air-brush" Christianity out of society -- a trend he said is gaining speed as Christmas nears.

Carey claimed Britain's "rich legacy" of Christian culture is "under attack" and that Christmas itself is being "re-branded" as a secular festival.

Lord Carey, who led the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion from 1991 to 2002, made his remarks in a leaflet issued Wednesday (Dec. 1) by the group Christian Concern as part of its "Not-Ashamed Day" campaign to promote its faith.

"The Christian faith is in danger of being stealthily and subtly brushed aside," he said. "This attempt to air-brush the Christian faith out of the picture is especially obvious as Christmas approaches."

Carey cited the trend by town halls across Britain to switch on so-called "winter lights" in place of Christmas decorations. "Even Christmas has become something of which some are ashamed," he said.

He also noted that "cards that used to carry Christmas wishes now bear `season's greetings"' and that "the local school nativity play is watered down or disappears altogether."

Carey cited cases where a nurse was banned from her job for wearing a cross and a British Airways worker was ordered by the company to remove her crucifix necklace.

Christian Concern, which promotes the rights of Christians to openly express their beliefs, says its own opinion poll showed only 10 percent of those surveyed believed that religion formed the most important aspect of Christmas.

The group said copies of Carey's leaflet had been delivered to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace and to Prime Minister David Cameron's home and offices at 10 Downing Street in London.

Comments

[sarahinez]

12:16 PM on 12/14/2010

Before Christmas was secularized, the church was secularized. What could, in fact, be more secular than anticipating as its head, a man who stood in a cathedral "in the sight of God and this company" and pledged his love to a woman, when he loved another one, and spoke of a fidelity that was unlikely from the beginning and a joke at the end. And King Charles III will be neither the first nor the last worldly, i.e. secular, accommodation that the Church of England makes.

It's unfair to pick on the Church of England's accommodations alone, but enemies of Christ (those people for whom he died and to whom Christians are to reach out in love--not by being angry or "offended") know the failures of other denominations and individuals--and have shared some of them in 400+ comments before mine.

As a Christian, I'm far more upset about Christians' allowing thousands of people to die daily from starvation and easily treated diseases than about a non-Christian not celebrating Christmas.

If Archbishop Carey feels British Christianity being air brushed, he can adopt the first century practices that won many converts. Courage in the face of persecution (even unto death), forgiveness of enemies, retelling of the story of the Savior, compassion shown to the hungry, sick and lonely. As for the glories of British Christianity and empire, "Let the dead bury the dead."

[Arbutus]

11:34 AM on 12/12/2010

Why should Christianity be the favored faith?

[Arbutus]

10:12 PM on 12/10/2010

I think that cat's long been out of the bag.

[R U Sirius]

09:07 AM on 12/10/2010

England must be behind the curve. NOW he's bemoaning the secularization of Christmas? Just a bit late on that idea ex-Excellency!

[Chaotician101]

06:19 PM on 12/09/2010

Seeing as how Christmas (the Christ Mass ) has absolutely nothing to do with this time of year or in this actually year of human life on this rock! A term not used until at least 1000 years after the perported birth of the Christian God, it at most reflects a believe that their Jesus was actually born somewhere someplace maybe! Presumably it was intended to be a tool to get more money for the Priests and surplant those pesky pagans having some fun without the permission of the Priests!
Of course modern American Christmas is primarily a pagan orgy to enrich the merchants which must really piss off the Priests by sucking off a bunch of their loot!

[ArtJunky]

07:39 AM on 12/09/2010

The Three Shepherds (wise men) went SHOPPING and then brought the gifts...Sounds like Christmas to me...

[ammsamm]

06:07 PM on 12/09/2010

hehe

When you put it that way....

[cardtosser]

05:51 PM on 12/08/2010

This year, get back to the roots of Christmas. Eat, drink, and be glad the days are getting longer again, just as our ancestors did. Celebrate Yule, Saturnalia, Natalis Solis Invicti, the birthdays of Mithra and Horus.

Even our Christian ancestors didn't hold 12/25 holy. They celebrated Christ's greatest miracle of Easter in the Spring.

[gappedtoothgodwarrior]

08:49 AM on 12/09/2010

You forgot Dionysus, off all the christi born on the 25th he at least brings a party. ;)

[shatner99]

04:25 PM on 12/08/2010

Keep the myth in xmas. The inn was fully booked.

[R U Sirius]

09:15 AM on 12/10/2010

He wasn't even BORN in December; we celebrate it on the 25th because Constantine thought it would be easier for the pagans to remember as coinciding with the date of the festival of the Roman cult sun god Sol Invictus. Christians are so pitifully unaware, shockingly really, of the facts and fictions of the faith they deem "infallible and true in every detail."

[MNKen]

03:56 PM on 12/08/2010

Rev. Carey, do you celebrate Christmas on December 25?
Do you purchase, or have your churches ever purchased decorations from a store?
Have you given a gift to a person that was just for fun or whimsical?

If any of these answers are "yes" then you are just as guilty as anyone else of making Christmas secular. If you want it to be a completely religious holiday, then keep it religious and do not support any commercial venue.

[Vern58]

09:20 AM on 12/08/2010

++Carey is diong his job well.He did a much better job than the current occupant. He is echoing an idea many of us hold. I agree with him. The holiday as a secular event is empty of meaning.
Personnaly The Feast of the Nativity is primarilly a religious holiday to me anyway. I will be busy at Church all through the season. It has turned very ugly cold here. Our Parish is in high outreach mode.The hungry must be fed (food bank), the homeless ministered to (Partners in a shelter and social services consortium), the shut in aged must be ministered to. My Parish is also in a reunification with a smaller one in the same town now, and this will be our first joint Christmas in over 50 years. Plus we are getting to know a new Priest.
Things are busy in this persons Episcopal Church.

[cardtosser]

05:58 PM on 12/08/2010

Bless you for your good works.

[TheSojourner]

04:18 AM on 12/08/2010

The whole season belongs to the celebration of different holidays for varied people. We have Christmas, Hanukkah, Orthodox Christmas, Kwanzaa, Boxing day, Thanksgiving, New Year's and on and on. This time of year IS secularized celebration. The Pagans and other peoples celebrate the sosltice, there's the old Yule, etc., etc. The Christians hijacked this time of year, it isn't their exclusive property.

I love the atmosphere of festivity and I celebrate the idea of this happy season gladly. I'm also an atheist, I even put up decorations (secular, of course). We celebrate with friends, relatives, good vibes all around. Christianity or any religion cannot take that away from me. It's something everyone should be able to enjoy in their own way, without recrimination from the "War on Christmas" crowd.

[ammsamm]

06:09 PM on 12/09/2010

There was even the Islamic New Year two days ago this year.

[tploomis]

08:54 PM on 12/07/2010

If Christmas is not secularized, count me out.

[alanps]

03:32 PM on 12/07/2010

Never fails to amaze me how many people who have no faith in God, take time out to come and read these pages and make snide comments.

A little sad really.

[El Superbeasto]

08:09 PM on 12/07/2010

Yes, sad that many cannot talk to their peers or family for support, because US culture reserves a special suspicion for atheists.

[tploomis]

08:53 PM on 12/07/2010

Why that's very Christian of you!

[New Yorker]

02:43 PM on 12/07/2010

The angels told the shepherds that they should not be afraid because they were bringing tidings of great Joy. A Savior was born in Bethlehem to a virgin of the House of David, in fulfillment of the scriptures. Wise Men sought him out then, and now. Some things never change.

Peace on Earth, To Men of Good Will !

Christ The Best Gift From God that Mankind will ever receive. His kingdom shall Never end.

[hkc]

03:18 AM on 12/07/2010

While I was living in Japan every December would bring the obligatory complaint in the English language newspaper's letters column about how scandalously the Japanese secularized Christmas. One time someone wrote back that Christmas wasn't about Jesus, it was about something much better, Santa Clause. After all Santa brings presents and makes millions of kids happy. Who could complain about that.