Christmas
Counter-intuitive as it may be for those of a particularly rigid faith, I marvel at the way ancient, pagan traditions can bring unexpected and quietly powerful meaning into the celebration of many Christian rituals.
We might not always agree on the meaning of Jesus' participation in Jewish festivals, but we can agree that Jesus honored these traditions of his people. For Christians, this model should invite an appreciation for Jewish tradition.
Every year about this time the gang at Fox News and others in the Right Wing blogosphere get on their high horse about the "liberal attack on Christmas" -- or President Obama's "attack on Christmas."
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Efforts to suppress nature-based beliefs and practices have been tremendously successful. Those who believe that there are spiritual beings or forces in nature have been denigrated as primitive and superstitious.