(21 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
Loading...For a long time now I’ve had ambivalent feelings toward Christmas. Some of my blog posts from years past on the day and its meaning have very much celebrated its great sides (you can just search for “Christmas” on the blog and you’ll see them). But I’ve long seen the downsides as well, frequently discussed among people we know and know about and more frequently felt even when not discussed. I still see these down sides – one above all — in some ways more and more every year. But I’ve begun to wonder if at least there might not be *something* good that can come out of them. Or at least a couple of them.
The one for which I think there is no real hope is the severe loneliness and depression the season causes for so many people. It is a fraught time, when everyone else seems to be enjoying family, friends, and festivities, but so many have no one and nothing to look forward to, or horrible experiences with the holiday in the past, personal disasters, family cataclysms, violently dashed hopes for a happy time. For many people – I know some, you may know even more, many of you are among them – the “joyful” holiday is the most miserable time of the year.
I know some very sanguine people who see such miseries as an opportunity to help – go to the rescue mission to serve meals on the day, visit a lonely neighbor, do something nice for someone not expecting it. But I think I know more people who are inspired by the idea of it being an opportunity for doing good who are principally hopeful that others take the opportunity.
My own reaction to those who have an awful time of it is more frequently simply paralysis. There are some experiences that are just awful with no redeeming feature to them.
When confronted with such situations, instead of making suggestions and offering bright ideas (Hey, why don’t you just do X?) my response is more often that of Job’s friends – not in the poetic part of the book where they blame everything on the one who is suffering and offer sage advice from their superior position to let him know what to do to improve his lot – put in the narrative tale itself, where they are struck mute by his anguish and simply sit with him for three days saying nothing. Instead of solving people’s problems, sometimes that’s the best thing you can do.
About that, the biggest problem, I have nothing really to say. But there are two others I’ve had some thoughts on recently: the massive crass materialism of the season and the fact that for many of us it is the one time of the year when we go out of our way to enjoy the presence of those we love and show real concern for others we are either reasonably or only remotely connected with. Why once a year?
I’m not going to talk about the economic realities of the crass materialism, the need for businesses to have the season to make a profit for the year, and thus keep people employed, and keep the economy afloat – all things for which we can be grateful indeed. Nothing like economic crisis to long for the good ole days when there was money to be spent. But the materialism I’m talking about is more on the personal level, the crass desire for more and more and more and more. I understand it. Most of us were raised in it. And the holiday season more than any other promotes it.
How ironic. The actual *point* of the Christmas season is to give, not to receive. And to give out of love and gratitude, not necessity and obligation, or a desire to impress. Even though I am not a Christian, I resonate deeply with the actual basis and meaning of the season. It is a severely anti-material message. The Christmas story is about how God, for no benefit to himself, sent his Son into the world as an infant. His Son came not because he would get a solitary good thing out of it. He came into a world of pain in order to suffer a life of hardship and poverty with the ultimate goal of being publicly tortured to death, for the sake of others. To help others. As an act of grace for others. To bring salvation to the world.
The season is to reflect on that infant taking this upon himself and to be grateful for the incomprehensible gift that has been received.
But we have turned it into the opposite. Kids are raised to think of nothing except what they are going to *get*. And they grow up like that. We all grew up like that. It’s about us. Our presents. What we can get from others to make ourselves happy. Ugh.
At the same time – to heighten the irony – it comes in the season where, at least as adults, we work hard to foster the idea that this is the time to be nice to each other, and pleasant, and jovial, and helpful, and considerate. And so the materialism (starting now at Halloween) is coupled with a sense that we really should be better people. And it lasts for the season. But hy do we need a point in the calendar to be self-consciously decent, loving human beings?
OK, so these are my dark thoughts of Christmas. But I’ve recently been thinking about the upside of the materialism and the seasonality of the holiday. I need to say that I am not Pollyanna about the problems, and never will be. But I am starting to see how they may not be an entirely bad thing (quite apart from the arguments based on the US economy and that it is indeed nice to be around nice people for a while).
My thinking actually has been motivated by something completely different. My exercise routine. Go figure.
For most of my life I’ve been a believer in exercise; I was always active as a kid, not a great athlete but always doing things, baseball, tennis, running. As an adult my activities shifted (racketball!) and I slipped away a bit on and off, but for many years now I’ve exercised regularly, whether in the gym on a cross trainer and lifting weights or running (which I hate) or walking (which I love) and so on.
about a few years ago I started getting serious about core exercises and stretching. Getting older. Aches and pains. Back problems. Hip pain. Need to keep the body not just moving but reasonably supple and as pain free as possible. And I’ve noticed something. This kind of exercise in many, many ways is less satisfying than, say, doing something seriously aerobically or lifting weights, where there is something actually to measure – HA! Ran six miles! Ha! Got my heartrate up to 160 for five minutes! OHa! Benchpressed 220! Or …. Something that can be quantified. Now it’s – OK, I did 15 minutes of core. Uh, well, OK.
But I’ve noticed something. Some months ago I started forcing myself doing five minutes of core (for the back) right out of bed. Then decided, hey, I can do ten minutes – why not? / Then it went to 15. Then to 20. And so on.
It’s a great routine for me. And started with me doing *something* but not a *big* thing. And just recently I’ve wondered if Christmas can have that effect on some people.
Yes, it’s a lot of obligation and necessity and buying and it’s tiring and often aggravating. But it’s also the pleasure of seeing people open presents and realizing that you’ve made someone happy. And yes, it’s once a year. But again, it brings a good feeling.
And the point is, good feelings can be addictive. So I wonder if, for many people (I’m not talking about the hopelessly lonely and depressed here), even though it’s obligatory and seasonal, it kind of “catches on” and makes them more inclined to be like that generally. To give things when there’s no obligation. To buy things not just for themselves but for others. To give money to those who could really need and would really appreciate it. And not just once a year, but as a life style.
I have no way to know how to see if that’s right, except anecdotally. I think maybe it does work that way for me, at least. I’m not always like that throughout the year (oh boy am I not), but I wonder if I’m more like that because there’s one time of the year when I focus on being like that.
In any event, it’s a hopeful thought.
My other hopeful thought is that you have a wonderful Christmas, calm, restful, happy, joyful among those you love; and if it is a very hard time for you, please know that there are happy and kind thoughts speeding your way from here.
Thank you for this and Merry Christmas, Dr. Ehrman!
Thanks for the kind wishes. Hope you also have a great & joy filled Christmas!
“These virtues are formed in man by his doing the actions … The good of man is a working of the soul in the way of excellence in a complete life.” – Aristotle
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! My wife and I have done more Christmas activities than usual this year, and it’s been great. It helps if sometimes you just turn your brain off (it needs a rest at times!) and just enjoy, and share that enjoyment with others.
You wrote, “The season is to reflect on that infant taking this upon himself and to be grateful for the incomprehensible gift that has been received.” Gratitude can lead to a commitment and involvement in positive change, no matter how small.
Recently I bought a copy of the ‘Big Issue’ from a homeless person; inside I learned that one of the vendors in Nottingham has just died. He had almost nothing but, as they said, he would do anything for anyone, if he could, and he really cared about every one of his regular customers. The message of love gives all of us, no matter how poor, the opportunity and hope of a meaningful future through showing love for our neighbours.
I think that Jesus is certainly not the only source of such inspiration, but he can be one source, and it is a message from which we can benefit and which we may appreciate.
Happy Christmas to all, Andrew.
Both of my parents passed away 12 years ago. Since then, the holidays have never been the same for me and my siblings. We’re scattered in different locations, but this year we made an effort to spend time together and it’s made life much more joyful.
Speaking of dark thoughts about Christmas, there was a new 3+ hour version of A Christmas Carol produced by the BBC/FX Ridley Scott a few days ago. Very dark! Many people did not like it because it was so very dark. But I liked it a lot. It was very realistic about how the business practices of Scrooge/Marley were responsible for deaths. It was realistic in that Scrooge was already ‘haunted’ by Marley, speaking to him as if he were still alive even before being visited by his supernatural ghost. The ghost of Christmas past was an angry old bastard, the ghost of Christmas present was Scrooge’s sister. And Scrooge’s repentance at the end was realistic in its modesty and sincerity. My son is a big fan of Dickens and he hated it. (We also saw a traditional stage version version the next evening, which we both liked.) Maybe there’s something wrong with me, but I really, really liked the dark version!
Interesting. Missed it. I used to read it out loud with my then wife every Christmas Eve. Fantastic novella.
Thanks Bart. What you say makes a lot of sense.
As a season ticket holder for an NHL team and a MLB team and subscriber to “ The Athletic” and many other sports magazines, Christmas to me is a pain in the rear end.
Three days of no games and the morning “ Hot Stove” on the MLB network at 7 am not resuming until January 2nd!!!
Oh well, big home stand for my NHL team starting Sunday.. 4 home games in a week!
And I’ll be sitting in the front row on the glass!
I’m about a week older than you Bart.
It’s great about the excessive!!! Keep it up!
I’ve run 100,000 miles since 1977… coached, wrote running articles for a newspaper and was a high school cross country coach.
Had prostate cancer surgery on August 11th.
Well not surgery… HIFU.
It was supposed to get me back to running!! A new FDA approved treatment….. HA!
8 weeks of recovery.. 2 trips to the ER and pneumonia..
Still, fit in 300 miles running since then.. I was surprised..ha
Re-reading your book on the Apostle Paul, trying to re-read Albert Schweitzer’s book and a biography of Rube Waddell..
Thanks for your books!!
“Crass materialism”… agreed. Ironic, too, how the Christian message is totally lost at Christmas. I read a comment in the local paper recently that “Traditions are just peer pressure from dead people.” Personally my holidays have been infinitely less stressful once I gave up the “gift race” and stopped participating in the madness, giving what I can to charity and then relaxing. It’s great! Merry Christmas, Bart and thank you for all you do!
Thanks, Bart. I am a little lonely today, and you made me feel better. I try to give during the year, things like sending an article by email I think would help to inform my friends better. No one reciprocates because sadly today people seldom read anything. I give away watches and other things I seldom use. What pleasure that gives to people !!
I’m sorry to hear about the loneliness; it sounds like you do the good little things that can make life meaningful. All best wishes for the season.
Thank you, TL8476mn, for your good works. I used to think that we can’t change the world. But every time we help someone else, we have in fact changed the world.
The shared joy, giving, and emotional connection to others of the holiday season shows me there is hope for what humanity can be.
Thank you a million times over, Bart. They’ve been [in evangeleze-speak] a real blessing to me; ‘specially knowing of your religious background. I also came up through the evangelical faith, my father being an evangelist and then pastor. As I’ve worked my way through and out of that I now, w/ a late start, am feeding my God?-given brain/intellect. You’re sharing what you’ve learned is helping me feed what I’ve been starved of. It’s been quite a journey. Thank you for helping me along the way.
Sounds like a journey indeed! All best as you continue along it…
Merry Christmas, Bart!
Thank you so much for your blog! 😀
In your opinion do you think Jesus suffered from messiah complex?
I’m not sure what you mean.
Messiah complex : The belief that one is destined to save others
No, I don’t think Jesus believed he would bring salvation. He beleived he would be appointed to be the king in the coming kingdom of God.
Hi John,
I’ve written a couple of books on the idea, “Messiah Complex”.
In my most recent book, a “fake messiah” whose name is Dortus effects to carry out all the Jewish so-called prophesies, even to be treated badly and cruciied. He is mistaken for Jesus and conventional wisdom becomes that Jesus was crucified, yet he was not.
In my earlier novel called “The Steps”, under the eyes of a Palo Alto, California computer programmer, a fake Messiah comes upon the scene and convinces everyone that the end of the world is at hand and that he has come to save the world. It turns out, however, that our thoughts create our reality (a genuine metaphysical truth), and this nut has convinced enough people that the world truely is ending, and thus the world is indeed ending in the eyes of just about everyone. Our hero, the software programmer, must convince the world that the world really is not ending, in which case the world will not be ending, the world truthfully replicating the mind of the people, and he does this through a popular social media game called “The Simpsons”, and we find Bart Simpson to be battling the “Messiah”, and you can probably guess who ultimately wins that one,
I think that’s what you mean by “Messiah Complex”. The story of Jesus crucified is a good role model for nuts to follow and imitate. But I personally do not believe that Jesus was even arrested or crucified. It’s a great story for the ages but it makes no sense. If Jesus was crucified as in the story, then he was not the learned master, But I think he was the learned master and I believe he was not crucified, that was made up for a particular reason,
Bart, I will once again say what I have said previously, this is truly your best side. I am close to your age, sixty, and I made it a point to come and listen to you at the Defenders conference in Chicago. I brought your book, How Jesus Became God, because I wanted you to sign it. I asked you a personal question, because I felt awkward and strange in my transition to agnostic, and you cheerfully responded in honesty. The highlight of my trip was meeting you, and didn’t really care about the debate because it changes nothing. It may sway a few here and there.You have created a following. Your academic/intellectual research is appreciated by many. This Christmas blog, has been for many years my thoughts . I too, just joined a gym, not to be Arnold Swartznegger, but to try and negate the small aches and pains you speak of in our latter years.. I wonder too, why we wait all year to have deep thoughts about others, who are less fortunate, while often forgetting the meaning of Christmas. When I drove for UPS, I was amazed on the number of gifts by the tree, often higher than the tree, when making a delivery. My reaction would be , ” wow that’s alot of gifts”. and the people would say, we spoil our kids. Our biggest obstacles is, poverty and suffering. Sometimes that old cliche, survival of the fittest, is more aptly manifested in a world of self indulgence than compassion. But my point to your strength, Bart, I want to emphasize. What makes me follow your ideas and thought is the uniqueness of your character. Being a non-believer and than writing something like this blog, opens the door to many, believers and non-believers alike. Very few can pull this off. I like Dan Barker somewhat, but I find him harsh, denouncing and divisive at times. That is not you. Sometimes I think if your early adult years as a fundamental evangelical/pastor have imprinted some of your deep personal thoughts you still hold for life. I know you have said your wife is a Christian and not a part of your audience. If I may ask, does not living with someone you love and who still believes, have an effect on you? Thanks
Many thanks, I really appreciate it. My wife is not a a kind of “doctrinally-based believer” in any sense, at all. She is really an incredibly learned English scholar who appreciates the sophistication of philosophical theology whose religion is more of an awe in the presence of an amazing universe than anything like “belief” in certain views. So questions of “what do you actually believe” almost *never* come up. (E.g., do you believe in the Virgin birth; or the literal resurrection; or the deity of Christ; or life after death? Not an issue….) That seems weird to a lot of American’s, I know, who tend to think that Christianity is a matter of agreeing with a number of doctrinal statements. But historically it was never that kind of thing….
Thank you. It has been a wonderful journey.
Bart, re “ That seems weird to a lot of American’s, I know, who tend to think that Christianity is a matter of agreeing with a number of doctrinal statements. But historically it was never that kind of thing….“ I’m a little surprised at (“historically it was never that kind of thing”) in view of the fact that the Christian church spent centuries carefully defining and imposing it’s doctrines and creeds and excommunicating dissenters. Could you explain/expand a little more please? Best wishes for a very Happy New Year!
Church leaders did in various periods. Most Christians throughout history have had no clue what the educated theologians were talking about. Being Christian meant going to church, saying prayers, participating in worship, living in a certain way. It wasn’t agreeing to propositional truths. That is really a modern development, with some notable but rare exceptions
Thank you Dr E! Your kind and thoughtful writing is a great Christmas gift!!!
There is a simple rule of living that will change anyones predicament: Your thoughts today create your reality of tomorrow. Change your thoughts and your life will change.
Think positively and your world will perfectly reflect it. Be nice to people and people will be nice to you.
This is the underlying message of the learned master: “If you truly believe, it will happen”; “Knock and the door will be opened”; etc. Pretty simple stuff.
The basis is, the physical world is illusory. Our thoughts create our reality. When we change our thoughts our reality will follow. Very simple.
“Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” – Gandalf (The Desolation of Smaug)
Just a word on the materialism, if I may. I live in a small market town in the north of England and the local retailers, whom I use as often as possible, hate bank holidays, especially Christmas. They all tell me that they don’t make any more money over the year. They would far rather have steady custom throughout year than this concentrated frenzy. Also, the shops here are closed for one day only, so why the binge-buying, especially for food? We are as guilty as anybody: the fridge is still almost bursting with stuff. Why? Also, we seem to have imported this ridiculous notion of Black Friday from the USA, which I consciously avoid.
On a positive note: happy Christmas to you and yours, Bart, and thank you for all your hard work making this fantastic blog the jewel that it is.
I’m not a Christian anymore either (whatever that term means anyway), but the need to believe in this or that piece of dogma or doctrine in order to be ‘saved’ always seemed very petty to me for a God who was supposedly the Lord of All and Master of the Universe (you would hope He might be a little bigger than that). Be that as it may, I still enjoy Christmas. I love the celebration of the season of the Winter solstice and all its pagan trappings, even if they are given a Christian re-interpretation. And truth be told, that’s what people who identify as Christian really enjoy also. They’re focused on family, friends, and tradition – not on lofty theological musings about Christ’s incarnation.
For me, the key to enjoying Christmas is not to get stressed out by feeling obligated to send cards and gifts to everyone I know. A simple appreciative word or FB post of well-wishes is all that should be necessary. Beyond that, I resonate with your belief and hope that we all make the season more about giving of what is truly meaningful and needed by those beyond our immediate family circle and national borders.
Merry Christmas/Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice everyone! Growing up with only my mother, Christmas was never about gufts for us. Wedud things together, watched Christmas specials, listened to Christmas songs… Still today, we just visit each other, and have a nice time together. I did experience Christmas at a more traditional damily once, though, and was amazed at the viciousness if it…! It seems for many, Christmas is about fighting and stress more than anything.
Those going through recovery in AA regard the holiday season events (Thanksgiving, Christmas, NYD) as the “Bermuda Triangle”, particularly “perilous” for the reasons you posited. Everyone is supposed to be joyous, thankful, and optimistic…but to many trying to remain sober, much of that has eluded them and return to their substance of choice is tempting to relieve or deaden the pain. Ironically, alcohol is traditionally part of the overall “cheer” of the season.
Merry Christmas Bart. I had a question. I have encountered a growing number of people who have put forward theories that suggest that the gospels are more allegorical than thought. For example, the ideas that the Gospels are modeled on the Homeric epics, put forward by Dennis Macdonald. Do you have thoughts on these theories?
Also, have you read papers by Theodore Weeden and Adam Winn, who put forward ideas that Jesus’ passion is modeled on the passion of Jesus ben Ananias from the Jewish War of Josephus, and that the Gospel of Mark is rewriting Elijah/Elisha narratives from 2 Kings?
I have heard another idea that the Gospel of Mark, in particular, is dependent on Paul’s letters and written by a Pauline Christian. This, apparently, explains why Mark has Peter, James and John as inner circle disciples of Jesus, since it, according to the people making this claim, is modeled on Paul reporting who were the “pillars of the Church.” There are many other examples, but you get the point.
Do you have any thoughts on all this?
Thanks
I’m open to these kinds of explnations in general, but I have not been convinced by any of these theories. I think the evidence is simply too weak or problematic (you can see Homer *anywhere* if you look for it; the Gospel writers almost certainly had never read, or probably even heard of, Josephus; and there is no hard evidence the author of Mark had read any of Paul’s letters, though he does have some similar theological views to Paul — which could be explain in a number of ways)
I hope you had a Merry Christmas, Bart! I’ve never really been the religious type apart from the 10 years I was raised Catholic as a child. Recently due to different life events, after a probably 25 year lapse, I’ve started attending church again. Mostly Catholic mass, but occasionally attend a non denominational service. Maybe I never really paid much attention before, but I’ve heard from both churches, quite a strong acknowledgement to the difficulties faced during this season in regards to anxiety, depression, and mental health in general. Even in confession, a priest seemed to be understanding just as much from a psychological level as he did from a religious perspective. I don’t remember it really being this way in the past. I’ve felt more of a sense of forgiveness rather than condemnation that I experienced long ago. I am a skeptic, and I’m pretty sure I always will be, but it has been a semi-enjoyable experience so far regardless of my level of belief. I’m curious if other members have noticed a strong reference to mental health in the churches they attend.
I am always completely amazed about your openness and at the same time your level of activity. I am a little older and have been on a journey after retirement to learn about myself. Apparently I had some pretty heavy childhood trauma and I am still trying to sort it out, but despite all of that I have been incredibly lucky in how my life turned out. It’s just that now with all of this time after retirement to reflect and take stock that my perceptions of life and what it means have changed. For me the biggest part of this has been learning to care for myself, before I look to trying to take care of others. This Christmas has both been the most subdued ever and yet has been the one I finally feel like I am beginning to care about and for myself in a more realistic way. I wonder sometimes if we all don’t have that problem a little bit, given our societies emphasis on doing for others as well as the materialism thing. For me then the journey has been to find what truly is enjoyable for me without guilt, regret or shame, and then pursue that. I do think that does involve doing things for others, but not for what they give back but rather for how it helps me and the sense of connection that engenders with them which is what I think we are all seeking in the end. I think I see that in the work that you do and how you come across and I really appreciate the example you set for all of us in that regard.
Many thanks. And est wishes as you continue the journey!
Dr. Ehrman,
Even as a pastor on sabbatical you prepared a Christmas sermon. I look forward to the day you are once again preaching Christmas sermons, giving hope to those who need it. For while the teaching and writing you do give insight and understanding that has great value; it gives no hope. Giving hope and reminding people there is hope is why Christmas is so important regardless of how materialistic it becomes.
But if you or I could know what people are thinking and feeling and know their memories also, then the task of helping people would be easier because we would know the truth of their sincerity and what they truly need and how to help them; and perhaps to even pair up lonely people with someone with whom they are compatible.
The Gospels state clearly that Jesus knew what those around him were thinking which allowed him to be so effective at guiding his disciples, helping the powerless and the chiding of the powerful. But to understand how it was possible for the human Jesus to know what others were thinking requires the connecting of some dots. Perhaps in 2020, for 20/20 does mean to see clearly. And perhaps by seeing what you have not seen you will be inspired to preach Christmas sermons once again. It is my hope.
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Dennis Keister