thank you..this is it exactly!!! this is people who follow Christ trying to reclaim this holiday by observing it in a peculiar way...more akin to Jesus.
The cross in the Red Cross only tangentially has to do Christianity since it is the inverse of the flag of Switzerland. As a volunteer for the Red Cross I can tell you they go to great pains to emphasize they are not a Christian or any religious organization. In fact there is an associated organization called the Red Crescent that opperates in Muslim countries just to avoid any possibility of offending Muslim sensibilities.
I'm not a Christian either and have no problem with celebrating Christmas as a cultural holiday. I personally like the Druidic and Norse aspects of Christmas and that the date we celebrate it is repackaging Saturnalia. No problem with the video and good idea since I think we are way too consumerist already. That said I am still buying my two young cousins toys. I will wait until they are in their teens to start explaining to them the evils of consumerism.
because Christmas was and should be a scandal. rich is poor. weak is strong. love triumphs through suffering. and kings freak out over the birth of a child. so to take back the meaning of the holiday...it's a conspiracy of churches observing the season in a way very peculiar to a consumer driven/economy valuing culture.
this is false statement spinned by ignorant people and parrotted by more ignorant people. like the PRC doesn't repressed Falun Gong followers, Budhists, Muslims, etc.
I have climbed highest mountain I have run through the fields Only to be with you Only to be with you I have run I have crawled I have scaled these city walls, these city walls Only to be with you But I still haven't found what I'm looking for But I still haven't found what I'm looking for I have kissed honey lips Felt the healing in her fingertips It burned like fire This burning desire I have spoke with the tongue of angels I have held the hand of a devil It was warm in the night I was cold as a stone, mmm, hmmm But I still haven't found what I'm looking for But I still haven't found what I'm looking for I believe in the kingdom come Then all the colors will bleed into one, bleed into one Well yes, I'm still running You broke the bonds and you loosed the chains Carried the cross of my shame, of my shame You know I believed it But I still haven't found what I'm looking for But I still haven't found what I'm looking for But I still haven't found what I'm looking for But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
Can I give you a suggestion? Read Anyway by Kent M. Keith. It's a book by a Christian and comes from his interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount, but it's really a secular book and it gives a really empowering philosophy for issues like this. (He has a more "Christian" version called Jesus Did It Anyway.) I don't think he means to excuse bad stewardship, but reading it really changed my life. I always think back to the concepts when I feel like there's a need where I can help, but my help may or may not work out perfectly.
