"The decline of Christmas"

"OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN THE APPLE STORE: THE DECLINE OF CHRISTMAS AND THE LOOMING TECH NIGHTMARE"

Instapundit links to this article by Joel Kotkin at New Geography. Kotkin begins:

In the past, this season was marked by a greater interest in divinity, the family hearth and the joy of children. Increasingly our society has been turning away from such simple human pleasures, replacing them with those of technology. 

Despite the annual holiday pageantry, in the West religion is on the decline, along with our society’s emphasis on human relationships.

I only skimmed the article-- busy taking the dogs on walks and all-- but I'd say it's worth your while to do likewise if you've a few minutes. After surveying the tech-induced decline and fall of Western Civilization, Kotkin concludes:

Whatever the advantages that we can derive from technology, this vision of the future ["transhuman," bio-machines] violates the basic moral principles of both civil society and religious faith. Before we plug ourselves in for eternity, we might consider, this holiday season, to take a non-digital path to reviving our souls, whether by reading your bible, enjoying Shakespeare, tossing a football with your kids, or simply taking a walk in the woods. Technology might help shape what humanity can do, but it cannot make us any more human. That’s up to us.

Up to us, huh? Well. Let's see how we did here on the farm, shall we? 

Our "holiday pageantry" featured

Bibles,*

Angels,

Hymns, 

beautiful Works of Art,

folksy Works of Art,

and... 

Miracle on 34th St.,

three showings (including the cartoon) of A Christmas Carol,

Rudolf, 

and... 

a LiGhTS and DisPLaY CONTeST!!

God bless us, everyone. 

"Christmas"

I have a number of books tagged "Christmas" in my library of crappy old books.

Some are stacked up on the coffee table.

Others are scattered about the joint. (That Grandma Moses book on the floor by Snoopy's Lights & Display Contest is open to "Waiting for Christmas.")

One unassuming little volume, Great Sermons on the Birth of Christ by Celebrated Preachers (Wilbur M. Smith, ed. W. A. Wilde Co., Natik, Massachusetts. 1963)

was laying on the hearth under the Universe of Magnetic Pepper Lights. 

That's where I found it on the afternoon of Christmas Day and began to read... .

If the sun, moon, and stars save, I can call them saviors. If St. Bartholomew or St. Anthony or a pilgrimage to St. James or good works save, then they surely are my savior. If St. Francis, then he is my savior. But then what is left of the honor of the child who was born this day, whom the angel calls Lord and Savior, and who wants to keep his name, which is Savior and Christ the Lord. If I set up any savior except this child, no matter who or what it is or is called, then he is not the Savior. But the text says that he is the Savior. And if this is true — and it is the truth — then let everything else go. 

   One who hears the message of the angel and believes it will be filled with fear, like the shepherds. True, it is too high for me to believe that I should come into this treasure without any merit on my part. And yet, so it must be. In the papacy this message was not preached in the pulpit, and I am afraid that it will disappear again. It was the other message that the devil initiated and has allowed to remain in the papacy. All their hymns are to this effect. Among the Turks the devil has completely wiped it out. Therefore, remember it, sing it, and learn it, while there is still time! I fear that time will come when we shall not be allowed to hear, believe, and sing this message in public, and the time has already come when it is no longer understood; though Satan does allow it to be spoken with the mouth, as the papists do. But when it comes to declaring that he is born for you, and to singing:

In dulci jubilo  

Now sing with hearts aglow!    

Our delight and pleasure 

Lies in praesepio,    

Like sunshine is our treasure 

Matris in gremio 

Alpha est et O! 

— this he is unwilling to allow. 

   What we have said, then, has been about that second faith, which is not only to believe in Mary's Son, but rather that he who lies in the virgin's lap is our Savior, that you accept this and give thanks to God, who so loved you that he gave you a Savior who is yours. And for a sign he sent the angel from heaven to proclaim him, in order that nothing else should be preached except that this child is the Savior and far better than heaven and earth. Him, therefore, we should acknowledge and accept confess him as our Savior in every need, call upon him, and never doubt that he will save us from all misfortune. Amen.

Martin Luther
"Sermon on the Afternoon of Christmas Day"
Luke 2:1-14         
December 25, 1530

Digital text of Great Sermons found at Evangelical Christian Library

While we are on the subject of bourbon... .

What? You thought we were still talking about fruitcake?

"Please, sir, this Christmas, a scarf for my littlest bother? My battery operated lantern generates precious little heat and he's ever so cold when there's no flame upon the hearth. "

Each year I receive a gift from Makers Mark (which, by the way, is not a small family run business). The gifts used to be promotional goods-- wrapping paper, ribbon and so forth. Lately, though, they've been items of clothing for our ancient concrete friends.

"Thank you, kind sirs at Makers Mark. God bless us everyone!"

Oh Christmas Tree

This time of year, there's a particular time of day when the sun shines straight through the front door. It's pretty, don't you think?

This is one of five trees we have in the house. Of course, only two are "official" Christmas trees with lights and all-- the others, like this one, are just decoration. It doesn't quite come through in the picture but the gold ribbons really sparkle in the sunshine. 

It's easy to have decoration trees when you have a dog that likes to help chop down small scraggly trees. And speaking of Missy... . She sustained an injury this afternoon. Nothing too traumatic, just one big scrape that took out all of the fur across her nose. There's no tellin' what happened. Mr. Big Food reports that she did give a yelp at some point on their afternoon constitutional. Hope a 500 pound bear didn't get after her.

Lights & DIsplay Contest!

Foreshadowing

You really do have to give us credit, don't you? Who else in the neighborhood has a for real Lights & Display Contest display?