December 13th 2014
Inspired by the movie Snow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzYVvxa1HvQ
(which for a tv movie was really nicely done),
today's commentary is an excerpt from an article I found online:
and tonight's eight simple ideas...
Inspired by the movie Snow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzYVvxa1HvQ
(which for a tv movie was really nicely done),
today's commentary is an excerpt from an article I found online:
"We have evaluated the evidence and heard testimony from leading experts."
"Satellite imagery reveals no evidence of a toy-making operation in the Arctic North. Surveillance equipment in homes throughout the Western hemisphere captured no evidence of a generous bearded trespasser."
hahahhahaha
"Forensic analysis of Christmas tree sites has found DNA and fingerprints corresponding only to people who live there. A few rogue Santa-ologists insist he is among us, but all reported sightings have been explained as parental hoaxes."
or are they?
"Satellite imagery reveals no evidence of a toy-making operation in the Arctic North. Surveillance equipment in homes throughout the Western hemisphere captured no evidence of a generous bearded trespasser."
hahahhahaha
"Forensic analysis of Christmas tree sites has found DNA and fingerprints corresponding only to people who live there. A few rogue Santa-ologists insist he is among us, but all reported sightings have been explained as parental hoaxes."
or are they?
"There is no room for argument: Santa Claus does not exist.
That doesn’t mean I don’t believe in him."
***I love this statement
That doesn’t mean I don’t believe in him."
***I love this statement
"For many Evangelicals, Santa is a lie
—a benign and traditional lie, but a lie all the same.
First parents systematically deceive their children,
then they make Santa look like a merry interloper
who is now stealing the show from the birth of Jesus.
These are the principal themes of Matt Walsh's recent post,
and given his popularity, his view is one I take
as representative of a broad sector of American Evangelicalism."
I had to look this up,
Evangelicalism is a worldwide Protestant movement, maintaining that the essence of the gospel consists in the doctrine of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ's atonement.
Matt Walsh (born October 13, 1964) is an American actor, comedian, director, and writer. He also previously starred in short-lived comedy program.
—a benign and traditional lie, but a lie all the same.
First parents systematically deceive their children,
then they make Santa look like a merry interloper
who is now stealing the show from the birth of Jesus.
These are the principal themes of Matt Walsh's recent post,
and given his popularity, his view is one I take
as representative of a broad sector of American Evangelicalism."
I had to look this up,
Evangelicalism is a worldwide Protestant movement, maintaining that the essence of the gospel consists in the doctrine of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ's atonement.
Matt Walsh (born October 13, 1964) is an American actor, comedian, director, and writer. He also previously starred in short-lived comedy program.
"Santa-phobia is a result of the atrophy of the Evangelical imagination.
We take too literally Wittgenstein’s premise that “the world is the totality of facts.” Walsh says that Santa is not just a story
because stories have beginnings and endings
and we do not use them to describe the world as it is."
Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein (26 April 1889 – 29 April 1951) was an Austrian-British philosopher who worked primarily in logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language.We take too literally Wittgenstein’s premise that “the world is the totality of facts.” Walsh says that Santa is not just a story
because stories have beginnings and endings
and we do not use them to describe the world as it is."
"He uses Mickey Mouse as an example.
But isn't this curious?
Never mind that the Disney universe does run in perpetuity.
Children need no special warning that Mickey
is not like the mice that hide in our walls.
They have no trouble holding before their minds
a universe with anthropomorphic talking animals...."
But isn't this curious?
Never mind that the Disney universe does run in perpetuity.
Children need no special warning that Mickey
is not like the mice that hide in our walls.
They have no trouble holding before their minds
a universe with anthropomorphic talking animals...."
"Walsh also says that if children
“ask us about the geographical location of Neverland",
we’ll tell them Neverland is just imaginary.”
I wouldn’t."
***neither would I!
"I would tell them it was several days by flying
and you would have to look to the stars to direct you.
(And that they should not trust Peter’s directions for he is a flaky sort.)
If they pressed it and wanted to know a “geographical location”
I would say they were missing the point."
"If they really must know whether the Neverland can be found on a globe,
their unhappy fate is to find it’s not there.
They think they have gained some stature in knowledge;
I say they have lost a world, and many more besides."
I think it is the saddest day for a parent when their child says they are too old for Santa and his reindeer. I like the way this is put, even though you cannot see it or explain it, it is for those who believe.
For me it may not be the perfect present under the tree on Christmas morning. For me it is the wonder on the faces of my family and friends when they open a gift I have chosen specially for them.
The special gift I receive is love.. because I believe.
“ask us about the geographical location of Neverland",
we’ll tell them Neverland is just imaginary.”
I wouldn’t."
***neither would I!
"I would tell them it was several days by flying
and you would have to look to the stars to direct you.
(And that they should not trust Peter’s directions for he is a flaky sort.)
If they pressed it and wanted to know a “geographical location”
I would say they were missing the point."
"If they really must know whether the Neverland can be found on a globe,
their unhappy fate is to find it’s not there.
They think they have gained some stature in knowledge;
I say they have lost a world, and many more besides."
I think it is the saddest day for a parent when their child says they are too old for Santa and his reindeer. I like the way this is put, even though you cannot see it or explain it, it is for those who believe.
For me it may not be the perfect present under the tree on Christmas morning. For me it is the wonder on the faces of my family and friends when they open a gift I have chosen specially for them.
The special gift I receive is love.. because I believe.
"Our far too “adult” way of looking around is why Santa seems too pernicious.
An essential feature of the Santa story
is that the mysterious man does not stay in his own world.
Since we are mostly incapable of reveling in fantasy—in story and in myth—
we try clumsily to bring Santa into our world.
We tell our children that Santa runs a business
in a remote part of the world and once a year
his distribution node delivers toys to good kids.
It’s all so bloodless.
Walsh is right,
but not because Santa is an unwitting part of the secular agenda,
but because we’re doing it wrong."
I really like to bring that world to us on holidays. Santa's enchanting world seems so perfect in its beauty, and in its amazing perfection. Anyplace that survives on hot chocolate and cookies and NO ONE cares if they are retaining a little weight has to be a wonderful place.
An essential feature of the Santa story
is that the mysterious man does not stay in his own world.
Since we are mostly incapable of reveling in fantasy—in story and in myth—
we try clumsily to bring Santa into our world.
We tell our children that Santa runs a business
in a remote part of the world and once a year
his distribution node delivers toys to good kids.
It’s all so bloodless.
Walsh is right,
but not because Santa is an unwitting part of the secular agenda,
but because we’re doing it wrong."
I really like to bring that world to us on holidays. Santa's enchanting world seems so perfect in its beauty, and in its amazing perfection. Anyplace that survives on hot chocolate and cookies and NO ONE cares if they are retaining a little weight has to be a wonderful place.
"As late as a generation ago,
I think Americans understood how this works.
The classic Christmas film Miracle on 34th Street's cultural commentary
is even more applicable to us.
In the movie, our modern systematic mind
collides with an impossibility that is not yet presenting to ourselves.
And the clash is brought forcefully to bear
as Mr. Kringle faces that driest of fact finders, a courtroom.
The movie leaves just enough uncertainty throughout
that viewers cannot quite conclude that Kringle is insane.
The worst sort of viewer is the one who says
"he should go free because he is otherwise pleasant."
The man is clearly Santa, people!"
Don't you just want to throttle that lawyer in ANY version of this movie? How dare they put Santa on trial??? How can they not see that he is real??????????????????????
I think Americans understood how this works.
The classic Christmas film Miracle on 34th Street's cultural commentary
is even more applicable to us.
In the movie, our modern systematic mind
collides with an impossibility that is not yet presenting to ourselves.
And the clash is brought forcefully to bear
as Mr. Kringle faces that driest of fact finders, a courtroom.
The movie leaves just enough uncertainty throughout
that viewers cannot quite conclude that Kringle is insane.
The worst sort of viewer is the one who says
"he should go free because he is otherwise pleasant."
The man is clearly Santa, people!"
Don't you just want to throttle that lawyer in ANY version of this movie? How dare they put Santa on trial??? How can they not see that he is real??????????????????????
"Information—data—
is lowest in the hierarchy of higher faculties,
then knowledge,
then wisdom,
then imagination.
We moderns are addicted to information and we lionize knowledge.
Christians and other traditional religionists place a great premium on wisdom.
But Evangelicals at least resist imagination.
The same impulses lead us to poo poo Halloween and scary stories."
I hope I spent as much time teaching my daughter to believe in the Valentines Angel, Leprechauns, the Ghost of Christmas Past and the Easter Bunny as I did on creating the perfect holidays. The payoff no doubt will be in how my grandchildren will perceive those amazing holidays in the future.
"This is cause for grieving.
Imagination is the engine of Creation itself.
The decay of this virtue limits our humanness."
"The imagination is the highest faculty and, like other faculties,
it does not spring fully formed. It must be exercised, practiced, applied."
I guess that is my talent. I like to live in a world of make believe and I love to celebrate everything.... in my lovely world with purple clouds and sunny skies. I enjoy keeping the spirit of every holiday alive, even for those who have forgotten why THEY celebrate.
is lowest in the hierarchy of higher faculties,
then knowledge,
then wisdom,
then imagination.
We moderns are addicted to information and we lionize knowledge.
Christians and other traditional religionists place a great premium on wisdom.
But Evangelicals at least resist imagination.
The same impulses lead us to poo poo Halloween and scary stories."
I hope I spent as much time teaching my daughter to believe in the Valentines Angel, Leprechauns, the Ghost of Christmas Past and the Easter Bunny as I did on creating the perfect holidays. The payoff no doubt will be in how my grandchildren will perceive those amazing holidays in the future.
"This is cause for grieving.
Imagination is the engine of Creation itself.
The decay of this virtue limits our humanness."
"The imagination is the highest faculty and, like other faculties,
it does not spring fully formed. It must be exercised, practiced, applied."
I guess that is my talent. I like to live in a world of make believe and I love to celebrate everything.... in my lovely world with purple clouds and sunny skies. I enjoy keeping the spirit of every holiday alive, even for those who have forgotten why THEY celebrate.
"At Christmastime,
our dim imaginative faculty costs us a wealth of “typic” truth.
Many of the tales of Santa Claus make him a type of Christ.
As the expectation of Advent builds,
and we brighten the dark hollows of pine with tiny lights,
Father Christmas descends upon our world bearing gifts.
A child can understand that story
and leave for another day the ontological inquiries and logistical difficulties."
"As Gene Autry put it in one of the most ubiquitous Christmas tunes,
“Santa Claus knows that we’re all God’s children and that makes everything right.”
It's funny how you can sing along with song's and not really listen to the actual words! I think singing the words and KNOWING the words are two different things. Some songs have so much more meaning if hear the words you are singing.
our dim imaginative faculty costs us a wealth of “typic” truth.
Many of the tales of Santa Claus make him a type of Christ.
As the expectation of Advent builds,
and we brighten the dark hollows of pine with tiny lights,
Father Christmas descends upon our world bearing gifts.
A child can understand that story
and leave for another day the ontological inquiries and logistical difficulties."
"As Gene Autry put it in one of the most ubiquitous Christmas tunes,
“Santa Claus knows that we’re all God’s children and that makes everything right.”
It's funny how you can sing along with song's and not really listen to the actual words! I think singing the words and KNOWING the words are two different things. Some songs have so much more meaning if hear the words you are singing.
"Matt Walsh’s discomfort with our bizzarro factual Santa
is entirely understandable,
and he rightly says that Jesus presents far more magic
and intrigue than Santa ever could.
Santa Claus does not wield his heft to crowd out the Lord Jesus Christ,
born of a virgin under the foretold star.
No, friends, we push God the Son away
without any help from jolly old St. Nicholas.
We do it with presents and trees and pies and family."
"There are surely wrong ways to bring Santa to Christmas,
and flattening myths into bland rationalism is the worst."
Let the children believe. They are young for such a short time, such a short short time. It will be soon enough for them to face bills, and family problems. Let them believe in flying reindeer, magic and fat men coming down chimneys.
"But let’s stop blaming Santa for our own failures.
He isn’t even real, remember?"
But what if we did believe? What if believed in the spirit of the idea of Christmas?
What could it hurt? What would it give your family if you truly believed??????????
is entirely understandable,
and he rightly says that Jesus presents far more magic
and intrigue than Santa ever could.
Santa Claus does not wield his heft to crowd out the Lord Jesus Christ,
born of a virgin under the foretold star.
No, friends, we push God the Son away
without any help from jolly old St. Nicholas.
We do it with presents and trees and pies and family."
"There are surely wrong ways to bring Santa to Christmas,
and flattening myths into bland rationalism is the worst."
Let the children believe. They are young for such a short time, such a short short time. It will be soon enough for them to face bills, and family problems. Let them believe in flying reindeer, magic and fat men coming down chimneys.
"But let’s stop blaming Santa for our own failures.
He isn’t even real, remember?"
But what if we did believe? What if believed in the spirit of the idea of Christmas?
What could it hurt? What would it give your family if you truly believed??????????
and tonight's eight simple ideas...
- Avoid useless trips, call ahead to check stock,
keep ongoing lists for places like the dollar store - Trade out baking with 3 friends to cut down time needed
- Give your seat on the bus to someone with lots of packages
- Encourage the children to help decorate.
(Their involvement means more than the perfection) - Do not buy anything that looks opened or has damaged packaging
- Acknowledge every gift you receive
(Good, bad, tacky or amazing. Each gift was given in the spirit of the holiday!) - Write "joy to the world" in a frosty window pane
- Follow the Irish tradition of putting a birds nest in your tree
( http://www.christmascentral.com/t-History-Tradition-Birds-Nest.aspx )
Good night
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