Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
The Purity Culture of Christmas: Commercialism is Bad. So?

The Purity Culture of Christmas: Commercialism is Bad. So?

Last updated on: December 16, 2018 at 7:16 pm by John Mark N. Reynolds

The Purity Culture of Christmas: Commercialism is Bad. So? 2018-12-16T19:16:48-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Let’s kill the Purity Culture of Christmas. Our family fought Christian Gnosticism (“purity culture”) as best we could in the Nineties, given the Church’s teachings. As a result, we fight Christmas hypes who would deny us a party out of their worry about someone else’s motives.

If there is one thing secular and religious Americans agree on, it is that “commercialism” ruins Christmas. This is true, but what is not true is the weird belief that “commercialism” has ruined Christmas.

Nonsense.

I have yet to have a single Christmas ruined by commercialism, but quite a few made nicer by free people in free markets making things merrier and brighter.

How is this possible? Aren’t we bombarded with advertisements? Doesn’t even poor old Charlie Brown worry about Snoopy going commercial? If Snoopy cannot resist buying an aluminum tree, how can we?

Yet my family does resist, will go on resisting, and it is not even hard.

We do not wish to buy stuff, so we do not, having liberty and all.

The good news is that a free market means nice people can entertain us and offer us goods and services and we are free to say ‘no.’ There may be a few who believe the reason for the season is stuff collecting, but few dare admit it openly. In fact, they go out of their way to celebrate family, togetherness, and jollification.

Hurrah!

Hell hath no prudery like the buzzkiller quick to see prosperity as greed, a party as debauchery, and an advertisement as a requirement. In contrast, the reasonable Christian will know the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils, so says “no thanks” to many offers without condemning those making the offers.

We will enjoy our holiday without judgment. Perhaps all those advertisers, all of them are evil, though I suspect many are just making us an offer we can refuse. Who am I to judge? The car companies will show me scores of interesting pieces of art hoping I buy a car and I will surely say “no thank you.”

Meanwhile, I get the pleasure of their artistry.

Freedom will decorate my city and my family will enjoy the lights for free. Freedom will allow me to go to as many liturgies as I can and I will. Freedom will give me options to get awesome gifts for my beloved, if I wish, and I will. Freedom will allow marvelous groups like Star of Hope to use the season of giving to remind me to give to the poor and I will.

Commercialism?

Where is it? If you see a Hallmark Movie, then shame be to he who thinks evil of it.

If I see something too vulgar, I will turn away and get on with the party. Free markets let me buy a childhood game for my brother that we can play this year. Little money was spent, but much joy will be had.

Ah, the sweet liberty of a holiday.

Most heretics hated jollification. Origen castrated the party and himself. Cromwell hated Christmas. They come shouting Jesus and ended up banning Christmas. Watch and see.

Purity culture blamed the attractive for the sins of the licentious. Purity Christmas shamers blame abundance for their greed. It is the same. As for me and my house, we will reject commercialism (duh!) and go on worshipping the Christ Child while enjoying liberty.

Pop Culture

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

December 12, 2018

Our Thoroughly Smug Thought Leaders and Us

Next Post

December 14, 2018 The Man We Need: A Cathelineau of America

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Job’s wife tell him to do after his suffering began?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Go to the priests for help Curse God and die Leave the city and start over Offer a sacrifice for healing

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »