Comments on: Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/advent-2008-dec-10/ an online magazine for spiritual seekers. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:09:23 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Christy http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/advent-2008-dec-10/#comment-852 Christy Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:06:51 +0000 http://www.bustedhalo.com/?p=5927#comment-852 I disagree. I think that taking the commercialism out of Christmas would take us all out of our comfort zones. Imagine seeing your daughter's eyes light up at a re-enactment of the Christmas story, or finally grasping what Christmas is really about. Advent is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ's light into the world. Buying a bunch of crap for people that they don't need, nor necessarily even want, isn't helping to bring that light in. It's shoving it out. I think we're kidding ourselves if we think that Jesus would come back and be like, 'hey, what a great way to celebrate my coming back to earth!' The commercialism of Christmas is something that is brought about by our capitalistic society, not by our Christian ideals. I disagree. I think that taking the commercialism out of Christmas would take us all out of our comfort zones. Imagine seeing your daughter’s eyes light up at a re-enactment of the Christmas story, or finally grasping what Christmas is really about. Advent is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ’s light into the world. Buying a bunch of crap for people that they don’t need, nor necessarily even want, isn’t helping to bring that light in. It’s shoving it out.

I think we’re kidding ourselves if we think that Jesus would come back and be like, ‘hey, what a great way to celebrate my coming back to earth!’

The commercialism of Christmas is something that is brought about by our capitalistic society, not by our Christian ideals.

]]> By: Dwane http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/advent-2008-dec-10/#comment-839 Dwane Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:16:59 +0000 http://www.bustedhalo.com/?p=5927#comment-839 I love the Advent season. Too much commercialism takes away from Christ in Christmas, but I also do not want it to go away. Watching my 9 year old girl light up when she goes to the store is a highlight of my Christmas. We teach our kids the meaning of the holiday and the gift that God gave us, but we also teach them to give to others. We have 2 traditions at Christmas, the religious services as well as gift giving. Keeping both traditions brings true happiness to me and my family. I love the Advent season. Too much commercialism takes away from Christ in Christmas, but I also do not want it to go away. Watching my 9 year old girl light up when she goes to the store is a highlight of my Christmas.

We teach our kids the meaning of the holiday and the gift that God gave us, but we also teach them to give to others. We have 2 traditions at Christmas, the religious services as well as gift giving. Keeping both traditions brings true happiness to me and my family.

]]> By: Jenny http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/advent-2008-dec-10/#comment-832 Jenny Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:58:59 +0000 http://www.bustedhalo.com/?p=5927#comment-832 I agree. I do think that the commercialism can get out of hand, but I don't think we should try to entirely suppress it. The tradition of gift-giving that even the secular, non-believing folks normally partake in is sort of a built-in Advent and Christmas. The waiting, hope, suspense of the time leading up to Christmas, giving gifts, and the climax of the shared time with family, opening gifts, feasting, and so forth can be sort of a covert manner of leading people into the spirit of Christmas in the way that it can help children to learn the greater meaning of Christmas. I agree. I do think that the commercialism can get out of hand, but I don’t think we should try to entirely suppress it. The tradition of gift-giving that even the secular, non-believing folks normally partake in is sort of a built-in Advent and Christmas. The waiting, hope, suspense of the time leading up to Christmas, giving gifts, and the climax of the shared time with family, opening gifts, feasting, and so forth can be sort of a covert manner of leading people into the spirit of Christmas in the way that it can help children to learn the greater meaning of Christmas.

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