No Christ in Christmas? Impossible!

Yesterday, CNN.com published this column by commentator Roland Wilson, in which he makes the argument that Americans should "return to traditional values, and end this ridiculous charade" of stripping Christmas of its religious meaning.

To longtime observers of the December Dilemma, Wilson's essay appears to conflate two classic problems that many conservative Christians assert. One is that our secular society discourages Christians from publicly sharing their faith (the insistence on wishing people "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas). The other is the behavior of many Christians, who both literally and figuratively buy into the secular Christmas culture and focus on gifts and shopping rather than on prayer, reflection, and quality time with family.

Of course, there is a connection between these two issues - Christians are subject to the power of marketing just like everyone else, and in some ways, the widespread idea among advertisers that December is a time for you to spend money can't coexist with the idea that Christmas is a holiday about giving of yourself, not of your wallet.

But all the same, Wilson's essay would have been stronger had it focused only on the latter issue, as he does when he says, "It's important that we take a fuller account of WHY we celebrate Christmas, as opposed to falling for the barrage of ads that tell us what is most important." Because even Bill O'Reilly has declared victory in the war against "Happy Holidays," a sure signal that it's consumerism, not interfaith confusion, that's the real issue of the day.

Do you agree? Please share your views in the comments area.