Archbishop of Canterbury speaks up on Christmas row

-03/12/05

In the face of continuing


Archbishop of Canterbury speaks up on Christmas row

-03/12/05

In the face of continuing public arguments about the status of Christmas in a plural society, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has described the festival as a celebration of human hope based on God’s identification with humanity in Jesus.

Turning on the Christmas lights in one of Londonís more deprived and populous boroughs, Dr Williams said: ìYouíve probably noticed that there has been quite a lot of fuss in the papers about Lambeth and Christmas ñ if you havenít, I donít know which papers youíve been reading!î

ìChristmas is the Christianís Christmas present to everybody else,î the Archbishop claimed. ìChristmas, for a Christian tells us why people matter. They matter because God took us seriously, seriously enough to get involved with our lives to suffer with us and change things. Thatís what I believe, thatís what Christians believe and Christmas exists because of that belief.î

He added: ìYou may or may not believe that; you may think people matter for other reasons, but never mind; thatís what weíre saying and thatís our present, thatís our gift to the rest of the world.î

ìSo think of this as a time to recall why people matter; the people with AIDS and HIV that weíre thinking of [on World AIDS Day], the people who are under threat in Pakistan, whose lives are at risk, the people here around us who need love and attention and care, they matter and it matters how we react to them.î

[Also on Ekklesia: And the Word became tinsel (Simon Barrow); Christmas was not ‘banned’ after all; Christian aid groups launch virtual gifts for Christmas; Christmas card alternatives ; 5 steps for a more ethical Christmas; Newspapers renew claims about ‘de-Christianisation’ of Christmas; Narnia to be inspiration for Christmas services; Attack on Royal Mail over Christmas stamps]


Archbishop of Canterbury speaks up on Christmas row

-03/12/05

In the face of continuing public arguments about the status of Christmas in a plural society, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has described the festival as a celebration of human hope based on God’s identification with humanity in Jesus.

Turning on the Christmas lights in one of London’s more deprived and populous boroughs, Dr Williams said: ‘You’ve probably noticed that there has been quite a lot of fuss in the papers about Lambeth and Christmas – if you haven’t, I don’t know which papers you’ve been reading!’

‘Christmas is the Christian’s Christmas present to everybody else,’ the Archbishop claimed. ‘Christmas, for a Christian tells us why people matter. They matter because God took us seriously, seriously enough to get involved with our lives to suffer with us and change things. That’s what I believe, that’s what Christians believe and Christmas exists because of that belief.’

He added: ‘You may or may not believe that; you may think people matter for other reasons, but never mind; that’s what we’re saying and that’s our present, that’s our gift to the rest of the world.’

‘So think of this as a time to recall why people matter; the people with AIDS and HIV that we’re thinking of [on World AIDS Day], the people who are under threat in Pakistan, whose lives are at risk, the people here around us who need love and attention and care, they matter and it matters how we react to them.’

[Also on Ekklesia: And the Word became tinsel (Simon Barrow); Christmas was not ‘banned’ after all; Christian aid groups launch virtual gifts for Christmas; Christmas card alternatives ; 5 steps for a more ethical Christmas; Newspapers renew claims about ‘de-Christianisation’ of Christmas; Narnia to be inspiration for Christmas services; Attack on Royal Mail over Christmas stamps]