Media company declares war on Christmas
-06/12/05
In a response to repeated claims by C
Media company declares war on Christmas
-06/12/05
In a response to repeated claims by Conservative Christians that Christ is being taken out of Christmas, a media company in the US has formally declared war on the festival.
Beyond Belief Media has formally declared war on Christmas, the December 25 holiday in which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the company announced yesterday.
ìChristian conservatives complain non-stop about the ëWar on Christmas,í but there really isnít any such war,î said Beyond
Belief Media president Brian Flemming, a former fundamentalist Christian.
ìSo we have decided to wage one, to demonstrate what it would look like if Jesusí birthday were truly attacked.î
The announcement of what many will see as a self-fulfilling prophecy from the Religious Right in the US follows similar scare stories in the UK that Christ was being ‘taken out of Christmas’.
As its opening salvo, Beyond Belief Media has purchased advertisements this week in the New York Times, USA Today and the New Yorker magazine.
The companyís 300-member volunteer ìstreet teamî is also descending on Christmas-themed public events with random ìguerrilla giveawaysî of the company’s documentary ‘The God Who Wasn’t There.’
ìNo Christmas pageant or Nativity display is safe from our troops,î said Flemming.
The God Who Wasn’t There is a documentary that Newsweek says ìirreverently lays out the case that Jesus Christ never existed.î
The film includes interviews with some of the top religion experts in the world. Directed by Flemming, the movie is
also highly critical of the modern Christian right and explores the dangers that religious belief poses to society.
The film has been praised by critics but condemned by groups from the Religious Right such as James Dobsonís Focus on the Family.
ìObviously our ëWar on Christmasí is a bit tongue-in-cheek,î said Flemming.
[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]
Media company declares war on Christmas
-06/12/05
In a response to repeated claims by Conservative Christians that Christ is being taken out of Christmas, a media company in the US has formally declared war on the festival.
Beyond Belief Media has formally declared war on Christmas, the December 25 holiday in which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the company announced yesterday.
‘Christian conservatives complain non-stop about the ëWar on Christmas,’ but there really isn’t any such war,’ said Beyond
Belief Media president Brian Flemming, a former fundamentalist Christian.
‘So we have decided to wage one, to demonstrate what it would look like if Jesus’ birthday were truly attacked.’
The announcement of what many will see as a self-fulfilling prophecy from the Religious Right in the US follows similar scare stories in the UK that Christ was being ‘taken out of Christmas’.
As its opening salvo, Beyond Belief Media has purchased advertisements this week in the New York Times, USA Today and the New Yorker magazine.
The company’s 300-member volunteer ‘street team’ is also descending on Christmas-themed public events with random ‘guerrilla giveaways’ of the company’s documentary ‘The God Who Wasn’t There.’
‘No Christmas pageant or Nativity display is safe from our troops,’ said Flemming.
The God Who Wasn’t There is a documentary that Newsweek says ‘irreverently lays out the case that Jesus Christ never existed.’
The film includes interviews with some of the top religion experts in the world. Directed by Flemming, the movie is
also highly critical of the modern Christian right and explores the dangers that religious belief poses to society.
The film has been praised by critics but condemned by groups from the Religious Right such as James Dobson’s Focus on the Family.
‘Obviously our ëWar on Christmas’ is a bit tongue-in-cheek,’ said Flemming.
[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]