Pope: Christmas Polluted by Consumerism

Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday that Christmas festivities have been polluted by consumerism and suggested that assembling the Nativity scene in the home is an effective way of teaching the faith to children.

.......

"In today's consumer society, this time (of the year) is unfortunately subjected to a sort of commercial 'pollution' that is in danger of altering its true spirit, which is characterized by meditation, sobriety and by a joy that is not exterior but intimate," the pope said in his traditional Sunday blessing.

"Assembling the Nativity scene in the home can turn out to be a simple but effective way of presenting the faith to pass it on to one's children," Benedict added.

"The Nativity scene helps us contemplate the mystery of the love of God, which is revealed to us in the poverty and simplicity of the grotto in Bethlehem."



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/11/AR2005121100339.html

/sarc off

For Catholics, it's a Holy Day of Obligation and that's what it's called. O'Reilly's supposed to be a Catholic. Why is he getting the name of his war wrong?

NGU.

Maybe they'll short-circuit themselves.

and wrap it in cotton wool because doing that was making a true representation of the real thing instead of buying a plastic one at a store.

it is the the trappings,wrappings, and pagan customs of the commercial christmas that keep people interested. A holiday based only
on the myths in the bible would not be that popular.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

"please do not feed my god a peanut"

The operative words being "in the home"

You tell them, Pope! You tell them to stop buying all those gifts and just give the money to charity! You do that, and the next sound you will hear will be that of American warplanes bombing the Vatican.

Materialism is the greatest Moral threat to our country. Of course Americas Corpo
christians will never speak out against Corporate America since the Repubilcan party provides shelter for power and greed.

our environment,and our country as the corporations control our government with the help of the MSM and Diebold.Sorry repugs, but Gay Marriage isn't the Great Evil; corporate greed and the celebration of consumerism is.

Pope denounces materialism from balcony of marble, gold-domed building in midst of jewel-encrusted religious icons while wearing giant gold cross

BINGO!

No kidding. :rofl:

In the U.S., complaints about the commercialization of Christmas go back decades.

However, I've noticed the last few years that there is a truly bizarre, rushed sort of commercialism that beats people over the head with Santa Claus and Christmas pop tunes from, say, September on. I wish I were kidding. My local supermarket has had a ghastly inflatable globe with a Santa figure inside up since September, and a local radio station plays Christmas tunes ALL during November.

Even one of my long-time acquaintances sent me a Christmas card in mid-November. What on Earth is going on here? I think it boils down to viewing the holiday itself as a series of obligations, purchases, and meals to prepare. It scares me.

I think Ogden Nash had the right idea when he wrote about shutting the doors on the frenzied holiday season and celebrating Christmas like "Tiny Tim and Mr. Pickwick."

:sarcasm:

that is the GOP...corporate power and religious nut cases.

You see how evil the GOP is when you realize these are its two leading factions. The rich corporate types sold out civil rights and privacy for votes and the religious nut cases sold out Jesus' compassion for the poor for money and power.

God save us.

A nativity scene in the HOME will not do for many Evangelical Christians. It is not about *being* Christian, it is about *showing others* how Christian they are.

The Pope has his cathedrals and pointy hat. Everyone knows he is Christian. Some Evangelicals need their public displays of Christianity because without them... ie, if you just look at their words and deeds, there would be no way to tell that they had ever heard of Jesus Christ.

just how Christian are they. If its about keeping up appearances then they are just frauds.

Pope forgot we are supposed to spend, spend, spend our way out of the deficit. We've got to support those Chinese who are propping up our bonds.

Sheesh and I thought he and Chimpy were best buddies.. Seems the Pope is going after Bush's base. It's not nice to fool with God...

it shouldn't take the pope to say it for people to realize it. christmas presents anyone?


postscript:

i apologize in advance if this is against some rule i'm unaware of, but i'm going to plug my thread. i have started a thread suggesting a new DU group for career advice, and job seekers. if you're interested please check out this thread and reply:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4430590

A ban on Usury. A few edicts on the neccesity of good works in order to attain the kingdom of god.

Let's screw the Reformation and go back to "real" Christianity.

the Feast of the Enbiggenment of Our Profits going back to the pre-reformation? Why would the pope care about going "pre-reformation" anyway? The Catholic church was what was reformed against, it never got into the Calvinism the same way the Fundies did.

Charlie Brown's little sister on the Peanut's Christmas Special when I was like 5 years old.