O Tannenbaum...

Some days I wish I was Catholic, if only so I could then brag that I belong to the same tribe as Sister Joan...

As if we don't have enough religious topics to go to war about these days, we're now fighting over the Christmas tree.

...

(You've got to admit it's interesting: Say you're a Christian and you believe in the death penalty and nobody blinks. Say an evergeen tree is not a sacred Christian object and the world descends into spiritual spasm.)

Check out her column here. Merry Christmas, Sister Joan. You rock.

NOTE: Do NOT read this column if you do NOT want to be educated on the actual history behind the  Christmas tree, and would rather believe this is just the way it's always been...

Comments

[george]

So Mike is it safe to assume that you can't wrap your head around the idea that a Christian can be in favour of the death penalty?

That scenario I gave on the other post, the guy that plans out a rape and brutal murder of a young child, you think it would be an injustice for a gov't to take his life?

I'm assuming you believe in the absolute authority of Scripture. If I assume wrong I'm sure you will let me know. If you do, however, what do you think the sword is as referenced in Romans 13 and elsewhere in the New Testament?

[David]

Mike, I love that article. Very articulate and written with a real clarity. And still some will argue that this particular sacred cow must be called such and such. Is it any wonder God has a problem with our propensity for missing the point and idolatry. (is it any wonder the rest of the world mocks the very idea of Christianity? It certainly is not the idea of Jesus people find so difficult, it's US.)

Thanks for finding these articles. Loved the one that the 1984 article linked to. Thanks. See you Tuesday.

[Mike]

George, George, George. This post is about Christmas trees.

But, to address your point, I think its safe to assume that Sister Joan can't wrap her head around a Christian being for the death penalty and also freak out about "the war on Christmas".

I've added something over on the death penalty post...

[matt]

Shit, I can't wrap my head around much these days. Um, how did we get from the tree to the death penalty? It's a FREAKING CHRISTMAS TREE!!! Sorry, Holiday tree, but don't shoot me for that either.

Ebenezer, err, George, I love the discussion, but quit sapping the life out this. It is Christmas, you know.

[bobbie]

isn't she amazing? she can distill things down to their very essence. i almost posted on this yesterday but didn't have the energy to endure the comments (like you got here... sigh)...

[wes]

...relax...you ARE catholic...and Catholic...and I'm right there with you!!! :)