sick of consumerism in christmas

  • Thread starter Thread starter jpk1313
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

jpk1313

Guest
If your as sick as I am with all the consumerism during the christmas then I invite you to join me in boycotting this disgusting abuse of our faith. All the money you would spend on presents give it to charity or go buy a meal for random homeless people. Rufuse to buy anything and when people ask why you did not get them anything tell them you have prayed for them. Lets send a message to secular socity that our faith is not a commercial for usless junk nobody really wants or needs. The rampent materialism of this world is destroying our understanding and reason why we have christmas. If you feel the need to really give gifts don’t buy anything give away what you already have. But do not give becuse it is expected by the capitalist rulers tell you to. A prayer or kind word is much more heartfelt than some plastic piece of junk thats just going to collect dust and end up in a garbage dump. enough is enough!! And don’t just say you are sick of this abuse of the name of Jesus Christ do something by not doing anything that contributes to it.
 
Amen to that - I completely agree with you and do not go along with the capitalist rule myself - thanks for your post because I thought I was the only one that felt that way!
 
I’ll be honest, I enjoy every aspect of Christmas, secular consumierst and most particularly the holy. I think the trick is to always focus your self on the important part of Christmas, Christ’s birth!

This year I’m doing this in part with some religiously themed gifts.
 
Hasn’t giving gifts on Christmas always been a Christian tradition even before the secular world “took it to new levels”?

It seems a shame to stop our own tradition just to stop someone else from making a profit off us. But I agree that we could tone it down a bit, I dig the idea of giving out of things we already own rather than buying new gifts, as long as it’s something the recipient will actually like.
 
I agree pretty much but we have to be careful to not go the Puritan route and see celebration & feast days as sinful in themselves. As Catholics we have a rich tradition of Feast Days.Unfortunately, we also have a rich tradition of fasting, almsgiving, & sacrifice which have pretty much gone by the wayside.
Capitalism & celebrating are good. Consumerism replacing Christ’s birthday is bad.🙂
 
jpk1313 said:
If you feel the need to really give gifts don’t buy anything give away what you already have. But do not give becuse it is expected by the capitalist rulers tell you to. A prayer or kind word is much more heartfelt than some plastic piece of junk thats just going to collect dust and end up in a garbage dump. enough is enough!! .
Click to expand...
As long as you don’t give away 1/2 full bottles of old stinky perfume or opened containers of smelly body powder, that might be OK. I will never forget the Christmas my great aunt gave my mother exactly that. It was weird. I received new underwear from this same great aunt. It was the wrong size - I was about 10 or 11, and she gave a package of the granny-style underwear - adult size. I swear it was from HER underwear drawer.

Personally, I enjoy Christmas shopping and finding the great gifts and surprising people with them. Consumables are great - gift certificates for coffee shops or bakeries.

Besides, it IS part of our economy! What would happen if everyone stopped buying? Even more people would lose jobs!
 
Christmas is only as “commercial” as you allow it to become.
 
You & I have something in common. I do very little, almost insignificant, Christmas gift shopping. And I have a question; are you as tired of “holiday” greatings as much as I am?
 
Dirk_Skene said:
You & I have something in common. I do very little, almost insignificant, Christmas gift shopping. And I have a question; are you as tired of “holiday” greatings as much as I am?
Click to expand...
Kinda but I give it a new twist instead of merry christmas or happy holiday I tell people “baby Jesus Loves you you know he grew up to die for your sins.”
 
If you’re sick of the rampant consumerism I’d say instead of not buying gifts, give gifts in the spirit of the Christian Faith. Whether that’s a donation to charity in someone elses name, or something to help them along with their faith, or something they actually need, as opposed to want.

The giving of gifts is a long tradition and shouldn’t be abandoned due to consumerism.
 
jpk1313 said:
If your as sick as I am with all the consumerism during the christmas then I invite you to join me in boycotting this disgusting abuse of our faith. All the money you would spend on presents give it to charity or go buy a meal for random homeless people. Rufuse to buy anything and when people ask why you did not get them anything tell them you have prayed for them. Lets send a message to secular socity that our faith is not a commercial for usless junk nobody really wants or needs. The rampent materialism of this world is destroying our understanding and reason why we have christmas. If you feel the need to really give gifts don’t buy anything give away what you already have. But do not give becuse it is expected by the capitalist rulers tell you to. A prayer or kind word is much more heartfelt than some plastic piece of junk thats just going to collect dust and end up in a garbage dump. enough is enough!! And don’t just say you are sick of this abuse of the name of Jesus Christ do something by not doing anything that contributes to it.
Click to expand...
Please, please, people, please don’t give your old junk to other people and then claim to have been praying for them. They won’t believe you. 🙂

I see nothing wrong with giving gifts at Xmas. If someone feels that giving gifts at Xmas interferes with his ability to celebrate, he shouldn’t feel forced to participate. But I’m wondering if you’ve read A Christmas Carol recently? Gifts don’t have to be lavish or numerous. It’s about the feeling behind the giving. If someone can’t give with that feeling, because of the retail atmosphere surrounding Xmas, I can understand why he would want to drop out. If he can get himself, like Scrooge, past the idea that others are “picking pockets” at Xmas, he would enjoy it again.

Also want to add that it’s not an either or situation. One can help charities and give gifts to those they love. This year I gave clothing and a small toy or book to 5 children through a local charity. I also bought gifts for kids in my own family.

What do you think of Xmas cards?

Everyone, what do you do when you’re stuck for ideas?

Did anyone see the History Channel (I think) show on Xmas? They said that a group of nuns were the first to give kids gifts for being good. It was on Dec 6th, and the gift-giving custom eventually moved to Xmas. The History Channel isn’t exactly a good source–does anyone know if that’s true?
 
kalt said:
Please, please, people, please don’t give your old junk to other people and then claim to have been praying for them. They won’t believe you. 🙂

I see nothing wrong with giving gifts at Xmas. If someone feels that giving gifts at Xmas interferes with his ability to celebrate, he shouldn’t feel forced to participate. But I’m wondering if you’ve read A Christmas Carol recently? Gifts don’t have to be lavish or numerous. It’s about the feeling behind the giving. If someone can’t give with that feeling, because of the retail atmosphere surrounding Xmas, I can understand why he would want to drop out. If he can get himself, like Scrooge, past the idea that others are “picking pockets” at Xmas, he would enjoy it again.

Also want to add that it’s not an either or situation. One can help charities and give gifts to those they love. This year I gave clothing and a small toy or book to 5 children through a local charity. I also bought gifts for kids in my own family.

What do you think of Xmas cards?

Everyone, what do you do when you’re stuck for ideas?

Did anyone see the History Channel (I think) show on Xmas? They said that a group of nuns were the first to give kids gifts for being good. It was on Dec 6th, and the gift-giving custom eventually moved to Xmas. The History Channel isn’t exactly a good source–does anyone know if that’s true?
Click to expand...
I"m not sure about the nun connection, but in Europe children would put their shoes out on the eve of St. Nicholas & then-if they’ve been good-they find candy, cookies, etc in their shoe in the morning.
Happy St. Nicholas Day! (Today)
 
One thing you may consider to do if you are sick of consumerism this time of year is find those stores who have been struggling this year and purchase from them.

As much as I hate to admit it, its a double edge sword.
By spending money, we keep many people employed, and they in turn, can put food on their tables, keep a roof over their heads, and provide for THEIR families.

It often times is about balance and not the knee-jerk reactions to our justified frustrations.

Just a thought
 
For liturgical traditions (including my own), it is hard to celebrate and impress Advent upon people when they have heard Christmas carols in stores since Halloween. Harder still to remind folks that the 12 Days of Christmas start on the 25th, instead of end. 🤷
 
O.S.Luke said:
For liturgical traditions (including my own), it is hard to celebrate and impress Advent upon people when they have heard Christmas carols in stores since Halloween. Harder still to remind folks that the 12 Days of Christmas start on the 25th, instead of end. 🤷
Click to expand...
We have been trying to celebrate Christmas beginning on Christmas Eve and through the entire 12 days.And keep Advent. It’s been an uphill struggle for the last 30 years but I’m still persevering!
One benefit is buying our Christmas tree a day or two before Christmas for almost nothing or free. (The downside is getting to the tree lots & finding nothing left.) Living in the country was easier, we just set the kids out the woods with a saw on Christmas Eve day.
 
O.S.Luke said:
For liturgical traditions (including my own), it is hard to celebrate and impress Advent upon people when they have heard Christmas carols in stores since Halloween. Harder still to remind folks that the 12 Days of Christmas start on the 25th, instead of end. 🤷
Click to expand...
When I was a kid, my dad would not let us decorate the tree until Christmas eve. In addition, I heard him once bemoan the consumerism by say that Christianity should give the pope the power to determine a different date for Christmas each year - 5 weeks in advance. Even though it was tongue-in-cheek, that was quite a statement from a Lutheran clergyman.
Jon
 
Your dad was a very wise man. We also decorated our tree on Christmas Eve.
 
I am more concerned about the annual Santa lie that so many people teach there most beloved children. It truly is a most most dispicable sin. At least Pagans who taught there children to worship the sun actually thought it was the truth. But this one has people knowingly lieing to there children.
 
agent_grey said:
I am more concerned about the annual Santa lie that so many people teach there most beloved children. It truly is a most most dispicable sin. At least Pagans who taught there children to worship the sun actually thought it was the truth. But this one has people knowingly lieing to there children.
Click to expand...
It is not a sin. Goodness. Adults “lie” to children all the time. The saddest part of the Santa tale for me was when I figured out and found out it wasn’t real. This isn’t a lie. It is a joyous little tale that young children love, grow out of, then fondly remember. You are welcome to deprive your children of it, if you wish.

And,btw, it is perfectly possible to teach the true meaning of Christmas. while participating in the innocent fantasy.

Jon
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top