So, what does a Catholic do?

[irishpatrick]

What would be the appropriate response to a radio talk show host who decides (on Christmas Eve) to use their entire program time to talk about the history of Christmas, yet very little of the time is ever spent presenting the real reason for the celebration, rather the show centers on reflecting the various holes in the way our Lord’s birth has been celebrated (the wheel, yule, etc.)?

In other words, the show was not a full blast negative, yet it was hardly a postitive look at Christmas and it sure did present things that many people can take as serious negatives…all done on the eve of our celebration.

Other then not bothering to listen to the show again, what other steps can be taken?

 

[RedSoxFan]

The show most likely has contact information. I would contact them and let them know about your objections.

 

[Light_Seeker]

I regularly listen to several Christian talk radio stations during drive time. Unfortunately, none are Catholic during this time.

These talks shows are usually Protestant ministers homily’s recorded at their church services. Most of the time they’re pretty good and relevant – Protestants & Catholics have different theologies, but we do agree on most things

It’s amazed , and angered me this year. I’ve heard several of their reflections, especially concerning Mary, that are nothing more than misinformed Catholic bashing - preaching to their flock on what Catholics believe and why it is wrong.

But they are way off base understanding what Catholics believe & why.

My solution? Turn off the radio . Don’t want to be angered during Advent.

 

[Tonks40]

I know of the show the OP is talking about, and I listened to bits and pieces of it today while running errands. It was not disrespectful, in fact, it was very interesting, and historical.

As a Christian, this show should not dissuade a person’s faith in Christ - rather, it should see it in its historical context in the development of the Christmas celebration in the Western world.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

 

[irishpatrick]

I know of the show the OP is talking about, and I listened to bits and pieces of it today while running errands. It was not disrespectful, in fact, it was very interesting, and historical.

As a Christian, this show should not dissuade a person’s faith in Christ - rather, it should see it in its historical context in the development of the Christmas celebration in the Western world.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

Without mentioning the show, I will say I listened to 90-120 minutes of it before I had to stop. There were some true historical facts given, no doubt there. However, the show’s basic theme was to uncover the “real secrets” behind Christmas as if Christians are steeling away the real truths of our own faith. It was done very much like a Da Vinci Code style, seeming to be fine on the surface, until you listen long enough to know better.

The show never really covers the real reason for the celebration, rather it takes a rather biased view of the various traditions (and lack thereof) of our holy day. Never did the show (at least not that I heard in nearly two hours of listening) even go into the fact that Christmas is based on the term Cristes Maesse, or the Mass of Christ and that the real celebration of Christmas is a joyful one of our Lord coming into the world during His birth. The show took a very secular pov, and in the process ignored all of the real signifcance of the day and also walked very close to many lines that are quite debatable. As with the world in general, the show seemed intent on making Christmas a worldly secular affair, without any real basis in the Lord’s birth. We do not need any help from radio talk show hosts to make Christmas even more secular, that has happeend enough. The talk show host went on and on about how in various times in history Christmas didn’t mean anything to Christians, not exactly a fully accurate or positive take on the matter.

IMO

Anyway: Merry Christmas to all!

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

What would be the appropriate response to a radio talk show host who decides (on Christmas Eve) to use their entire program time to talk about the history of Christmas, yet very little of the time is ever spent presenting the real reason for the celebration, rather the show centers on reflecting the various holes in the way our Lord’s birth has been celebrated (the wheel, yule, etc.)?

In other words, the show was not a full blast negative, yet it was hardly a postitive look at Christmas and it sure did present things that many people can take as serious negatives…all done on the eve of our celebration.

Other then not bothering to listen to the show again, what other steps can be taken?

Find out who the sponsors of the show are and write them.

 

[Dirk_Skene]

I stopped worring about stuff like that some time ago. The reason is not that I don’t care, because I do. It is just that I have found out that others do not care & nothing that is said to them causes them to care. I don’t waste my time & energy on them. I have other things to do.

 

[RobertLGarrett]

I know of the show the OP is talking about, and I listened to bits and pieces of it today while running errands. It was not disrespectful, in fact, it was very interesting, and historical.

As a Christian, this show should not dissuade a person’s faith in Christ - rather, it should see it in its historical context in the development of the Christmas celebration in the Western world.

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

Exactly, the point I always make is that the history of the various solstice celebrations and how they are interwoven in our celebration of Christmas is immaterial. What we are celebrating is the birth of Christ…not the solstice. Non-Catholics/Christians can whine and complain and say whatever they want about the holiday. For us, keeping Christ in Christmas is a valid concern and the meaning for the holiday.

Sadly, Christmas as a secular holiday has gotten far from Christ’s birth. It is all about Santa. If I had my “drothers,” I would keep Advent and Christmas purely religious (drop the Coca Cola Santa stuff) and start celebrating St Nicholas’ feast day in the Dutch tradition…without Black Pete though. That would at least put the emphasis on a Saint and Bishop, rather than a “jolly old elf.”

 

[irishpatrick]

I stopped worring about stuff like that some time ago. The reason is not that I don’t care, because I do. It is just that I have found out that others do not care & nothing that is said to them causes them to care. I don’t waste my time & energy on them. I have other things to do.

That is probably a very wise way to handle it…

 

[cassini]

Irishpatrick, What you can do is keep the simple faith of your fathers. This is everything in the modern world.
Time was when Christmas homilies were about the birth of Jesus in a manger because there was no room at the Inn. It was Providence, not the lack of money (Joseph was well capable of looking after the needs of his family, he was a carpenter remember) that chose a farmshed for the virgin birth.

Today however homilies are different. Here is what we got in an Irish Church on Christmas morning.

Christmas is a time when God not only chose to be born a man, but a time to show How He wants all children to be born, into a loving family of father and mother.
Today, Father said, not only is the birth of God being denied worldover, but there exist among mankind an attack on the Family and even on the childs right to be born.