The majority of Britons fail to grasp the meaning of the Christmas story, new research has revealed. The story chimes with these politically turbulent times, but we turn it into a cosy domestic tale.
The research, commissioned by Theos, the religion and society think tank, asked people what they thought Christmas was about.
The overwhelming majority (83%) said they thought it was “about spending time with family and friends”.
Three in five (62%) said that it was “a time when we should be generous to people less fortunate than ourselves”.
However, only a third (34%) thought it was “a time when we should challenge poverty and economic injustice” and a mere fifth (19%) said it was “a time when we should challenge political oppression around the world”.
This view is badly mistaken, according to a new Theos report, The Politics of Christmas, published today.
Written by theologian Dr Stephen Holmes, from St Andrews University, The Politics of Christmas argues that our modern view of Christmas is largely a Victorian invention and bears little resemblance to the story as told in the gospels.
The Christmas story is intensely political, Dr Holmes argues, with St Matthew and St Luke focusing their sights on questions of economic exploitation, imperial oppression, social stigma, and petty tyranny. Christmas is about challenging economic exploitation and political oppression just as much as it is about family and charity.
Elizabeth Hunter, Theos’ Director, said, “Christmas is undoubtedly a time for family and for generosity. But it should also be a moment when we hear and attend to a message of justice and freedom for all.”
“The gospel writers repeatedly emphasise the political implications of the birth of Jesus, but we fail to hear them through the clamour of jingle bells.
“However, in this year above all, in which we have seen the Arab Spring and the Occupy protests, we should turn from a sentimentalised vision of the season and listen carefully to the true political message of the Christmas story.”
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Notes
1. Theos is a think tank which offers research and commentary on issues of religion, ethics and society. It was launched in November 2006 with the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and the former Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.
2. The Politics of Christmas can be read here.
3. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. ComRes interviewed 2032 GB adults online between 7th and 9th October 2011. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of all GB adults. To read the research tables in full, click here.
For more information, please contact Elizabeth Hunter using the contact details below.
Contact Details
Press enquiries should be directed to the Theos Press Office:
Theos - the public theology think tank
77 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 2EZ
T. 0207 828 7777
M. 07796 325 170
