Religion and ACC
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Posted by Kate on December 16, 1997 at 10:23:21:
One thing I found interesting on this reading of A Christmas Carol was the presence and yet absence of overtly Christian ideas/theology/language. The whole thing is suffused in religion in the sense of responsibility to one's fellow human beings, the assumption that Marley is being punished for his sinful life, the church bells, Bob and Tiny Tim going to church etc. and yet Dickens seems to have consciously avoided using the words "Christ" or "Jesus" (can someone who has the etext check this - I'm just grasping at straws here...)
Why might Dickens have chosen to paint a picture of Christmas which seems to be almost secular - with as much importance in the giving of gifts and eating of food as on the celebration of the birth of Christ? Is this where our own secular Christmas traditions get their credibility (they actually come from much much older pagan midwinter festivals)?
Are the secular trappings of Christmas (Santa Claus, Christmas trees, all those secular Christmas songs they play in stores) overtaking the basis for the celebration? Is that just the reality in a secular society?
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