-EDIT: I just noticed this story occurred on Halloween! / "the Eve of all Saints"/ all Hallows eve...- One of the countries hardest hit by the Existential crisis of the Reformation, was Germany. Families were divided, and people had to choose whether to cast their lot with the old religion or the new faith as the match was commonly described. It is commonly said in Canadian … [Read more...]
The Puritans' War on Christmas
Comedic Pundits like Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart constantly celebrate Advent by mockingly referring to what Social Conservatives would call "The War on Christmas", which they see as emblematic of American society's rejection of Christianity. It would shock many to know that the first people who warred against Christmas were not post-60's liberals however, but one of … [Read more...]
Advent and Candles in Worship
If you promoted the use of candles in worship as an Advent service idea, some people might get quite upset. Back in the 19th century, a little thing called the "Oxford Movement" was going on, where the Church of England / the Anglican Communion worldwide began to go back to more 'Catholic' or Traditional modes of spirituality. Candles was a common one that the more Reformed … [Read more...]
Advent & Christmas Mythbusting: Why Dec. 25th?
The first season of the Church Year in the Liturgical Calendar is Advent. Perhaps the biggest controversy of late regarding this season in the pop culture of the Anglo-sphere has been the date of Christmas. In the days of the Early Church in Britain, the Venerable Bede recorded that the Church catholic almost schismed over the date of Easter, so it's not an unusual … [Read more...]
The Liturgical Calendar?
For some readers the Liturgical Calendar like the prefix "St." is scary and reminscent of the Inquisition, Clerical sex-scandals, and everything they hate about religion in general. However, in years past, more and more people with that initial gut reaction have been rethinking their own positions, and have warmed to words like "Lent" and "Advent". I remember first … [Read more...]