Origins of Chistmas – the Debate

David, over at JollyBlogger writes a real good summary of the whole debate on the pagan origin of Christmas.

I have to admit I have gotten tired of the whole thing. You end up feeling like poor ole Fred the Fundamentalist, having to boycott stores that are ‘taking Christ out of Christmas’ and now you have to boycott the stores that are celebrating that pagan holiday in sheep’s clothing – Christmas.

But the JollyBlogger’s 2nd reason that we shouldn’t get worked up, quoted below, really hit my funny bone. I guess I have gone to too many of the History Conferences in Moscow, ID. George Grant invariably pulls a little black book out of his coat pocket and reads a quote – usually from G.K. Chesterton:

For me, I don’t see the point of getting all worked up about this for three reasons. Reason number one is that the pagan/Catholic origins argument comes perilously close to committing the genetic fallacy. Secondly, George Grant says that G. K. Chesterton says we shouldn’t get worked up about it. And if George says we shouldn’t get worked up about something that’s good enough for me. But if George says that G. K. says we shouldn’t get worked up about something by golly we doubly better not get worked up about it. The third reason is that I think the Bible offers principles which allow us to celebrate Christmas.