Even God Hates Christmas

"Put Christ back into Christmas," urges Trevor Phillips.

Sir Trevor says the public should ignore "political correctness" which apparently have seen nativity plays banned from schools and xmas lights bannished and that these 'silly season' stories, he suspects (quite rightly, I'm sure) point to "an underlying agenda to use this great holiday to fuel community tension".

Generally speaking, he's right. But there is one major flaw to his underlying logic. Christmas never belonged to Christians in the first place. It is simply the Christianisation of a festival celebrated in many cultures for millennia.

In fact, one of the most "traditional" of Christmas rituals is actually a blasphemy. Yes, the humble Chrismas Tree is an eclesisatical no-no. The Bible says:

Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

That's from Jeremiah 10. Similar sentiments are expressed in the book of Issiah, which also seems to suggest that God hates chestnuts roasting on an open fire too.

Anyhow, don't take my word for it. For an informative talk on the subject, why not come along to a talk by Dr Robert Stovold, author of "Did Christians Steal Christmas" on Friday 14th December, 7.30pm, at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London.

Mulled wine and mince pies will be available to take the chill off the winter night. The talk and refreshments cost £5.