EXPUNGING CHRISTIANITY FROM WESTERN CULTURE

Today's blog post addresses how western culture's new anti-Christian bias has been building throughout past decade. It is an ugly intolerance -- particularly with increasingly vociferous and vicious attempts by liberals, neo-pagans and anti-Christians to expunge Christianity from the collective conscience of Western civilization.

One of the darkest chapters of British history played out in summer and autumn of 1940. The Nazi menace seemed unstoppable in Europe. Country after country fell to German military might and Britain was about to fall, or so it seemed. Everybody expected that an invasion was imminent. Prime Minister Winston Churchill rose in Parliament and delivered his “finest hour” speech:

 “…I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life and the long continuation of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. …If we can stand up to him, [Hitler] all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age, made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its commonwealth last a thousand years, men still say: ‘This was their finest hour.’”

 The Battle of Britain was terrible, just like Churchill predicted. The ‘full fury’ of the Nazi Luftwaffe (air force) was unleashed against England. During late summer and autumn of 1940, the Germans sent an average of a thousand bombers a day to England. [1] The city of London took a horrible pounding from the skies for fifty-seven consecutive nights from September 7^th to November 3^rd.  An average of 200 daily bombers shook the city to its foundations. Things got so bad that Churchill was certain London would be reduced to a heap of rubble.[2]  Eventually, the British Royal Air force prevailed, despite appalling losses. Although the war dragged on for another four years, Britain was saved.

What would have happened to England had things gone the other way?  Captured German papers indicate that the subjugation of England would have been a brutal affair, to say the least, under the direction of the Nazi henchman, Heinrich Himmler and the SS.  

CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION & SECULAR CANADA

It’s interesting to note that Churchill made reference to the survival of “Christian civilization.” I can find no record of howls of protest at this assertion. There was a general acceptance that this was true. Churchill referred to a Christian civilization which included the United States and Canada.  People held that Christian civilization so dear, and cherished it so much, that they were prepared to die to preserve it.  Tens of thousands did just that rather than capitulate.

What happened in the 71 years since Sir Winston Churchill delivered that historic speech?  What happened in those intervening seven decades from when people freely acknowledged that their Christian civilization was worth fighting and dying for, to the present point where a Commonwealth country like Canada suppresses its Christian roots or preposterously denies them? What happened to silence or drive Christians from public debate?

Evangelical Christians who run for federal public office are considered open game for attack, character assassination and ridicule about their beliefs in a way that would not be tolerated if they were Sikhs or Muslims. The Bible is openly attacked as hate literature up to and including official government agencies? In fact, in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, a provincial court Judge determined in 2002 that the Bible is “hate literature” because of passages against homosexuality as sinful.[3] But the Koran also condemns homosexuality too[4] Why isn’t it censored?  There’s no logic to political correctness. In Canada, the charade of multi-cultural pluralism extends to everyone—except Christians and their Holy Book.  

Anti-Christian prejudice is gaining dominance in western culture. This new secularism is as threatening to western Christian civilization as the Nazis were in a previous generation.

SECULARIZED CANADA

The secularization of Canada has become so complete that even public references of Jesus are anathema to officialdom. This was illustrated in 1998 when a Canadian memorial was planned for victims of the Swissair tragedy off the coast of Nova Scotia.  The memorial service was attended by 2,000 mourners. Christian clergy were not permitted to mention Jesus or the New Testament. Canadian Protocol officials demanded to know what they would say and vetted their prayers and speeches to ensure the demand was met! It was done in a spirit of “inclusiveness.” (?)  No such restrictions appeared to be imposed on aboriginal, Jewish or Muslim religious leaders who freely referred to God and quoted from the Koran and Talmud at the service. 

Later, a Christian cleric who had been muzzled asked “That begs the question of what is inherently offensive about Christian Scripture.”[5]  Indeed, but more on that later. It also begs the question: How many of the 2,000 mourners would have found references to Jesus or the New Testament offensive, or was it a display of anti-Christian prejudice on the part of a few elite federal bureaucrats?  Much of my working career was spent as Canadian government bureaucrat and I’d wager it was probably the latter.

PUSHING CHRIST OUT OF CHRISTMAS!

We should not single out Canada just because it’s farther down the secularization trail. Liberal America wants to catch up. For example, we saw inklings of this beginning in the 2004 Christmas Season. Numerous department stores stopped using the greeting “Merry Christmas” in favor of “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings.”

Granted there is the odd kooky shopper who might be offended at the word Christ in Merry Christmas, but they are far and few between.  Millions of shoppers are not bothered one iota by the festive greeting “Merry Christmas!” Their hearts warm at the sight of a Christmas nativity scene and the sound of carolers singing:  “Away in a -manger, No crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.”

Christmas 2005 indoctrination to a Christ-less Christmas swung into gear in earnest and early. For instance, at an elementary school in Dodgeville WI, they were introduced to revisionism at a tender age. School officials altered the lyrics of the beloved and classic Christmas carol Silent Night ─ removing all references to Christ’s birth. The revised secular version was still sung to the Silent Night tune but had new lyrics:  "Cold in the night, no one in sight, winter winds whirl and bite, how I wish I were happy and warm, safe with my family out of the storm.”  Classrooms were decorated with themes of Santa Clause, Menorahs, Kwanza, and even a Christmas witch named Labafana but apparently the Christian Nativity was censored.[6] 

Would the educators of Dodgeville Wisconsin protect their children’s ears from Handel’s offensive Messiah or alter the lyrics? Would they hide the children’s eyes from the shock of seeing the image of Marten de Vos’ oil painting Nativity (1577), Botticelli’s Adoration of the Maji (c. 1478/1482) or other classical Christian art spanning centuries of Western civilization?  

Christophobia is not unique to Dodgeville Wisconsin. The city of Boston wanted to call their Christmas tree a Holiday tree. The word Christmas may start with the word ‘Christ,’ but Holiday starts with the word ‘Holi’ which is a Hindu festival centering on public bonfires.[7]  Public bonfire and a Holiday tree? Maybe there’s a way of combining the two. Sound ludicrous? So is the secularization of a 19^th Century Christmas carol.

Neurotic anti-Christian outrages about Christ in Christmas are given news coverage in proportions that far outweigh to the tiny numbers of over-sensitive atheists who can’t bear to acknowledge the Christian origins of the Season. Nativity scenes were, and continue to be, banned in various jurisdictions.[8]

This smacks of how, during the 1930s, the Nazis concocted a plan known as ‘development of Germanic heritage.’ to systematic replace Germany’s Christianity with a new cultural framework.  Christian symbols were replaced with Germanic cult objects. For instance, German SS families were sent a “Yule-tide candleholder” (Julleuchter) to replace traditional Christian symbols.[9] It didn’t work. Many families stubbornly clung to their Christian traditions and symbols. Other Christian festivals were replaced by pagan rites of the winter and spring solstices.   

EASTER BUNNY DUMPED (?)

Even the Easter Bunny offends politically correct secularists. A few Easters ago, the Town Center Shopping Mall in Boca Raton, Florida, capitulated to the secular Gestapo and announced it is phasing out the Easter Bunny. The mall’s general manager, Sam Hosen, told the Palm Beach Post, "Because we're such a multicultural community, it's good just to remain neutral.” He was concerned his mall might be seen as promoting a particular religious view point.[10]  Mr. Hosen was hosed by hyper-sensitive political correctness and appalling  ignorance of religious history. The Easter Bunny has its origins in Anglo-Saxon paganism and has nothing to do with Christian Easter theme celebration of Christ’s resurrection. 

JESUS OFFENSIVE

After a lawsuit by the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, US federal Court Judge David Hamilton ruled, on November 30^th 2005, that the Indiana House of Representatives can no longer mention Jesus Christ in its opening prayers.[11] The fact that other religious groups offer prayers without legal censor doesn’t matter. Christian clergy must not utter the name of Jesus under legal decree of a federal judge. Is it still illegal to mention the name of Jesus in the Indiana state legislature?

And then there was the notorious 2003 removal of a monument showing the ten commandments from the rotunda of an Alabama state Judiciary building under the order of U.S District Judge Myron Thompson. The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State sued to have the monument removed from the government building; one wonders how many Americans were “united” with them in this mischievous action. A CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll at the time indicated that 77% of Americans disapproved with the court order to remove the monument.[12]   

POLICING CHURCH PULPITS

 In Kansas, a group called Mainsteam Coalition (yeah right) and Americans United for Separation of Church and State began planting representatives in church services to monitor sermons. Any sermon too political for their liking during elections is apt to have a complaint against them filed with the IRS to revoke the churches’ charitable status. The tactic was/is intended to have a chilling effect. In the summer of 2004, It should be noted that the Washington County Democratic Party issued a statement supporting such actions.

CALIFORNIA MUCKRAKER & CHRISTOPHOBE

A few years back, California atheist and muckraker Michael Newdow tried unsuccessfully to have the words “under God” removed from the Pledge of Allegiance.  He argued his case all the way to the Supreme Court.  Newdow tried to have clergy prayer barred from being recited at the January 20^th 2005 inauguration of President Bush.  U.S. District Court Judge John Bates rejected Newdow’s claim. Gee, aren’t you glad Judge Myron Thompson was not on this case! (The Presidential inauguration would have looked like a Canadian memorial service.) The Christian Coalition’s spokesman, Jim Backlin, commented about Judge Bates’ ruling against Newdow: 

 "Thank God there are still federal judges -- including the Supreme Court Justices who threw out Mr. Newdow's Pledge of Allegiance lawsuit last year -- who reject the goals of a tiny vocal minority trying to impose their anti-God prejudices on more than 80 percent of Americans who hold traditional values and want God to remain in the public square.”[13]

The operative words are “vocal minority”.

TYRANNY OF THE MINORITY

It is good and just for society to protect minority rights—but not at the expense and suppression of majority rights. Clever, vociferous and well-situated special agendas can (and do) manipulate this protection into tyranny of their minority. They rely on the docility of average Americans, and Christians in particularly. That is not good, nor is it just. It is tyranny of the minority.

The vast majority of Americans are not the slightest bit offended by a monument in the rotunda of a government building showing the ten commandments. A cheery Merry Christmas is still a welcome greeting for 999 out 1,000 people. It is time to take back the democratic principle of majority rule. It is time to insist that America’s cultural disposition toward of Christianity be reflected in civic and social affairs. 

There really is a silent majority. Jerry Falwell was right!

The majority must be silent no more and claim back America’s Christian roots.  And it seems to have begun. Grassroots America is beginning to stand up against anti-Christianity bigotry disguised as secular pluralism.  

In 2005, officials of Beaver County, Pennsylvania were threatened with legal action by a Christian in order to erect a Nativity display in a public park. A year earlier officials removed a Nativity scene from a fundraiser at the park in question, fearing legal action by the ACLU.  

Learning a thing or two from the ACLU bullies, event organizers accompanied by legal counsel from the Thomas More Law Center argued the Nativity displays are constitutional. The Beaver Borough Council saw the absurdity of their 2004 actions and allowed the Nativity display to be erected in the park. 

Edward L. White of the Thomas More Law Center wryly noted that the Nativity display would be erected on the same day that a citizen protest is planned across the street at the county courthouse where Nativity scenes were banned.[14]  

We who are loyal to Christ and hold dear Christian principles that gave rise to unprecidented human freedoms must behave like-wise. Christians must forcefully resist secular forces bent on expunging Christianity from the public arena. As Winston Churchill said, “Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization.”

The new battle will not be fought with guns and bombs, but on the battleground of ideas. We must engage in a battle to preserve the Christian civilization that gave rise to the Western world’s heritage, art, music, literature, and most importantly, its religion and mores for two thousand years.

Are Christians growing numb to anti-Christian bigotry or have they been intimidated into timid silence? 

MDP

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[1] William Shirer, "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" (New York: Fawcett Crest Books, 1992), p. 1020

[2] Shirer, 1025.

[3] Art Moore, Bible verses regarded as hate literature, 18 Feb. 2003. http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31080, Accessed from the internet 30 Nov. 2005

[4] Koran 7.80-84, 27.54-58.

[5] Stewart Bell, “Jesus snubbed at N.S. Swissair service,” The National Post, 21 December 1998, p. A1. 

[6] Jim Brown. “School Okays ‘Christmas Witch,’ Menorahs; Rewrites ‘Silent Night’ (Lyrics ‘mock’ Christmas”, 08 December 2005, http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1536828/posts.

 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1536828/posts

[7]See website: The Hindu Universe, http://www.hindunet.org/festivals/holi/page1.htm.

[8] “Nativity banned but Muslim, Jewish symbols allowed, 2 prominent religious discrimination cases reach critical stage,”  WorldNetDaily internet news, 10 December 2004, ”http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41855, Accessed 16 January 2005. Also see Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, http://www.catholicleague.org/04press_releases/quarter4/041222_christiansorganize.htm

[9] Peter Padfield, Himmler: A Full-Scale Biography of One of Hitler’s Most Ruthless Executioners, (New York: MJF Books, 1990), P.170.

[10]“Easter bunny hunted by PC police: Shopping malls neutralizing secular symbol of Christian holiday,”
 http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43260, 12 March 2005. Accessed 16 April 2005.,

[11]“Judge: Legislative Prayers can’t mention Jesus, Ruling follows lawsuit by ICLU”, 30 November 2005.    http://www.theindychannel.com/news/5436497/detail.html

[12]“Ten Commandments monument moved: New poll says Americans disapprove of federal court order,” 14 November 2003, CNN Law Center,  http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/08/27/ten.commandments, Accessed 15 January 2005.

[13]Katherine T. Phan, “Judge Rejects Bid To Bar Inaugural Prayer,” The Christian Post, 15 January 2005.  http://www.christianpost.com/article/society/1324/section/judge.rejects.newdows.bid.to.bar.inaugural.prayer/1.htm. Accessed on internet 15 January, 2005. 

[14]Couple wins Nativity scene battle, Town Council allows display of crèche in public park”, WorldNetNews, 15 December 2005,   http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47911.