Any agnostic or atheist whose childhood has known a real Christmas has ever afterwards, whether he likes it or not, an association in his mind between two ideas that most of mankind must regard as remote from each other; the idea of a baby and the idea of the unknown strength that sustains the stars. His instincts and imagination can still connect them, when his reason can no longer see the need of the connection; for him there will always be some savour of religion about the mere picture of a mother and a baby; some hint of mercy and softening about the mere mention of the dreadful name of God.
G. K. Chesterton, from The Everlasting Man
Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jeuss Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
To all our readers at What's Wrong with the World, we wish a blessed Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. Merry Christmas!
(Interested readers can see also my personal blog Merry Christmas post with additional Christmas images here.)
Comments (3)
Thanks for Chesterton's quote.I remember when I was an atheist living in Pasadena at the time, around Easter a group of Christians would walk the streets with a cross. I dismissed it summarily at the time, but the image and message of these believers stayed in my memory.
Merry Christmas
Posted by Frank Ordaz | December 24, 2008 10:56 AM
Thanks, Frank, and Merry Christmas!
Posted by Lydia | December 24, 2008 11:49 AM
Merry Christmas, Lydia, and to all.
Posted by Terry Morris | December 24, 2008 5:57 PM