Christmas in a postmodern world

Valerie Dixon, Contributor

PORUS, Manchester: THE WORLD is said to be now in the postmodern era and all this means is that from the dawn of history, mankind has been changing and rearranging how we get our food and shelter and how we clothe ourselves according to our customs. Many times, mankind feels it has no need for God or the Creator because many think that science, technology, and commerce can explain everything about what it means to be 'human'.

The advocates of the postmodern society claim that there is no truth because truth depends on everybody's reality and experience. The advocates also claim that we live in a complex world where diversity, differences, and plurality must be embraced, and agree that in this postmodern world cultural conflicts are becoming more dangerous than any time in history. All this proves is that there is nothing new under the sun because all societies, regardless of how primitive or sophisticated, agree on what is called 'Maybury's Laws', which say: "Do all you agreed or promised to do. Do not trespass on a person, and do not trespass on a person's property." It is when mankind violates these simple laws that all hell breaks loose, and when this happens, many ask, "Where is God?"

Another hallmark of the postmodern society is its focus on blatant "consumerism", and based on the concept of globalisation and the governance structure of institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organisation, free movement of goods and capital is controlled by only a few countries. So some countries are extremely wealthy and some countries are extremely impoverished. With this in mind, is Christmas still relevant in a post-modern society?

In his article "The Need for Transcendence in the Postmodern World", Vaclav Havel points to the fact that "today, for instance, we may know immeasurably more about the universe than our ancestors did, and yet, it increasingly seems they knew something more essential about it than we do, something that escapes us". Even with the dizzying development of science and information technology, Havel argues that although we have more knowledge of nature and ourselves and all our organs and their functions, their internal structure and the biochemical reactions that take place within them, we seem to have failed to grasp the spirit, purpose, and meaning of the various systems they create and that which we experience as our unique "self". In other words, we have failed to grasp what it means to be 'human', even though we have made all these wonderful strides in science and technology.

However, it seems that scientists are slowly realising that Christmas is still relevant, even in a post-modern society. Christmas is based on the premise the Apostle Paul reminded us of that Jesus said in Acts 20 v 35: "It is better to give than to receive." In the Gospel, John 3 v 16 tells us: "For God so loved the World, that He gave His one and only Son ... "

Christians give gifts at Christmas time to celebrate the birth of Jesus as set out in Christian doctrine.

Brown, Nesse, Vinokur, and Smith from the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, have empirical evidence from the results of their research, which says that when we give, the biochemicals in our brains cause our pleasure centre to literally light up like the Christmas lights during the holiday season. The study went on to say that when we do nice and special things for our loved ones, it not only makes us feel good, but it even makes us stronger; but best of all, people who make it a habit to 'give unto others' live longer than those who only receive.

Unfortunately, too many of us go overboard at this time of year and indulge in blatant consumerism and in so doing, we lose the essence of what Jesus meant when He said it is "better to give than to receive". When this happens, only the merchants will have a prosperous new year. So as we exchange our gifts and enjoy our celebrations and get the "feel-good" feelings, let us not forget the One who caused Christmas to be relevant, even in a postmodern society.

This article is based on a recent address given by the writer at the annual Christmas Dinner for church officers at the Porus Circuit of Baptist Churches in Manchester. Send comments to rural@gleanerjm.com.