O Little Town Of Bethlehem

[poliphilo]

I have sympathy with the vicar who decided he didn't want to be singing "O, Little Town of Bethlehem" this year. He'd been to the real Bethlehem, seen what a shit-hole it is, got involved with the politics- and couldn't square his experience with the fantasy version in the carol. 

"How still we see thee lie"? Actually, no. 

It's the job of a priest to point this sort of thing out.

Christianity isn't just bubblebath for the soul.  There's also the social gospel.

Myth and ethics: a powerful- and volatile-  combination. 

Besides, there are plenty more carols to chose from.

Comments

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Just for clarity (and out of interest), do you mean non-Orthodox (ie non Russian / Greek) or non-orthodox (in which case I'm not sure how the Anglican church fits that description.)?

[sorenr.livejournal.com]

I suppose I meant any Protestant church, including the Anglican church even though I'm not sure it's theologically correct to refer to it as "Protestant". I can't help thinking that the Catholic church is somewhat orthodox, what with the apostolic succession and all, but that's just my personal non-dictionary definition. ;-)

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Ahh - my perception is that in Britain, the Anglican church is pretty much the definition of 'orthodox' :-)

(edited for mis-spelling)

[sorenr.livejournal.com]

True, and I suppose the C of E actually upholds a claim to apostolic succession, and in part the belief in transubstantiation, both of which in my thoroughly Lutheran brain seem like emblems of orthodox Christianity.

Mind you, I never really grasped the tenets of the C of E so I might be completely off the mark.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The Anglican church thinks of itself as both "Catholic" and Reformed". Or in other words, it's all you other guys who are marching out of step.