Christmas: Theological Anticipations

Christmas cheers the birth of Christ with a fresh look at the festive season. English engages the rich theological and biblical themes of Advent as well as family traditions popular carols and legends of the holidays. Topics range from a theology of the incarnation of the Word the role of Mary the historical origin of December 25 the significance of Bethlehem and the star the plight of the holy family in a hostile world and the place of American pop icons like Frosty the Snowman Santa Claus and Buddy the Elf. Christmas brims with anticipation. Adam English weaves historical spiritual and religious aspects of the Christmas narrative together with contemporary customs and experience. Looking to the future not a nostalgic past he shows how the season inspires ways to live biblical truths of forgiveness and justice. A delightful saints section identifies ten ways to understand saints making them more accessible. Christmas is an unusual addition to holiday literature blending silly and serious religious and secular heavy and light. --Carol Myers St. Nicholas Center In this follow-up to his popular and successful The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus Adam English offers a splendid set of theological reflections on the liturgical season of Christmas. With intellectual and literary verve he brings light to the very mysteries of Christmas. Rooted in the scriptural narrative steeped in the ancient Christian tradition and at ease with culture both classical and popular English dares his reader to ponder the incarnation Mary the Mother of Jesus Bethlehem the luminous star spotted by the sages from the east the flight to Egypt (Jesus as exile and migrant) the significance and meaning of Christmas day and saints of the season. Let me invite you to unwrap this gift! --Mark S. Medley Baptist Seminary of Kentucky The manger cross and consumerism rarely meet for anything inspiring. In Dr. Englishs telling the texts of Christmas in church and culture are taken seriously and opened up in ways no Black Friday sale or Hanging of the Greens service could anticipate. Get ready to go through the holly jolly yet very sacred season with more joy wisdom and reverence. --Tripp Fuller Founder and Host Homebrewed Christianity (podcast); Director of Theology and the Humanities The Hatchery LA Redondo Beach CA Adam C. English is chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Campbell University and professor of theology and philosophy. He is author of The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus (2012) and Theology Remixed (2010).