The true meaning of Christmas in 2008

"'True' and 'real' often function as markers of our own ideal of authenticity, not as a factual description of the way things are. This kind of self-serving bias is also found in the debate about the true meaning of Christmas. Atheists go on about how it was a pagan midwinter festival way before it was appropriated by Christianity, whereas believers point out that the word "Christ" in the day's name is a bit of a clue as to what the celebration is really about."

Today's Herald column