HOME / faith-based: Religion, spirituality, and sacrilege.

Crèche CourseHow the nativity scene, a Christmas staple, has evolved.

By Liesl SchillingerPosted Friday, Dec. 21, 2007, at 11:41 AM ET

Click here to launch a slide show.Round about Halloween this year, New York's Catholic League sent a letter to the local Department of Education, protesting the ban of Christian Nativity scenes in area schools—where Jewish menorahs and Muslim emblems of Ramadan are permitted. Is this a clear case of discrimination against the majority and favoritism of the minority? Christmas envy? Or is something else going on? In the words of of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ, Superstar (set around a different Christian holiday), "What's the buzz? Tell me what's a-happening?!"

Share this article on Digg
Share this article on Buzz

Read the Crèche Course slide-show essay about the Christmas crèche.

.

.

.

Print This ArticlePRINTEmail to a FriendE-MAILShare This ArticleRECOMMEND...Get Slate RSS FeedsRSS
Liesl Schillinger is a New York-based arts writer.
COMMENTS

Remarks from the Fray:

Old fashioned Nativity scenes usually do have Herod, sitting off to the side, looking mean and miserable. This gives the story the drama, the shadow of evil, and the edge of truth that it needs. Yet it seems that many of the creche scenes I see contain only sweetness and light. Without the dark side, the light becomes only a pastel sentiment.

--Racje

(To reply, click here.)

Explain to me how it is that the only people who get to write articles like this in coastal media elite forums - like this one - are non-believers? St Francis "goosed up" mass? The language reveals a fundamental dismissive mindset that seems near-universal in media venues like Slate. It speaks of "them", while it winks at "us." Funny how - Chris Hitchens excepted - none of you lot talk to Muslims that way. When will we read about the buffoonery that is Islam? The nutty, plagarizing Prophet, who made up the rules as he went along. When will you analyze the history of European depictions of the child-raping Muhammed? It's so much safer analyzing Christ out of existence, isn't it? No sense taking on those people - there's a new Thai place we haven't tried yet.

--JonFrum

(To reply, click here.)

(12/25)

What did you think of this article?
Join The Fray: Our Reader Discussion Forum
POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES
The places we live.TODAY'S PICTURES: The places we live.
Cartoonists' take on homosexuality.TODAY'S CARTOONS: Cartoonists' take on homosexuality.
How low she can go.TODAY'S DOONESBURY: How low she can go.
Washington Post
The Washington Post
OPINIONS
Less Lincoln. More FDR.
Cohen | Obama needs to rethink his presidential role model.
Dionne: Which GOP Will He Face?Toles: The End of Torture
PLUS » Ignatius: A Case Against Hillary