The idea of religious superstition playing a role in the current spiritual darkness that clothes most of western Europe had been rolling around in my head before an old friend of mine had a similar reflection after spending some time in Italy. To what extent are old religious traditions (specifically Catholic) a detrement to Christianity in western Europe? It seems that traditions such as the Christkind flying around and delivering gifts on Christmas Eve only reinforce the prevailing European conception that Christianity is nothing more than of collection of myths and superstitions. As a child you are taught to believe in Christkind much like American children are taught to believe in Santa Claus. The tragedy is that this silly story is linked to true faith and religion. Outgrowing belief in Santa Claus is something of a rite of passage for American children, but in Austria it is almost akin to renouncing your faith. Not believing in Christkind is not believing in Jesus. Children are strapped with guilt knowing that they should believe in Jesus, but faced with the absurdity of the Christkind story. I fear that often they throw the baby out with the bathwater. If the Christkind isn’t real, then Jesus isn’t either. And it follows that other traditions the church holds are likely fictional.
Fighting through these issues is a huge uphill battle for missionaries here that work as church planters with Austrians.
I’ve known many Christians here in the states who have dispensed with the Santa Claus myth, for the reasons you talk about here regarding the Christkind. They feel that when kids grow up and learn that Santa Claus isn’t real, they’ll assume the same about Jesus. Of course, I’m not sure that Santa Claus and Jesus occupied similar places in my beliefs as a child. I’m not even sure that I ever really believed in Santa Claus, and that he was always more like a game that we played along with.
I think that in the States, we’re helped a lot by reformation thinking (even the Catholics here are.) Martin Luther set a good precedent of looking at religious tradition and cutting away the parts you don’t like while still holding on to fundamental beliefs. I think even in Europe, those countries more touched by the reformation are less disenchanted with religion. (Admittedly, that last statement is based on absolutely nothing, but it might be a good research project to try to prove or disprove it.)
Great article. I am a native of Austria and have been in Texas for ten years, where I met my wife. We are actually teaming up with Missionaries to come back to Vienna next fall to plant churches.
Very interesting article… so where does Nikolaus fit into this Austrian/German tradition? Why the 6th of December?
I agree with the first comments that Santa can be seperated from Christmas… taking the Christkind out of the Austrian/German tradition would become major surgery!
Hard to believe Christmas is already around the corner. I am ready for some Thanksgiving turkey though.