A controversial Christmas card reading “O come all ye faithless” has been strongly criticized by Christians as an “ill judged and insensitive joke.” Borders book stores began giving away the card free with every copy of Richard Dawkins’ well known atheist work, The God Delusion, this Christmas.
The Rev. Jonathan Edwards, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. said the idea was “crass.”
“I am quite sure that Borders intended their Christmas card as a joke. However, I personally find it an ill-judged and insensitive joke,” he said, as reported by Baptist Times.
He continued, “Christians have always been used to being punch bags but I would have hoped that, in a society in which we are seeking to show respect to all people and beliefs, we might have grown out of this kind of nonsense.”
He was supported by Justin Thacker, head of theology at the Evangelical Alliance, who said, “It won't surprise me if this spectacularly fails. Christmas still holds a high place in people's hearts - I think a lot of people will be offended by it."
Borders has responded to the criticism by issuing a statement which said it “did not intend it as anti-Christian or a swipe at the Christian faith,” and said that it “apologizes to any of our customers who feel it was that,” according to Baptist Times.
The book store described the card as a “continuation” of the debate on atheism that had come as result of the book, which was a bestseller for Borders this year.
“Our customers are intelligent, curious people who enjoy exploring all types of books and music. Naturally, some of the thousands of books and music selections we carry could be considered controversial or objectionable depending on individual views, tastes and interest,” Borders said in a statement.
"However, Borders stands by its commitment to let customers make the choice.”
The Evangelical Alliance's Thacker noted, “I think the atheists will love it because it's bashing Christians around the head. It's another thing to take a Christian festival and abuse it.
"Borders wouldn't do this to any other religious festival. Borders [has] made a strategic mistake and Christians will boycott it.”
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How in the world a jab at atheists, become an attack on Christians? I have to believe Jesus got a chuckle out of that bit of satire and perplexed why so many of His followers "didn't get it". I wouldn't be surprised if most Atheists "got it" and shrugged it off, not worth sweating.
And God's plan is even better than that! That anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. And that anyone who is saved (regardless of their affiliation) who surrenders themselves to Him...them He will use and bless. I like that plan better than one that says that I have to go to a particular church. Because it's the truth. And that's God's plan. For centuries the RCC has been trying to shut up the protestants, usurp them, woo them, discredit them, slander them...and never came close to destroying them. Protestants may be "divided" but they have endured...and will endure until Jesus comes back for us.
You are correct, good WILL triumph.
The Masons Guild in Europe during the 1800's had a one-hundred year plan in which they believed they could eliminate catholicism in Europe. They killed nuns and priests, they burned schools, they closed churches. They almost won. Yes, they had a very good plan. But Mary had a plan too. And guess what. Hers was better.
Let Borders and the likes of them have their fun while they can, we'll have the last laugh won't we?
Merry Christmas everyone!
OK, I'm a latecomer to this issue. Read the article. Read the posts. A little confused. Here's my take:
Take this opportunity to think of one nasty, tasteless thought of the person of your choice. It, of course, would depend entirely on your personal background, so said person could be GW, Hillary, Osama (your choice), the Pope, Dawkins (either one), whomever. Think very hard about how witty this would sound in certain (but surely, not all) circles. Have something mean, vicious, and demeaning?
[INSERT MORONIC TASTELESS IDEA HERE]
Now, turn this novel thought into a card for the occasion. But while doing so, try to understand the mindset of a business that creates such greeting cards for a means of making a living. Imagine, an occupation that thrives by the generation of ill-will, insults, and satiric wit that targets one group to become the butt of society's jokes.
I find it runs counter to a season that propmotes peace on earth, goodwill toward men. Don't you?
I'm Christian but I'm not offended at all. I wouldn't buy the book or the card, but those that would probably do fall into the faithless category. Seems to me the ones to be offended would be the ones being called faithless...
In response to the statements about how large the Christian section is in Borders, it seems to vary by store. Probably has to do with the way the purchasing department views the demographics for the neighborhood. Some have a few Bibles and some do not. I usually find a better selection for my area at Barnes and Nobles, but if I'm just wanting to locate a book on a specific topic, I go to the Christian bookstore or search online.
And Kinfishers voice gets lost among all the other voices speaking the Truth. Isn't that how it usually goes?
anniefourjesus, you are right on! Another website which details persecution of Christians around the world is www.opendoors.org
"I don't know if I'd call a mocking card from a chain store "persecution.""
There's definitely groundwork being laid for persecution. But God is able to take care of His own. No fear. :-)
"Christianity in particular has been responsible for the abuse and debasement of humanity and the Earth - we should start by eliminating that so-called "faith". Wake up!"
Wake up, indeed! kingfisher is calling for the extermination of Christians after pushing his propoganda. If I believed in reincarnation, I'd think old Adolf was back among us.
"Since when is Borders facilitating the faith debate? I thought they were a bookstore."
Good point, Lex!
BTW -- Dinesh D'Souza is 3-0 thus far in his debates with atheists. Dawkins hasn't yet accepted his challenge.
Seems to me Borders has just pointed out the obvious here! But I guess some people just have to look hard for something to be offended about. I should think Dawkins would find “O come all ye faithless” to be complimentary!
To WiccanTexan:
Sorry for the late response, forgot about this article.
You said: "JC, are you kidding? Borders has a huge Christian section. At least, the one in my area does."
I'm serious, I really am. I went looking because of a class assignment, you know, thinking this was a bookstore after all. It is entirely possible that they could have been sold out. They do have a decent size section called "Religion", but I still found no Bible. I guess it could be called a "Christian Selection", as there were books written ABOUT the Bible, but no Bible. There were books written about the apostles, Mary, etc. I really did look.
I'm still going back to Borders though, they still have great coffee :-)
First, it is unclear that this was meant as an insult to Christians - the fact that people think it is only indicates the failure of logic so common among religeous people. Second, Richard Dawkins is awsome, fearless, smart, and funny. Third, Christianity, and all the other things that debase and confuse the human race (TV, Islam, Judaism, private insurance companies, sexism, racism, anti-druguse laws, and the entire Republican platform, to name a few) should be left under the rocks from whence they crawled. The most important thing that we can do to promote peace, health, happiness, and good relations between countries is to ditch the false, ignorant teachings of the three main religeons of the world. Without christianity, judaism, and islam, the world would have far fewer wars, far better education, a far more enlightened approach to international politics and our place in the ecosystem, reduced or eliminated famine and disease, a stable population, and thoughtful approaches to the furture. Christianity in particular has been responsible for the abuse and debasement of humanity and the Earth - we should start by eliminating that so-called "faith". Wake up!
There's some very noble discussion about being persecuted going on here, but I don't know if I'd call a mocking card from a chain store "persecution."
I'm kind of amazed that Borders would do that in the first place. Are they giving out free Christmas cards with the purchase of Christian literature too? I think it's funny that they tried to be PC about it by calling it a "continuation" of the debate. Since when is Borders facilitating the faith debate? I thought they were a bookstore.
Here is a very interesting web site:
http://www.persecution.com/
Citizen, I am seriously praying for you. True followers of Jesus Christ are not violent people at all. Many who did violent things in the name of Christianity were not following Jesus Christ. Jesus, Himself equated anger towards another human being as comparable to murder. So, those who advocate violence of any kind, must seriously look at their own walk with Jesus Christ.
Try going and taking a good look at Jesus life, and compare His life to anyone else's and you will find man falls short of God's glory!
As followers of Jesus Christ, love is the guiding principle, not violence. As for violent religions, there are many out there KILLING CHRISTIANS, and thinking they are doing God a favor!!!
Go to the website Voice of the Martyrs and you will read of the horrible tortures that many many Christians have endured, even children!!!! All because they believe in JESUS CHRIST!!!
Many of my brothers and sisters in Muslim countries are being so tortured, and put to death, in China, Korea(North) and in India!!! The body of CHRIST is being persecuted! for the glory of GOD! If the LORD calls us to lay down our lives for HIM or for one another, so be it, there is no greater gift than a man lays down his life for his friends.
Jesus laid down HIS life for the world, even though many do not recognize this, it is still true!
So Citizen, please educate yourself on true persecution, it is happening in many faiths, and Christians are being targeted around the world in record numbers these days!
For the glory of GOD!
Amen Jester! I love my borders and I like that I can completely ignore the godless section, it is my choice as it is their's to ignore God's section. I've done the unbelief thing and nothing satisfied my life, I was always wandering and going no where. Since, I gave God a try and I am not sorry I have!
It is a joy to know God and be known by Him, to be loved by Him and to love Him back, to be able to worship Him and praise Him. This I was created to do and I do give Him all the glory and thanks for how HE changed my whole life. I went from a dead life to one of joy, peace, love and contentment like I've never known, and NO ONE is going to take that from me.
No one ever forced me to believe, one day I just got sick of what I saw in this world, and thought, "there has to be more to life than this!!" and there is!!!!! Jesus Christ is God, and HE is alive and well, (inspite of what the critics tell you!!!) people want proof, well I am that proof and many others whose lives have been literally changed by God. No man can change Himself, even with the best self-help books, those only work for a time and then we go right back to a life spinning on its' own wheels. Without God, whom we were created for; life is meaningless!!!
Solomon has it right in Ecclesiastes! Nothing knew under the sun, and without God everything is meaningless!!!! What a great book in the Bible!! In His love and grace, Annie
In God's Word, Jesus tells us "nothing shall offend thee" these insults fall on Jesus Christ and He is able to handle all things!!! This world hates Jesus Christ and His people, so this is no surprise to me. Think of this as, yes, O Come All Ye Faithless to Jesus Christ, because in this world there is more of this, no meaning in anything, come to the One who loves you inspite of your rejection of Him and even while you slander Him, His arms are still outstretched waiting to receive you! So, thank you Mr. Dawkins for (and I know this was not intended) but a vehicle in which to proclaim, JESUS CHRIST!! The hope of the World!
I was once walked as an unbeliever, today I know Jesus Christ, personally, so these things are not offensive to me! I have in my own ways offended God, why should any Christian be so overly concerned about this, this is just more proof of Biblical Prophecy in our life times, which was even Prophesied by our Lord God for the End of Age!
How many even in the church are being faithful to the Lord God, the Lord uses many opportunities to reach out to the World; perhaps this is a time for even the church to look at how faithful are we. "We are persecuted, but we are not abandoned, we are crushed down, but not destroyed, when we are insulted, we do not trade insults, because those insults truly fall on Christ and as I said, HE is able to endure!!!! In Christ, Annie
I'm not quite getting this. Could someone explain to me where the insult is? I'm not saying it isn't there, I'm saying I don't see it.
Sheesh, I praise Borders, I think they are actually giving atheists a slap on the face, not Christians. And I am sure that Borders was shocked when they got this reaction.
I am envious, citizen. (tongue in cheek). "Might makes right" don't ya know...
But in all seriousness, my point is that this company can do what it's doing because true Christians have adopted the "turn the other cheek" attitude, which is Biblical. But it doesn't mean we can't use whatever legal means to get our point and opinions across. Meekness is not weakness.
Jesus said we would be persecuted. And the Word of God does say to find joy in being persecuted for His sake. I do not go looking for persecution (I am not that masochistic), but I am not afraid to stand for what is truth, regardless of the consequences. My reward does not come with taking another person's life. It comes from the giving of my own life, whether in servitude or in death. To give my life completely to God, and let Him direct my course. To forsake my life (by being ridiculed, spit on, threatened, misused, etc) so that I can share the Truth of God. That is the difference between muslims and me. They are willing to lay down their life if it means they can take the lives of innocent people in the process. I am willing to lay down my life, if it means that I can save just one person's eternal life, and bring them into an awesome relationship with God.
I'm not a Christian so perhaps it's understandable why I can't see the offense, but I think anger is counter-productive. Surely by your own guide, the most Christian thing to do would be to turn the other cheek to the offense and then make the slogan your own, why not put 'o come all ye faithless' outside churches and invite us in? Surely at Christmas more than most times churches want to be reaching outside their flocks?
Not offensive to me.
I won't buy the book; therefore, I won't be bothered by the addition of a clearly stupid card meant to give insensitive people a few chuckles at Christians' expense.
jester: you sound envious. Do you long for the days when Christianity was just as violent as Islam is today? Do you secretly wish you could go beyond whining about how persecuted you are and threats of eternal torture in an afterlife to real violence so you could try harder to shut up those who disagree with you?
Im just wondering why they aren't offering anti-Muslim cards? Probably because they know the radical muslims will kill them if they do. All us Christians will do is complain and possibly boycott...wooo! That's extreme! Don't want anyone doing that! That's why Christians are such easy targets. I'm sure if the Christians took the same recourse as the muslims do, there wouldn't be any "O come all ye faithless" card on their shelf. But most Christians are law abiding people, who will try to accomplish their point legally.
JC, are you kidding? Borders has a huge Christian section. At least, the one in my area does.
JC: You probably should have asked someone to guide you to the bible section, but that doesn't feel as good as "oh, they are anti-christian" does it?
Can anyone explain why this is a problem or how this is supposed to be offensive to anyone?
This doesn't surprise me at all. I needed a couple of different versions of the Bible, so I went to Borders (they have good coffee) to see if I could get them there. I couldn't find a one, of any version. I found books written about the Bible, but no Bibles. I found the Book of Mormon, I found books on Jehovah's Witness, I found books on Hindu, and believe it or not, I even found The Quran. But no Bible.
This would lead one to conclude that this particular store doesn't mind carrying this type of literature, as long as God's light doesn't shine forth.
Once again, I don't understand why Christians should be seeking or demanding respect from a broken and lost world...
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1 John 2:15-16:
15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.
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Find your joy and peace in Jesus, not in this world! I am alive because of the Mercy and Grace of Jesus, not because of this world!
I certainly will be doing music/book shopping elsewhere; although to be honest I would have anyways, never really fancied Border's myself.
When I read this article, I was reminded of John 15:18: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me [Jesus of Nazareth] first."
Why are we surprised? We are not greater than the Christ so why should we be expected to be treated any better?
"However, Borders stands by its commitment to let customers make the choice." Actually it should read "Borders stands by itscommitment to look stupid".