Pastors in New Haven, Conn. spoke out Tuesday after a vandal burned a Bible and damaged the electrical wires that powered the lights on a Christmas tree downtown.

“There is more than a war on Christmas going on in America. This is a war on Christ,” Todd Foster, pastor of Church on the Rock in New Haven, told The Christian Post via email on Tuesday. “The burning of a Bible underneath a Christmas tree was more than just a 'bah humbug' of a modern day Scrooge. It was a direct assault upon the holiday's religious foundation as the sentimental (rather than historical) commemoration of the birth of Christ.”

The 65-foot Norway spruce, which stands in an area called the Green in downtown New Haven, wasn't directly damaged in the early Monday morning fire, according to the city's legislative assistant Elizabeth Benton. The wires that funnel electricity to the tree's 20,000 LED lights, however, were melted and destroyed when the burning Bible was placed on them. more >>

As atheists push to remove traditional Nativity scenes from public squares and advertise their own skeptic displays, one Christian apologist is pushing back, calling their efforts misguided and misleading.

“The skeptic groups behind these annual ‘campaigns for unbelief’ either don’t know their history or are twisting the facts intentionally,” Christian apologist and author Dr. Alex McFarland said in a statement Monday.

“It’s wrong that many people are being misled by these campaigns, especially during a time when so many are spiritually seeking,” McFarland said. “Further, the atheist’s doubt-inducing disclaimers do not pass the muster of honest historical investigation.” more >>

Think again if you thought Christmas, and the coming of the Prince of Peace, would be reason to put partisan politics on hold in Washington. The exact opposite appears to be true.

President Obama began a string of Christmas-themed attacks, calling Senate and House Republicans “Grinches” last weekend for holding up tax cuts for the middle class.

House Republicans retaliated on the Internet with a YouTube video featuring not one but four Santas highlighting their efforts to pass bipartisan measures and attacking Democrats’ inability to pass legislation. The video ends with Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Santa's naughty list. more >>

The Advent season is about preparing for the birth of Christ. But for many churches, it’s also about drawing newcomers.

Churches often see attendance increase at worship services for the four weeks of Advent and Christmas, but new attendees don’t always stick around. This year, like always, churches are using new initiatives to court the "Chreasters" – people who only show up at church on Christmas and Easter.

Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C., is preparing for a four-day worship blow-out to attract newcomers this year. They are hosting worship sites at 30 different locations around Charlotte starting on Dec. 21, and going through Christmas Eve. more >>

Five Monmouth College students were accused of stealing items from a Nativity scene displayed at the Public Square in Monmouth, Ill.

Those arrested and charged with theft included Cathryn Sargent, Korri Crawford, Brittany Smallberger, Emily Triebel, and Samantha Bundy, all of whom were Illinois residents. The women were discovered at a local gas station in the city shortly after the Monmouth Police Department officers began their search for the suspects.

The investigation started on Thursday when authorities had noticed that several of the Nativity scene lawn ornaments in the downtown area were missing, with a few items knocked over as well. more >>

GOP presidential hopeful and Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Sunday he would push a constitutional amendment to allow prayer in public schools.

“I would support a constitutional amendment that allows our children to pray in school anytime they would like,” said Perry during a Sunday appearance on Fox News.

Many see the issue not so much in terms of children being “allowed” to pray, but rather being “required” to pray. more >>