It is not the job of the British Post Office to act as a proselytizing agent for any religion or philosophy. Its job is simply to sell relevant postal products and to deliver mail and parcels as efficiently as possible. The Post Office is a retailer and a public service, not a Church.
The annual battle for the ‘true meaning’ of Christmas was recently brought to my attention by a friend who was concerned that the Post Office was not issuing Christmas stamps with a religious theme this year, but with a Pantomime theme. The implication was that the ‘true meaning’ of Christmas was being threatened by this outrage. In some quarters, Christians have been urged to especially ask for stamps with a religious theme when buying stamps at Christmas in the hope that there might be some of last year’s stock still available and that customer demand for religious stamps will encourage their appearance in future years. It is hoped that in this way, a small battle for the ‘true meaning’ of Christmas will be won.
I fully understand where my friend was coming from. In a previous lifetime I might have been arguing the same thing myself. However, now I just feel slightly bemused by the whole thing and think:
- Christians might have captured the name for the festival, but the winter festival has a longer tradition than the Christian one. Historically there is more to Xmas than the Christian religion.
- Pragmatically there is more to Xmas than religion. Religion may play a part for a small minority of people who celebrate the festival, but I would suggest that even for these people it doesn’t dominate the entire festival. As I remember it, religious people too eat, drink, give gifts, and go to pantomimes. This year’s stamps are just reflecting part of that much wider Xmas culture.
- Given the historical precedence and the pragmatic reality, non-Christians have as much right to have Xmas stamps reflecting their culture as do the Christians, arguably more so. (Incidentally, it won’t be long before there are more practising Muslims in the UK than practising Christians.)
- Christians are free to celebrate and evangelize to promote their values, but they should not expect secular organisations such as the Post Office to do their work for them.
- I wonder if the people who are asking for religious stamps are consistent in sending out only religious Christmas cards to all the people on their list.
I think that to persuade people of your view, you need to address their minds and their hearts. Christians have traditionally avoided the appeal to the mind. Unfortunately religious postage stamps aren’t really going to cut it with many people. Christians might need to think about leaving the little battles alone and thinking about the bigger ones more seriously.
And I would hate to see someone’s choice of Xmas stamps as being a litmus test for religious orthodoxy.
Having got that off my chest, I’m now off to see if I can find some Hillary Clinton Nutcrakcers.
It occurs to me that, instead of hassling the post office for their Christmas needs, the faithful should turn it into a business opportunity: sell Christmas stickers to those who are so inclined.
That’s the way it should be with everything, special interest groups should take care of their own needs–and profit from that, if need be.
I hate to say it but either your friend is an idiot with the memory of a goldfish or deliberately dissembling.
The Royal Mail has for many years issued religiously themed stamps in one year like last year http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL0541608520071106 and then the next issue Christmas themed stamps that aren’t religious like the pantomime ones this year.
There isn’t a war on Christmas, there hasn’t been a war on Christmas since the Puritans (who I was always led to believe were Christians) waged one during the Commonwealth and there won’t be a war on Christmas. No matter how much some Christians would actually like one so they can feel persecuted.
Lorena
Great idea. You could disguise the idea of making money behind the worthy ideal of evangelizing and feel good about trying to make a profit
Jane
Great point. Thanks for the information.
I think your first paragraph does sum it up. I enjoy seeing any image on stamps. I like stamps generally but then I like sending and receving real letters.
I don’t mind seeing a religious or secular image. There is something nice about all xmas images.
I can see the point you are arguing. Rather than Christians focusing on stamps, perhaps we/they should focus on the imprints within our/their hearts. That would make a better calling and witness I feel.
I don’t need to send a religious stamp to prove I am a Christian. I hope, mistakes and errors set aside, that overall my actions speaks louder than stamps.
Happy Christmas!
onethoughtfulwoman
Actions and words are important, and both are much bigger than stamps
Ah well, it’s all wasted on me. I don’t notice what images are on stamps.
But I rather like Lorena’s idea re the stickers. We could all set up little sticker shops, couldn’t we, selling ones to support our cause, to stick alongside the stamp. Not sure what I would choose - something to keep me awake through the tedium of the Christmas card procedure - advertisements for Boots No.7 or some such.
And it would make receiving cards quite exciting - wondering which stickers your friends would buy.