“Mostly Great, But Disappointed with Flippant Mention of Domestic Violence”
This book connects common Christmas traditions to the spiritual realities that they represent. Things like putting up lights and spending time with family are an inherent part of the holiday for most people, to the point where it wouldn't feel like Christmas without them. Wilson reflects on how these experiences reflect different aspects of the Nativity story, and he makes a case for why Jesus is essential to Christmas and essential to our lives. Wilson also points out that even though many people dismiss Christianity because of its supernatural elements, everyone believes in things that are beyond observable nature, such as human rights. He doesn't focus on arguing for the historicity of the Christmas story, but he shows that it matters whether it's true or not, and points out that we all believe different things without hard proof.
My one reservation in recommending this is the author's odd choice to share a neighbor's anecdote about a time that "a man in a rugby shirt had gone to church with his family on Christmas Day covered in blood, because his girlfriend had just hit him over the head with a hammer." And that's it! There's no more context, and no effort to unpack this experience. Why mention domestic violence in an outreach book? This is a sensitive topic that is not a joke, whether the victim is female or male.
This is a short, simple book that covers important themes about Christmas and faith. It's highly readable, makes relatable parallels between cultural holiday traditions and the Christmas story, and shares a clear outreach message while also appealing to people who are already Christians. I appreciated this overall, but am disappointed that the author included a sudden, flippant reference to an instance of domestic violence. That was unnecessary and unhelpful, and it detracts from an otherwise great book.
I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
