Christmas - Philosophy for Everyone
Better Than a Lump of Coal
Philosophy for Everyone
1. Auflage September 2010
256 Seiten, Softcover
Sachbuch
Kurzbeschreibung
Christmas is one of Christianity's holiest days, and yet it is also a major pagan festival, a secular, cultural celebration, and a commercial event of epic proportions. From elves and Ebenezer Scrooge, to the culture wars and virgin birth, Christmas - Philosophy for Everyone unwraps the religious and moral issues surrounding the Yuletide season, including: Should parents lie to their children about Santa Claus? What relevance does Christmas hold to atheists and pagans? What does the Bible actually say about the virgin birth? How does Santa know if we have been naughty or good - is there a darker side to our festive friend?
From Santa, elves and Ebenezer Scrooge, to the culture wars and virgin birth, Christmas - Philosophy for Everyone explores a host of philosophical issues raised by the practices and beliefs surrounding Christmas.
* Offers thoughtful and humorous philosophical insights into the most widely celebrated holiday in the Western world
* Contributions come from a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, theology, religious studies, English literature, cognitive science and moral psychology
* The essays cover a wide range of Christmas themes, from a defence of the miracle of the virgin birth to the relevance of Christmas to atheists and pagans
Editor's Introduction (Scott C. Lowe).
Part I: Christmas: In the Beginning.
Part II: Is Celebrating Christmas Really a Good Idea?
Part III: Santa: A Deeper Look.
Part IV: The Morality of Christmas.
Part V: Christmas Through Others' Eyes.
Afterword (Santa Claus).
Notes on Contributors: Santa's Elves.
