“It’s a Wonderful Life” in Lieu of The Nativity Scene
That there is some sense in which Christmas can be said to have become “secularized” over the years is undoubtedly true. Nevertheless, this judgment may be overwrought. Perhaps Christ is more present in “secularized” expressions of Christmas than either Christian or non-Christian is willing to acknowledge. This is borne out by close examination of such “secular” Christmas cinematic classics as A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Miracle on 34th Street. None explicitly mentions Christ, but neither is it a coincidence that of the 365 days and multiple holidays from which Dickens could have chosen to make the backdrop… Keep Reading