For the Life of the World / Yale Center for Faith & Culture Santa, God, and the Obligation to Rejoice / Matt Croasmun
Dec 26, 2020
Matt Croasmun, a New Testament scholar at the Yale Center for Faith & Culture, delves into the contrasts between cultural Christmas myths and the gospel. He explains how Santa’s need for collective holiday cheer differs from the true joy that God offers. The discussion highlights Santa's emotional vulnerability portrayed in popular culture and how modern myths impose an obligation to be happy. Croasmun emphasizes that Christian joy can coexist with sorrow, challenging the notion of performative cheer with a deeper emotional solidarity.
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Mariah Carey Special Reveals Santa's Crisis
- Croasmun recounts watching Mariah Carey's special and noticing Santa's crisis over low holiday spirit.
- He connects that plot to a broader cultural theme where Santa's magic depends on our cheer.
Santa's Need For Our Cheer
- Modern Christmas media portray Santa as needing our happiness to function, making cheer a demanded commodity.
- Matt Croasmun argues this emotional dependency turns joy into a social obligation rather than a gift.
Christmas Movies Demand Collective Cheer
- Croasmun compares Elf and other films where communal singing revives Santa's sleigh.
- He uses these movie examples to show how cultural narratives demand collective performance of joy.