"The story of Christmas is a tale of poverty and flight from persecution. According to Christian tradition, humanity's saviour is born in a stable, since Mary and Joseph are unable to find a room in Bethlehem. The holy family subsequently flee to Egypt to escape the murderous intentions of King Herod. This drama grounds the New Testament message of compassion for the stranger, the fugitive and all those who find themselves far from home."
"I was hungry and you gave me food to eat, says Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. The spirit of a far-right show of force planned on Saturday by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, AKA Tommy Robinson, will be somewhat different. Since reportedly converting fully to Christianity while serving a prison sentence for contempt of court, Mr Yaxley-Lennon has energetically deployed his faith to promote his own gospel of ethnic discord and political polarisation."
"The Unite the Kingdom rally he organised in July featured hymns, a plethora of wooden crosses and a Christian preacher who spoke of a war against the Muslim. His latest provocation is a carol service in central London, ostensibly to put Christ back in Christmas. It would be easy to mock the absurdity of a seasonal event implicitly dedicated to the cause of undermining peace and goodwill. But the apparent rise of Christian nationalism in Britain needs to be taken seriously."
The Christmas narrative foregrounds poverty, flight from persecution and a mandate to welcome strangers, exemplified by Jesus' words about feeding the hungry and welcoming strangers. A planned far-right rally and carol service organised by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon repurposes Christian symbols to advance ethnic discord and political polarisation. The Unite the Kingdom rally featured hymns, numerous wooden crosses and a preacher who called for war against Muslims. The event aims to reclaim Christmas rhetoric while undermining peace and goodwill. Signs within Reform UK and the wider national populist movement show the strategic mobilisation of cultural Christianity and recruitment of influential conservative theologians.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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