Kids don’t know Christmas is about Jesus

#1011 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 21 Dec 2014.

According to The Christian Institute, one in three children aged 10-13 are unaware Christmas marks the birth of Jesus. The survey of 2,000 families also found that only ten per cent of adults could correctly state four facts about Jesus’ birth, and half of those surveyed said his birth was irrelevant to their Christmas celebrations.

Last year a similar survey showed that 12 per cent of Londoners thought the Bible featured Father Christmas, and seven per cent thought Christmas trees were in the Bible.

Colin Hart, Director of The Christian Institute, said at the time: “This poll shows a worrying lack of knowledge about our country’s Christian heritage that has shaped our history, institutions and laws, even who we are and our values.”

Similar trends and concerns are apparent in Australia. The events of that first Christmas, and the subsequent life and teachings of Jesus, have profoundly shaped Western civilization. The story deserves to be told widely and often.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.