Two Christmas Celebrations (eBook)

Theodore Parker (1810–1860) was an American transcendentalist and reforming minister of the Unitarian church, a prolific scholar and an eloquent preacher. Hailing from Lexington, Massachusetts, he emerged as a powerful voice for progressive causes, including the abolitionist and the women's rights movements. His outspoken views, particularly against slavery, firmly situated him on the intellectual and moral battlefields of his time. In his work 'Two Christmas Celebrations', Parker juxtaposes two Christmas services— one luxurious and distant from Christ's message, and another true to Christian values— to critique materialism and highlight social inequities. Parker's literary style is marked by its clarity, force, and a confident use of moral rhetoric to advocate for social justice. A contemporary of Emerson and Thoreau, Parker expanded the scope of Unitarian theology by incorporating his radical social and theological views, which ultimately contributed to the religious and social thought of 19th-century America. His sermons and writings were highly influential, and his advocacy for a living morality over formalism in religion continued to inspire future generations of thinkers and activists.