Guilty Pleasures
It is almost Christmas. In the overall scheme of things, its probably always almost Christmas. But the decorations are out in putney shopping centre and food network has started its Christmas-based, recipe-inducing plethora of programmes. This is all very pleasurable. Unfortunately as with all pleasures, Christmas brings with it guilt.
Why can we not have Christmas and not feel guilty? I am sure not everyone likes Christmas cake, but I’m sure most people have experienced guilty pleasures. Why is this? Can we not just enjoy ourselves? That is what capitalism and modern day society is for surely.
It has been suggested to me that the devil is behind this state of affairs – and since pandoras box has been opened – this particular emotion is there in the world for people to misuse and abuse. Some people force others to do what they want through making them feel guilty – is this what the devil is doing or is he just out to spoil our fun? Indeed it has been said that the more moral we are the more guilty we feel. Woe to them that tries a fried mars-bar. If we have done wrong we should feel guilt. But I don’t think eating cake should force us to be unhappy – indeed being made unhappy would probably force us to go back and eat the rest of the cake. Guilt derives from our spirit, and possibly the devil – through making us doubt ourselves or God – makes us feel guilty when we shouldn’t.
Therefore we pray or make a sacrifice (of an ox or of some pleasure) to atone for this. For punishing ourselves is in some way a way to atone for the crime and its guilt.
I don’t think Jesus died on the cross just so we could eat as much chicken and chips as we wanted. But Jesus himself feasted and drank wine, and I doubt he felt guilty about it, particularly if he blessed the food and thanked his father god for it. I have read that the answer to guilt is to follow Jesus more carefully. Still, the feeling of guilt corresponds to us deserving punishment.
I just hope Christmas doesn’t force people to punish themselves or enjoy themselves less. I think the dead turkeys would want us to have a good time. (And hopefully not feel guilty for the fact they made the ultimate sacrifice.)