A survey of 77 Christians and 57 non-believers by researchers at Canada’s Simon Fraser University claims that the non-believers felt less self-assured and had fewer positive feelings when a twelve-inch Christmas tree was present in a room used for the survey.
The survey also found that Christians were mostly cheered by the presence of the tree but did report feeling more guilt which the researchers felt indicated that the holidays could be stressful.
I’m certainly no scientist but I would question the value of this survey and the way in which it was organised. For a start, the survey seemed directed against Christmas, the number of people involved is ludicrously low and, more importantly, who in their right minds is going to be influenced by an insignificant twelve-inch Christmas tree?
The social psychologist behind the research said pompously: ‘... in contexts where we really do value respecting and including diversity in terms of religion, the safest option is not to have these kinds of displays.’
Blimey! That’s a huge conclusion to reach from a stupid little twelve-inch Christmas tree seen by a total of only 134 people!
Perhaps he ought to have asked the participants whether they were actually offended by the presence and meaning behind the Christmas tree. Perhaps he ought also to have asked them whether they were offended by the lights and decorations to be seen throughout the year of other religions. Possibly, the participants were put off by the way in which the tree was decorated or whether it was nicely lit. Maybe those seeing the tree thought that such a titchy one looked ridiculous. Maybe the tree looked absurd in a room which was otherwise not decorated for Christmas.
There are any number of such questions that could have been asked of the 134 folk who put themselves up for a survey that ended up suggesting that Christmas trees be banned in public places lest they offend non-believers.
Some folk do take themselves very seriously and, in this case, the survey results have been published in the otherwise respected Journal of Experimental Social Psychology under the heading: ‘Identity moderates the effects of Christmas displays on mood, self-esteem, and inclusion’.
It should have read: ‘Utter Tosh!’
.
The survey also found that Christians were mostly cheered by the presence of the tree but did report feeling more guilt which the researchers felt indicated that the holidays could be stressful.
I’m certainly no scientist but I would question the value of this survey and the way in which it was organised. For a start, the survey seemed directed against Christmas, the number of people involved is ludicrously low and, more importantly, who in their right minds is going to be influenced by an insignificant twelve-inch Christmas tree?
The social psychologist behind the research said pompously: ‘... in contexts where we really do value respecting and including diversity in terms of religion, the safest option is not to have these kinds of displays.’
Blimey! That’s a huge conclusion to reach from a stupid little twelve-inch Christmas tree seen by a total of only 134 people!
Perhaps he ought to have asked the participants whether they were actually offended by the presence and meaning behind the Christmas tree. Perhaps he ought also to have asked them whether they were offended by the lights and decorations to be seen throughout the year of other religions. Possibly, the participants were put off by the way in which the tree was decorated or whether it was nicely lit. Maybe those seeing the tree thought that such a titchy one looked ridiculous. Maybe the tree looked absurd in a room which was otherwise not decorated for Christmas.
There are any number of such questions that could have been asked of the 134 folk who put themselves up for a survey that ended up suggesting that Christmas trees be banned in public places lest they offend non-believers.
Some folk do take themselves very seriously and, in this case, the survey results have been published in the otherwise respected Journal of Experimental Social Psychology under the heading: ‘Identity moderates the effects of Christmas displays on mood, self-esteem, and inclusion’.
It should have read: ‘Utter Tosh!’
.
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