Boyd Camak would likely view Christmas through the lens of his unique blend of existentialist Christianity, infused with elements of Catholic tradition, and a critical perspective on contemporary expressions of Christianity [1, 2].
Here’s how Camak might view Christmas, based on the provided sources:
- God’s Surrender: Camak sees the Feast of the Nativity as a time when God surrenders Himself to humanity [3]. This perspective aligns with his view of God’s love as a self-giving act, rather than an act of appeasement [4].
- Incarnation as Key: Camak emphasizes the importance of the incarnation, the Word made flesh [5, 6]. He sees the incarnation as a radical event that disrupts conventional wisdom and reveals the depths of God’s love [4, 6]. He believes that faith in the incarnation should lead to an embrace of the physical aspects of faith, such as the Eucharist and sacramentals like the rosary [5].
- Relevance to the Human Condition: Camak views the life of Christ, including the Nativity, as a framework for living and orienting oneself in a world that can often feel meaningless [4, 7]. He sees the gospel as a way of coping with the human condition, including the suffering and absurdity inherent in life [2, 7].
- Not a Superficial Celebration: Camak is critical of superficial or distorted forms of Christianity [2]. He would likely view Christmas as more than just a cultural holiday and would likely focus on its deeper spiritual significance [2, 4]. He would likely reject a “believe or burn” mentality, the prosperity gospel, and spiritualities that offer easy solutions or bypass the reality of suffering [2].
- A New Beginning: Camak sees the story of the resurrection as a story of “the re-making of creation itself,” offering humanity a new beginning [4]. This new beginning involves the transformation of individuals and their experiences, leading to a life filled with peace, joy, and purpose. While this statement is in reference to the resurrection, it is likely he would also see the Nativity as a kind of new beginning, since Jesus’ birth was necessary for the events of his death and resurrection.
- Experience Over Intellectual Constructs: Camak would likely emphasize the personal experience of encountering the divine at Christmas, rather than focusing solely on theological or philosophical concepts [2, 8]. He believes that the gospel is not sophisticated but simple, and that it exposes the vacuity of intellectual constructs [4, 9]. He would likely see a deeper connection with Christ for those who do not have high academic intelligence [10, 11].
In summary, Camak would likely view Christmas as a profound event where God enters the world in a radical act of love and surrender [3, 6]. He would focus on the meaning of the incarnation and its implications for human life, emphasizing the need to embrace the physical aspects of faith, while rejecting superficial expressions of belief [2, 5].
Boyd Camak 