text: Very kind of this author to dredge through Christianity to try to find some high points. He seems OK with Christianity appropriating the winter solstice as though it is their  property, perhaps giving him motivation to help them honour that misplaced privilege. 
  In these days of political correctness, not everyone is so generous to those who appropriate things from other cultures, not limited to the intellectuals he references.
  For me the birth of Jesus innocent in itself,  unfortunately leads to the immoral structure "vicarious redemption of sin" as a consequence my latitude for his level of generosity is restricted somewhat. 
  I will celebrate the solstice in a fashion a little closer to what the predecessors of Christianity practiced thank you.