Here is a positive thing to keep in mind in the run up to Christmas.   Christianity is winning the battle for the hearts and minds of the non western world.  Fully 60% of sub saharan Africans call themselves Christians, a huge leap up from the beginning of the 1900's.  The rise is even faster in the largest Asian nations.

For instance, China has one of the ten largest Christian populations in the world, now about 7% of their entire population.  That is an amazing fact given the hostility of the government there to the development of such a thing, but perhaps they should look to the Romans for insight into how that can happen.  Maybe in good time we will see a Chinese Constantine emerge to shock the world.  I hope I live to see that day.

I suppose a message of hope, love and the brotherhood of man is a compelling doctrine, which along with an offer of forgiveness for sin and a total remake of one's life and soul, becomes an irresistible offer.  It has been that way for a couple of millennia now, and will be for the next two thousand years.  We should all be thankful for that as we celebrate Christmas this year with our new brethren all over the world.