Peace on Earth a sacred part of Christmas

By Erica Smith

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Silence is a sacred tradition in many religions, and theologians say it is especially important at Christmas. The nonsecular commotion of the holiday often detracts from the true meaning of Christmas, they say. “The Christmas tumult and noise that begins after Halloween pulls us away from that silence. It’s as if we’re afraid of what we’d discover if we were to move into that greater silence,” said the Rev. Mary Gene Boteler, pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in St. Louis.