The Drama and the Miracle of Christmas with Joerg Rieger

In this special Christmas episode of Religion and Justice, we are joined by Dr. Joerg Rieger to unpack the profound and often overlooked realities of the nativity story. Far from the idyllic scenes of "Silent Night, Holy Night," Dr. Rieger presents the birth of Jesus as a story of drama, precarity, and resilience amidst imperial power and systemic injustice.We explore how Jesus’s precarious beginnings—born in a stable, fleeing as a refugee, and navigating the threats of empire—mirror the struggles faced by the 99% today. Dr. Rieger challenges us to see the miracle of Christmas not just in divine intervention but in the solidarity of the many: shepherds, wise men, stars, animals, and ordinary working families who resist power grabs and embody hope.Join us as we reflect on the enduring lessons of Christmas, from the resilience of the oppressed to the call for solidarity and justice in our own time. This episode will inspire you to reconsider where the divine shows up today and how the Christmas story continues to guide us toward liberation.Perfect for: Anyone seeking a deeper, justice-oriented understanding of Christmas beyond the traditions of carols and pageantry.From the Wendland-Cook family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Read the blog here: https://www.religionandjustice.org/blog/the-drama-and-the-miracle-of-christmas-then-and-nowAbout Religion and Justice Religion and Justice is a podcast from the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt Divinity School. We explore the intersections of class, religion, labor, and ecology, uncovering how these forces shape the work of justice and solidarity. Each episode offers space for investigation, education, and organizing through conversations with scholars, organizers, and practitioners.Learn more at religionandjustice.orgThe show is currently produced by Peterson Toscano http://www.petersontoscano.com Religion and Justice on Substack: https://religionandjustice.substack.comFollow us: Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/religionandjustice Twitter/X — https://twitter.com/ReligionandJ Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/religionandjustice/