Being closer to the Protestant tradition myself, I consider the popular focus on the differences (that, really, are secondary in the Christian faith) among various denominations wrong, if it (the focus) and when it makes Jesus and God’s saving love and grace fade. It is really sad that the light of the original Gospel and teachings of Christ (we are called Christians because of Him, are we not?) dims by the desire to prove oneself right.

Your point is well understood but the brush you use is way to wide to paint the picture you intend.

Counter Point #1 –
You must make the distinction between in the USA between groups of people and even within those groups, again, you must define the differences.

For Example:
I would write; “The mostly protestant Christian traditions of the USA are such that the Christmas holidays end at New Year.”

Continuing to Religion:
Simon, by now I would have expected you to understand evangelicalism especially living in Colorado. These “new Christians” who believe you have be to “born again”, in essence accepting Christ as a cognitive person, to be Christian. From the Armenian point of view, especially the Hayastansi point of view, it is ridiculous. As you know, the Assemblies of God are very active in both Armenia as well as the newly immigrated Armenians in LA. Honestly, it turns my stomach.

To be Armenian is to be Christian. You are right as it is part of the fibre of “Armenian-ness”. However, the new Christians churches (the ones that are only 200 years old), promote a very verbal, outward faith. That is what you have seen in the articles.

There is only one way that the Armenian nation will be able to hold onto its Church and its culture. It must update its Bible to use modern, understandable Armenian and make the Armenian church service more accessible. How many times have I stood in any Armenian Church (New York, Yerevan, Los Angeles, Sevan, Vanadzor or Gavar) and not understood anything? I simply want to understand and be led by a priest who is a good example of God’s love.

The new Christian churches offer that above. The Assemblies of God church in Vandazor are lovely people but what attracts the group to the AofG Church over the new Lusavorich Church is the community and common language aspect. They feel they understand better.

Simon, obviously, America will not change and you have to forgive the ignorance of the average American who does not understand why Christmas was moved two weeks to the 25th by the Catholic church to entice the German barbarians to accept Christianity. For the Armenians, we can only hope that the Holy Sees (both Etchmiatsin and Beruit) will modernise and make faith more accessible and communal through modern language and community development around the church.

Thanks!