This may seem a small point - but I think it's a fundamental one. I'm sure I don't have a full understanding of what Christianity is about. But I'm pretty sure of what it's not about - materialism and consumerism. This is no small point, however trivial the example I am going to give might seem.

When I was a child, a birthday meant, perhaps, a cupcake with a candle in it - and a small gift. Occasionally there was a party, maybe five friends for ice cream and cake. That was not unusual.