‘They Liked It’: Why ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ Still Matters After 60 Years | Religion Unplugged

(ANALYSIS) “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the beloved animated television program, turns 60 this year. It is hard to imagine that it almost did not air. 

Network executives thought it moved too slowly for a Christmas special. They also were convinced that the absence of a laugh track, a staple of 1960s-era comedies, would be the kiss of death.

To further complicate matters, “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz, the man behind the cast of animated characters, insisted upon using real kids as the voice actors. As a result, only a couple of the children who were cast had any acting experience.

But what most concerned the executives at CBS was the religious content. The climax of the 30-minute program focused on a main character quoting Scripture. The executive producer even insisted that the Bible could not be read on network television. However, the creator of what has become a Christmas classic staunchly refused to edit or otherwise water down the content.

In spite of network executives’ concerns, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” made its television debut on Thursday, Dec. 9, 1965. The result: More than 15 million homes tuned in, and it captured nearly half the possible audience.

The week it aired, it was No. 2 in the ratings. It went on to win critical acclaim as well as an Emmy Award for outstanding children’s program and a Peabody Award for excellence in programming.

CBS executives were stunned at the program’s success. Lee Mendelson, executive producer of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” once told USA Today, “When I started reading the reviews, I was shocked. … They actually liked it.”

The storyline of the 60-year-old special not only exposes the crass commercialization that characterizes too much of American Christmas, but it also highlights the real reason for the season – and after six decades it continues to be popular.

The so-called experts are still scratching their collective heads over the success of Charlie Brown. Explanations for the show’s longevity abound.

Some suggest the popularity is due to the genius of Schulz and the popularity of the characters he created. Others insist that it is the craving for nostalgia of the baby-boom generation that fuels the seasonal success of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Contrary to expert speculation about Charlie Brown’s success, I believe the popularity of Charles Schult’s story about the round-headed boy’s search for the true meaning of Christmas runs deeper than superficial sentiment for characters or the desire to reminisce. The success of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is anchored in truth.

In a society that struggles with the concept of absolute truth, “Charlie Brown” dares to declare the truth that only reason for the Christmas season is the birth of Jesus Christ.

When Charlie Brown shouts in desperation, “Isn’t there anyone out there who can tell me what Christmas is all about?” Linus, his fried, responds, “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you.” He then takes center stage and quotes verbatim the King James Version of Luke 2:8-14.

With simple eloquence, the blanket-clutching character unashamedly announces, “For unto you this day is born in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

Linus’ quotation stands in stark contrast to a popular culture that does its best to ignore the Guest of Honor during His own celebration. The message of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is the supernatural reality that God sent His only begotten son into the world so the world might through Him be saved.

In the 60 years since Charles Schulz first communicated the simple truth of Christmas through his beloved Peanuts characters, American culture has grown even more secular. However, the hearts of individuals still yearn for truth and meaning.

In the secular desert that characterizes much of the American Christmas experience, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is an oasis of truth. Year after year, thirsty souls take time to drink deeply the profound truth that God became a man in order to redeem mankind.

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!

This article has been republished with permission from Baptist Press.

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Kelly Boggs is a contributor to Baptist Press.

https://religionunplugged.com/news/2025/12/23/why-a-charlie-brown-christmas-still-matters-after-60-years

‘That’s What Christmas is All About’: Taking a Stand for Truth Year After Year in ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ | CBN

Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas is a holiday tradition for generations around the world. A key part of the program has been called “the most magical two minutes in all of TV animation” – the part where Linus shares the true meaning of Christmas. CBN News took a look at the impact of this special and the faith of the man behind it.

Taking a Stand

“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” Charlie Brown cried out.

It’s a question that sets up a most memorable scene.

“Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about,” his buddy, Linus, calmly answers. Then, in a simple, yet powerful way, Linus proceeds to share the story of Jesus’ birth from the Gospel of Luke.

“‘For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord,'” he exclaimed.

Peanuts creator Charles Schulz insisted the special include the true meaning of Christmas. In response to hesitancy on the part of the producer and animator, he said, “If we don’t do it, who will?”

“There were actually quite a few things in the special that the executives and some of his creative partners were not too sure about, from the jazz music to the children voice actors and including the religious reference, that got quite a bit of pushback,” Lind explained to CBN News. 

“Charles Schulz really planted his feet on a lot of those creative decisions, and at the end of the day, when the studio executives viewed the special, even though they were very wary about it, as it turns out, they did not have a lot of time to come up with a new special,” he continued. 

“And they had already advertised for it, so because of the scheduling, they were kind of stuck to go with Schulz’s creative vision, and as it turns out, the public loved it,” Lind said.

READ ‘A Charlie Brown Religion’ Explores Charles Schulz’s Faith

‘Beloved Classic’

The show debuted in December of 1965 to rave reviews and went on to win a primetime Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program.

“In the 1960s when it first aired, there were lots of letters sent to Schulz and the sponsor, Coca-Cola, telling them that the viewers were so gratified to see a substantive reference to religion on TV,” shared Lind. “Some of those letters from the 1960s sound like they could have been written today.”

“A Charlie Brown Christmas is still quite the beloved classic,” he added.

Paul Batura of Focus on the Family describes Schulz as Frozen in Time, Not Woke, and Oh So Wonderful. 

“I think people look forward to it every year; I think it centers people,” Batura told CBN News. “You know our first impressions make a big impression, and for most of us, we saw ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ when we were three, four, five years old, and that sticks with us.”

“And we’re reminded when we hear that voice when we hear the reading of the Gospel of Luke, we’re reminded why we celebrate Christmas,” he continued. “And so I think it has had a very much a net positive impact on the world.”

Faith Questions

The faith of Schulz has been scrutinized over the years. He’s been called a fundamentalist Christian, a universalist, an atheist, and reportedly called himself a secular humanist in the latter part of his life.

Lind says Schulz’s faith was very personal to him.

“Schulz had a biblical faith that was maybe more nuanced than some of the denominational dogma that some of his peers would have, but it was a personal, biblical faith that he would talk to close confidants about over the years and include in his strips, even if it was a little bit more nuanced and broad then some of the traditional teachings,” he explained.

“Some have tried to sanctify him, and some have tried to vilify him, even accusing him of some heretical beliefs,” shared Batura. “I think the reality is he was somewhere in the middle, and I say that because look at the fruit of his work; look at what he produced, and look at what we still enjoy today.”

“And I have a very, very good feeling about where Charles Schulz was with his Christian faith,” he continued.

Regent University Dean of Divinity Dr. Corne Bekker also says it’s important to look at Schulz’s work.

“I think Schulz would want us to judge his legacy and the person that he is, based on the material that he put out there,” Bekker told CBN News. “And when we look at the comic strip, when we look at ‘Peanuts’, when we look at the Christmas special, what an extraordinary legacy of not only faith but also the meaning of community.”

“We are stronger when we come together,” he added.

Only God truly knows the heart and faith of Charles Schulz. What we do know, however, is year after year, a little boy he created tells the world about Jesus Christ:

“And that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/entertainment/2023/december/thats-what-christmas-is-all-about-taking-a-stand-for-truth-year-after-year-in-a-charlie-brown-christmas