Could Claire's rejection of Christian have caused his downward spiral? He seemed pretty together and sober during his visit.

Accumulated Guilt.

Definitely a part of it.

This could certainly be part of it. He was having difficulty with his other child, who lost respect for him, and was probably hoping that it would work out with his daughter,

He was an alcoholic for Jack's whole life. When we had a FB of Jack as a child, Christian was having a drink, thus showing us he'd always been a drinker.
I think he was a tortured soul, with much guilt, and many problems dealing with his life as he knew it. Claire was just a part of it.

I don't debate that he was an alcoholic all along. I just think Claire's rejection was a trigger for a downward spiral.

It also seems he went further downward when he attempted to visit her with Ana Lucia and was rejected.

Thank you, Laura. That says it best!

The character of Christian strikes me as a man without a soul. Has he exhibited a redeeming quality? Ever? (throwing money at people doesn't count) I just assumed he drank so much for so long because he saw what a horrible person he was and had no desire to change, so he drank to keep from thinking about it.

Jack nor Claire have nothing to do with Christian's drinking.
Any old excuse will do when an alcoholic needs/wants a drink.

The writers know it's not about blame, it's about guilt.
Jack for sure feels guilty re Christian's drinking.
Jack has not yet resolved his guilt, something he will eventually do or pay the price.
Claire feels no guilt about Christian's drinking and wouldn't even if she knew about it. Her guilt was about her behavior to her mom and she resolved in the very poignant bedside scene.
100%
The character of Christian strikes me as a man without a soul. Has he exhibited a redeeming quality?

Oh my, yes.
His advice to Jack in "Hunting Party" is only one example: "Do as I say, not as I do" is as human and redeeming as it gets...
I'll spare you the 10-page essay, suffice to say Christian rules. He is the most realistic, well-written, well-acted character on the show.

Jack nor Claire have nothing to do with Christian's drinking.
Any old excuse will do when an alcoholic needs/wants a drink.

True. I remember after ATOTC, a lot of people were looking for a reason for Christian's drinking and a poster who was an alcoholic himself set us straight on that one. The fact that we want to find excuses for him so badly is just another example of how he manages to be a sympathetic character despite the stunts he's pulled. I know I don't want to like him and feel for him. I dislike him plenty too and whenver a character makes me feel that way, that's very satisfying for me as a viewer.

His advice to Jack in "Hunting Party" is only one example: "Do as I say, not as I do" is as human and redeeming as it gets...

Another piece of fatherly advice from Do No Harm. In his scene with Jack in the pool you get a glimpse of just what their relationship could be like and how much he does love his son. But even when he knows he's about to die, he's still weak and doesn't pick up that phone to tell Jack what he told Sawyer. I was surprised to learn he did spend time with Claire when she was little, because he was shown as an emotionally distant father to Jack even in his childhood.

I'll spare you the 10-page essay, suffice to say Christian rules. He is the most realistic, well-written, well-acted character on the show.

He definitely rules the flashback character roster and to me he's more real and interesting than some regulars. But I'm a little biased, since I've been a big fan of the Shephards since day one. :biggrin:

I've been a big fan of the Shephards since day one. :biggrin:

The best part of Lost is the authenticity of the character relationships. The Shephards are the most genuine of all. In real life, people keep working at it and people keep failing. Geez, I wish so badly Jack & Christian had reconciled before Christian bit it. C'est la vie.