What Christmas means to me...

Ever since I accepted my own atheistic-agnosticism regarding God and religions, I've been deeply conflicted over how I should handle the Christmas Season.

Recently I was listening to a podcast of "The Thomas Jefferson Hour". I'm not going to get into what the podcast is about if it interests you go see for yourself. The creator and host of the show, Clay Jenkinson quoted an American living abroad who was asked what Christmas means to her she said:

“Christmas is for everybody because it’s about the possibility that God could come come into human life and inspire renewal. That’s what this story is about. It’s about God deliberately coming into our world and offering us a chance to start fresh.”

I was floored by the beauty, simplicity and the perfect wisdom of this view.

Then I thought, every year after the shortest day of the year (in the Northern hemisphere anyway) the days start to grow longer again, this spoke to the spirits of our ancestors. It conveyed the idea that if the sun could be reborn or renewed, so couldn’t man. When you look at it this way it’s perfectly understandable why the early Christian church decided to place the birth of Christ so close to this very symbolic celestial event.

The idea of renewal is a beautiful thing and it’s one I try to impart to my children.

We can all begin again every year if we choose!

So given the more transcendent idea of renewal does it really matter if God REALLY impregnated a virgin (Mary) who LITERALLY gave birth to a divine being (Jesus Christ)?

I think the metaphorical truth is much more important than the a literal truth.

Just an atheists view…

And I am not afraid to say it:

Merry Christmas to you ALL.

Robert

“And you ask me what i want this year

and i try to make this good and clear
just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days

cause i don’t need boxes wrapped in strings
and designer love and empty things,
just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days

so take these words
and sing out loud
cause everyone is forgiven now
cause tonight’s the night the world begins again

and its someplace simple where we could live
and something only you can give
and let’s faith and trust and peace while we’re alive

and the one poor child who saved this world
and there’s 10 million more who probably could
if we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

so take these words
and sing out loud
cause everyone is forgiven now
cause tonight’s the night the world begins again

i wish everyone was loved tonight
and somehow stop this endless fight
just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days

so take these words
and sing out loud
cause everyone is forgiven now
cause tonight’s the night the world begins again”

Goo Goo Dolls - “Better Days”

Should we give Christianity its due?

I was watching a debate today between Daniel Dennett and Dinesh D'Souza...

If you are interested:

It's here

From the debate I have somewhat better opinion, not GREAT but better, of D'Souza. I still think he is way off on many matters but I don't hate him as I used to.

During the the question and answer session a question was asked about Scandinavia and how they can be a majority atheist population and yet have societies that seem so much more civilized and enlightened. The evidence presented was:

- They give more to charity.
- They have lower crime rates.
- Their schools out perform most other countries including the United States.

Dennett told a story about how he was planting a hay field, and a neighbor made a suggestion. The suggestion was that he plant oats as a nurse crop along with his hay seed. Mr. Dennett asked his neighbor what a nurse crop was. A nurse crop comes up first and protects the slower growing hay.

As Dennett explained Christianity was the scaffolding that our more modern and enlightened morals are based on

I'd never heard it quite put this way but I was intrigued by the concept.

Perhaps we atheists should give the good aspects of Christianity their due. The morals of early Christianity were an improvement over the previous morals.

But I don't think they are the end. If they were women would still be considered property.

Scandinavia was ostensibly Christian at an earlier point, now they are irreligious or atheistic, and they excel in societal matters more than the God-fearing United States...

So what accounts for this?

Robert

So help me I do so love Mr. Carlin....

Evil Teddy Bear....

So the mob in Sudan called for the execution of a teacher whose class had the temerity of a naming a teddy bear "Mohamed".

This would be funny if it weren't so freakin' sad!

This is the state of thought in the street of the Muslim world.

We in the West, look at this and shake our collective heads.

I wonder though...

If my country, the United States, didn't have the safe guards in place that it does: the rule of law and a separation of church and state.

Could I be who I am and think as I do?

Would a Christian Fundamentalist Nation suffer an atheist to live?

Maybe it wouldn't be that bad, but would I not be a second-class citizen?

Are the rabidly fundamentalist types in our culture only held in check by a secular government?

Something to ponder!

Robert

Mr. Deity and the Notes - Season 2 Episode 4

From Crackle: Mr. Deity and the Notes - Season 2, Ep 4

Mr. Deity and the Voicemail - Season 2, Ep 3

From Crackle:

Humanity's greatest tool...

SCIENCE!!!

(For an explanation, go here)

And one of Humanities BIGGEST Tools...

(More of his drivel can be found here, if you are so inclined.)