As long as there are demands to 'put Christ back in Christmas,' it is obvious that Christmas is BOTH religious and non-religious (or irreligious). It's a free country -- take your choice.Harry's comment drew this comment:
I'm an atheist, but I celebrate Christmas. I like the sentiments that have accumulated around it, even if some (though not many) Christians share them.
Precisely. As one more data point, my wife and I are both atheists, and we very much enjoy our Christmas tree. It was a pagan holiday before it was coopted by Christians, and for us, it retains a great deal of beauty as a celebration of the arrival of winter and of gift giving.I couldn't have asked for a nicer proof of my thesis that American atheists are functionally Christian.
Thanks, Harry. I'll try to find a story about mean religious people for you.
5 comments:
David:
I think what this proves is that American atheists are functionally American.
So are American Christians.
Christmas is now primarily an observational holiday -- we hold it particularly dear because it allows us to observe many things we value, most of which have nothing to do with religion.
Getting together with family over good meals while exchanging presents and enjoying childrens' joy are all their own reward, and serve as plenty of justification.
What do you suppose would be the effect of discovering Jesus was actually born on February 12th?
I thought you people called them 'Hanukkah bushes' anyway. But it is nice, I suppose, to see Harry minding his tone a bit.
Skipper: keeping faith with those you love has nothing to do with religion?
Latest Spengler is on-topic, and is pretty good:
Sympathy for Scrooge
Peter:
You mean like little newborn babies all wrapped in swaddling clothes?
No, like making an extra effort to get together with family, and watching how much fun the kids have opening presents.
Christianity would collapse in a week and everybody in the world would become secular materialists who think exactly like you.
Boy, did you ever miss the point, which is: nothing would happen.
Christmas is essentially a secular holiday with only a thin veneer of religiosity. Finding Christ's actualy birthday was two and a half month's off would change nothing, although it would make statements like "the reason for the season" somewhat less common.
Joe:
Skipper: keeping faith with those you love has nothing to do with religion?
I'm not sure what you mean by "faith," but on the face of it, that word need not require religion.
I suppose religion requires faith, but faith does not require religion.
I mean 'faith' in its several interrelated senses. True service; due reverence; belief in the good. It's a big word.
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