I recently had a discussion with people about the so-called "Holiday Season" that we are already beginning to be inundated in.
As an atheist, I see Christmas as more evidence that many (NOTE: not all) religious people do not know what they truly believe, much less what they are doing, or how to THINK rationally about what they are saying and doing.
Christmas was supposed to be about the virgin birth of an alleged "Savior" who actually is "god," in human form coming to die for our sins, that we committed against him... so I guess he's apologizing to himself for our sins offending him (so it's already unbelievable).
Anyway.... we somehow get Santa, evergreen trees being cut down and pulled indoors, another plant hanging from the ceiling to prompt kissing, lights being put on the outside of houses, and ridiculous consumer overspending on items that usually aren't deemed to be "necessities."
The phrases like..."buy now and save" do not make any sense either. Think about it... "buy now and save"... or "don't buy it at all because you don't need it and save all of your money that you would have otherwise wasted."
Religious holidays do not make sense and neither do the commercials that accompany them... yet people gobble this crap up like its crack.
Christmas= Santa and overspending
Easter= candy, hiding eggs, and bunnies?
Semi-secular Thanksgiving (initially was thanking "God" for good harvests, even though the people had done all the work) = Parades, Football, Overeating, and of course, Black Friday (consumer mania, once again, usually for non-necessities).
So what's my point?
"WHY are YOU ATTACKING religion!?!?"
"Why can't you just let people be happy?"
"Why can't you just enjoy the holidays like everyone else?"
- Why? - Because its all made up, pointless, and frankly, it insults my intelligence.
I'm pointing out how none of this makes sense and how our country is filled with consumers rather than thinkers. Do people even know why they do what they do? Do people even have the capability to stop, think, and rationalize their holiday-related actions?
I wish they did.
Feel free to hate on me.
There's a hilarious video on this: http://youreadygrandma.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-recently-had-discussion-wi...
alot of believers would agree with you, the hoidays are overly commericialized. However, I try to look on the bright side. Holidays are great ways to see family and frineds you don't get to see every day.
"How can we win where fools can be kings" Muse
Since much of your rant seems to be focused on the commercialism of the holidays, allow me to ask a question: would you still feel the same towards a family who celebrates these holidays in a very religious style (such as giving to the poor, attending worship services, studying religious texts)?
~C
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I have no problem with people giving to the poor.
I just don't see why anyone would need a religious "holiday" in order to do so.
I have a feeling that the vast amount of people who celebrate Christmas find that their holiday revolves around Santa, wasting money, dragging trees indoors, and everything else I described.
I also feel that if the holiday focused on the religious tale rather than consumerism, that more people would become non-believers.
Why?
- a virgin birth
- god coming to earth in human form in order to apologize to himself for our "sins"
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." -F.N.
I wasn't talking specifically about Christmas, especially since I don't celebrate it in any religious context because I'm not Christian. I just celebrate it because my whole family does, and it's a time to spend with my family.
But, you didn't really answer the question... if they celebrated it in a traditionally religious style, such as studying religious texts and attending worship services, would you have a problem with it? It is merely the consumerism you have problems with, or the holiday as a whole?
People who celebrate Channukah may be more into the commercialism of the holiday now, especially with its typical proximity to Christmas, but it's still all about celebrating the success of the Macabees, and the miracle of the oil. Tisha B'Av (which, admittedly, most Jews don't celebrate, and so you probably don't have a clue about it) is all about lamenting the destruction of both Temples. Passover is about the escape from Egypt... you tend not to get very commercial with that. Yes, most people don't celebrate them, but would you still feel as if you have to 'survive' if they were celebrated in a religious context?
~C
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I don't see how I could really have a problem with people actually practicing their religion on the holidays rather than the crap that we typically see that has nothing to do with their religion.
In fact, if people really practiced their religion on their chosen holiday, then I probably wouldn't have to see it or have commercials inundating the airwaves at all, right?
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." -F.N.
Overconsumption, spending money, increasing debt, just to buy a bunch of crap people don't like or use anyway.
I don't like the ecology of it. If you want to make a point, without offending everyone in your life who is asking you those questions, you might be interested in a different kind of giving this year. You could be an example to your friends and loved ones, give something to someone who really needs it, and really make a difference in bettering the world.
If you're interested, check out:
http://www.redefinechristmas.org/
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
instead of getting into the long of it...i'll just say that before I grew up- a little,
I hated the fact that I had to stay at home while others celebrated their holidays but then I learned live with the fact that I was living in America and since most Americans celebrate christmas/thanksgiving --- let them enjoy it..
and so now it is just the time for us to save our money and get good deals on things we need...recently bought a GPS that I have been yearning for :)
"I'm more like a fool for soul and passion....
I watch crash, and realize that we all survivors
no religion or race, whatever describe us." -Forever Begins, Common
http://www.progressiveu.org/012450-old-and-gold-times-change-my-immigran...
I totally agree with you. People overlook the whole "reason for the season", as the saying goes and ignore the spirituality behind the holidays in the whole materialistic society we live in. I do think it's a wonderful excuse to get together with family, but I think people go WAY overboard. My family for example...my parents haven't really been able to afford gifts over the past few years. Their gifts have come in the form of much-needed new shoes, much-needed new clothes (my sister is always taking my stuff...they finally bought her something at Wal Mart yesterday, so hopefully she'll leave my stuff alone for a little while), etc. I think the lack of the materialistic "holiday spirit" has allowed us to focus more on the spiritual holiday spirit. We decorate our house on Christmas Eve, we go to Mass, we talk about Jesus and how He was born, etc. It's pretty awesome. : )
RESPECT LIFE
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"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa