For myself, I am labeling Israel's attacks on Gaza an atrocity.
So far, 300+ Palestinians, including innocents, have been murdered, compared to 4 Israelis from Hamas hand-rockets. Israel will not even consider a cease-fire. To what end does this bombing lead? This is no precision attack against Hamas, this is indiscriminate bombing over innocent people. This is not going to eliminate Hamas or secure Israel's position in that region; quite the opposite, it will rally the region against Israel and ensure that terrorists will attack Israel with all the more vehemence.
I am further appalled that politicians would so easily take Israel's side in this, that this shamelessly lopsided attack should somehow be warranted or acceptable. It is not, and all calls should be for Israel to cease its bombing immediately.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Love Bless Us, Everyone
Atheists Take Aim at Christmas
A few weeks ago, the atheist group "The Freedom from Religion Foundation" put up a plaque near a Nativity scene in Olympia, Washington, reading as follows:
(The plaque was subsequently removed, found in a ditch, and brought to a radio station since this story was originally written.)
I consider myself a passive atheist, which I define as someone who says "I do not believe there is a god" as opposed to "I believe there is no god." I suppose the difference lies in whether I am rebelling against some established order ("I believe there is no god") or if that order simply has nothing to do with my life and the way my world works ("I don't believe there is a god").
The irony, having explained all that, is that I "celebrate" Christmas. I can easily blame this on the fact that historically, my family has been Christian--from my grandparents' generation on back, I'm sure. It's been part of the family tradition from my mother's childhood, and then throughout my life. So, more tradition than religion. I can also easily blame it on the way in which the culture of this country and commercialism have incorporated (perhaps overtaken) the holiday so thoroughly. Christmas spirit, Christmas music, Christmas shopping, Christmas trees, Christmas presents, giving and receiving. Baby Jesus who?
In the past, I have wondered how I can reconcile celebrating Christmas with being an atheist. Am I a hypocrite? Am I masquerading as a Christian for the presents and good cheer? But remove the religion from it and you still have a wonderful winter holiday all about love, warmth, and giving--who needs to be religious to value and enjoy that?
While I subscribe to the standard atheist views--no god or devil, no heaven & hell, no angels & demons as the Church conceives them--I would have to ask what it is precisely about Christmas that would harden people's hearts and enslave minds. I have a feeling a heart-felt, live-and-let-live answer would not be forthcoming. I can think of arguments they might use for how it enslaves people's minds (the need to please give gift lists in a timely fashion, shop like mad a week in advance, get drunk off of spiked eggnog, and be generally possessed of the holiday spirit), but why be so negative in such time of good cheer?
I watched both the Alastair Sim and Muppet versions of "A Christmas Carol" this weekend and they both end the same way, with varying degrees of green felt.
My ultimate reconciliation is that Love is my God, Christmas is about Love, and I am a being with Love in his heart. Love brought me into this world, nourished me, has always provided when I have needed, is ever the answer to my prayers. I let it into my heart and embrace it and I do my best in life to recruit people to its embrace. Love needs no god or religion, it needs only humans being the best that human beings have to offer.
The message on that plaque is counterproductive. It is no different than any religion trying to force its views on others, mandating a precise perspective and way of life. Celebrate the winter solstice and advertise the fact, sure, but I've yet to see a "Merry Christmas" that ads a "Hannukah sucks."
The point is to be happy, to love one another, to let other people be happy and love one another, and, if you can, to help people be happy and love one another. This is a human responsibility, no matter your creed.
Have a merry time in whatever you celebrate; in fact, have merriment every day. After all, it always joins a heart with love.
A few weeks ago, the atheist group "The Freedom from Religion Foundation" put up a plaque near a Nativity scene in Olympia, Washington, reading as follows:
There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds
(The plaque was subsequently removed, found in a ditch, and brought to a radio station since this story was originally written.)
I consider myself a passive atheist, which I define as someone who says "I do not believe there is a god" as opposed to "I believe there is no god." I suppose the difference lies in whether I am rebelling against some established order ("I believe there is no god") or if that order simply has nothing to do with my life and the way my world works ("I don't believe there is a god").
The irony, having explained all that, is that I "celebrate" Christmas. I can easily blame this on the fact that historically, my family has been Christian--from my grandparents' generation on back, I'm sure. It's been part of the family tradition from my mother's childhood, and then throughout my life. So, more tradition than religion. I can also easily blame it on the way in which the culture of this country and commercialism have incorporated (perhaps overtaken) the holiday so thoroughly. Christmas spirit, Christmas music, Christmas shopping, Christmas trees, Christmas presents, giving and receiving. Baby Jesus who?
In the past, I have wondered how I can reconcile celebrating Christmas with being an atheist. Am I a hypocrite? Am I masquerading as a Christian for the presents and good cheer? But remove the religion from it and you still have a wonderful winter holiday all about love, warmth, and giving--who needs to be religious to value and enjoy that?
While I subscribe to the standard atheist views--no god or devil, no heaven & hell, no angels & demons as the Church conceives them--I would have to ask what it is precisely about Christmas that would harden people's hearts and enslave minds. I have a feeling a heart-felt, live-and-let-live answer would not be forthcoming. I can think of arguments they might use for how it enslaves people's minds (the need to please give gift lists in a timely fashion, shop like mad a week in advance, get drunk off of spiked eggnog, and be generally possessed of the holiday spirit), but why be so negative in such time of good cheer?
I watched both the Alastair Sim and Muppet versions of "A Christmas Carol" this weekend and they both end the same way, with varying degrees of green felt.
My ultimate reconciliation is that Love is my God, Christmas is about Love, and I am a being with Love in his heart. Love brought me into this world, nourished me, has always provided when I have needed, is ever the answer to my prayers. I let it into my heart and embrace it and I do my best in life to recruit people to its embrace. Love needs no god or religion, it needs only humans being the best that human beings have to offer.
The message on that plaque is counterproductive. It is no different than any religion trying to force its views on others, mandating a precise perspective and way of life. Celebrate the winter solstice and advertise the fact, sure, but I've yet to see a "Merry Christmas" that ads a "Hannukah sucks."
The point is to be happy, to love one another, to let other people be happy and love one another, and, if you can, to help people be happy and love one another. This is a human responsibility, no matter your creed.
Have a merry time in whatever you celebrate; in fact, have merriment every day. After all, it always joins a heart with love.
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