Greetings beloved readers. Thanks for being here. The holiday season is upon us. I’ll post next week but will probably take a couple of days off. I have family coming to town and I may be distracted. (in a good way)
Today I offer up my thoughts on the “War on Christmas”. From the end of the Pax Romana to the Renaissance, the Christian church held total control over European society. Over a thousand years of brutality and cruelty. To express support for any religion not Christian was to court death. I fear than my Christian friends forget this period in their history and fail to understand the apprehension secularists feel when Christians try to force their religion on the secular world.
Humanism grew from a spark into raging flame and the oppression of the orthodoxy was chipped away. Let me say here that I can separate the spiritual lives of Christians from the horrors of their church’s history. The inquisition is not why I left Christianity.
Today Christianity occupies a more appropriate place in Christian’s lives. Religion should be spiritually uplifting. It should not try to run the secular world. Everyone should be allowed their own spiritual path as long as it harms no other.
Sadly, every Solstice time we hear from (politically motivated) Christians that evil secularists are assaulting Christmas.
We are not. To all my Christian friends . . . relax. We atheists, secularists and those from the myriad of faiths that honor the solstice time do not want our Christian friends to give up their holiday. In fact many of us celebrate in the same way!
I have a yule tree. I put up lights. I send cards. I do my best to spread good cheer. I am not a Christian and I do not celebrate the birth of Jesus or Mithras.
Here is what we secularists and other heathens would like from our Christian friends . . . a little understanding that your’s is not the only holiday tradition this time of year. I do not begrudge your celebration of your religious icon.
Also, when someone says to you “Happy Holidays” try to understand that they are not trying to offend you. They may be trying to not offend you by wishing you a “Happy Saturnalia”.
Christians, Pagans, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Atheists, et al, share much more in common than we have differences. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we rejoiced in our differences rather than argue over them? Shouldn’t THAT be the reason for the season? Lets make the holiday season a time for understanding our differences and sharing our similarities. We all are free to celebrate the season in our own way but we especially take this time of year to learn about the culture of our friends and neighbors. That is how we may find Peace on Earth.
Happy Holidays to ALL of you.
Earth Year 2013
Never mix red wine with Oodo.
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