An Atheist’s Guide to Christmas
AN ATHEIST’S GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS
We are not Christians. To us, The Bible is historical fiction. Great book, way ahead of its time. But pure fantasy. It was the Alice in Wonderland of its day, only more violent and much scarier.
We do not believe in the so-called “miracle” of a virgin birth, which supposedly occurred 2,025 years ago around this time in Bethlehem — a town someplace in the Middle East (not Pennsylvania). We do not bow our heads in prayer, because no one up there or down there or out there is listening. Sure, we should always be respectful and acknowledge others to believe as they wish. But don’t expect us to “pretend.” Nope. We certainly don’t adhere to ancient belief systems lacking any tangible evidence forged during the Bronze Age by ancestors prone to mass hysteria and superstition. In short, we believe the “traditional” religious-version of Christmas is entirely bogus.
Moreover, we can easily reject the contemporary version of Christmas. We bristle at corporatism’s insatiable intrusions, which have purposefully hijacked what might otherwise be the cheerful cultural celebration of a harmless fantasy myth into a gluttonous credit-card orgy for predatory capitalism. Yeah, Christmas can ruin your credit score. Praise the Lord and pass the Visa. We disdain the powerful bombardment of marketing designed to make us spend far in excess of what we can afford.
We aren’t going along with TV commercials showing 27-year-old yuppies buying a brand new $95,000 Lexus’ for a dearly loved one. Fact is, the manner in which Christmas is thrust upon all of society — targeting both the godly and godless with equal veracity — while ceaselessly pounding into our brains tireless myths, and preposterous lies, and inflicts mass guilt — makes our protests and collective rebellion against all the false pretense a noble virtue, easily justifiable, at that. It would be entirely JUSTIFIABLE to rebel against Christmas. However, must of us — including Atheists such as myself — do not.
Tom Flynn, the late atheist writer and thinker wrote about his steadfast refusal to go along with Christmas celebration frenzy in Free Inquiry (magazine). Flynn made a convincing case that non-Christians marching with the willingly servile in the same parade is not only an intellectual surrender but also potentially harmful. Consider this thought.
Flynn wrote:
“What if being taught as a child to believe that Santa exists — that he knows everyone’s thought and behavior and visits every household in one night bestowing year-end gifts without regard to parental desires and economic status — is harmful? Think about it. Parents encourage children to form an enormous emotional attachment to an impossible figure who does impossible things. Then, the kids learn that their parents — and everyone else in their lives — were lying to them. Then, puberty. What could go wrong?”
The analogy to some miracle worker or magical Jesus or any other benevolent orchestrator of the universe is obvious. Bravo, Mr. Flynn.
However, I believe there’s a more constructive alternative to advancing the notion of science over superstition and skepticism over an invisible sky daddy who knows and sees all we do. I believe we win a lot more converts to the truth by acknowledging what’s readily apparent to just about everyone who celebrates Christmas and couldn’t possibly contemplate life without presents and holiday cheer on December 25th.
What is irrefutable is this: Christmas is fun. It’s also an opportunity to reflect and remember. Right now. This time. We can all use an annual button, even if it’s imaginary, to reset our lives.
Assuming he did exist (and that’s debatable) Jesus’ message of love and tolerance was shocking during his day — even revolutionary.
His message was so incendiary that he was tried and convicted, not as a religious leader, but rather as a political activist. Read that again. Underline it in your mind. Remember it. JESUS WAS A POLITICAL REVOLUTIONARY. He was in fact, the ultimate Leftist of his time.
Yet, there’s a sad irony in modern Christianity’s lock-step alliance with political conservatism, which stands for nearly everything Jesus railed against. All the evidence shows that the man known as Jesus was one of the greatest LIBERALS (make that RADICALS) in human history. Jesus embodied the counter-culture of his times. He was the first hippie. He was the original beatnik. He was the radical poet of his generation. And, the messages he preached later inspired millions and later billions, for centuries to come
Anti-establishment? Check.
Anti-government? Check.
Anti-religious authority? Check.
Against crass commercialization? Check.
In favor of communal (socialist) approaches to sickness and health? Check.
Do you really think Jesus would approve of hoarding wealth and billionaire tax breaks?
Fact: If Jesus actually materialized and attended CPAC (the biggest pro Trump MAGA conference) and spread his message, he’d be tackled by ICE and deported quicker than Kristi Noem shot her own puppy.
If Jesus Christ lived in America today, he’d be to the LEFT of virtually every elected public official and person in the clergy. He’d be Ralph Nader-Bernie Sanders-Gloria Steinem in a pair of sandals. I’m no religious scholar, but let me put it another way: If you’re cheering a new “Trump Class” of battleships, fist-pump the splitting apart of families, deny health care of millions, admire the gold-platted everything in the Oval Office, and defend child molesters, you might not be on the side of your hero Jesus.
I don’t believe in any gods. But assuming that he lived and was real, the person known as Jesus had many good things to say. Too bad so many of his followers don’t bother to listen. And the greatest irony of all is that many liberals and atheists appear to be his most dedicated disciples.
Merry Christmas. In the REAL spirit of what Jesus taught.
