After laughing hysterically at her ignorant statement and finding a tissue to wipe my tears of bemusement, I then began to get angry. Not in a punch-her-in-the-face kind of way, but the sort of anger that saddens me from the lack of understanding that Christians aren't the only ones who appreciate Christmas. Not that this person would ever read this, but allow me to enlighten you as to what Christmas for an Atheist is all about...
First let me start by saying, I love Christmas! And yes, I have no problem saying "Merry Christmas". Or Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings; it all means the same thing to me. Makes me sick when people get offended when people say anything other than Merry Christmas. Give it a rest, people. You don't own this holiday! My husband doesn't share in my enthusiasm for this time of year but I love it. I love the cold weather (wearing scarves is my favorite), I enjoy decking out my house with twinkling lights, hanging stockings from the mantel, listening to Christmas music, eating gingerbread cookies, and yes, even decorating a beautiful, plastic tree complete with a Darth Vader ornament and a bright star on top.
Before I go on, I'd like to clarify what "Atheist" really means. There seems to be a hugely shortsighted misconception that an Atheist is a hateful, immoral person who cooks babies in the oven and tortures small animals. Wrong. There is only one thing that classifies me as an Atheist: I am not a person of faith. I do not believe in a higher power (unless you count gravity), nor do I believe in Satan, angels or demons, heaven or hell, or anything else that is lacking factual proof. I simply believe in my own power and ability to make anything happen for myself, in my life, without intervention from anyone, divine or otherwise. And being an Atheist most certainly doesn't mean that I hate any person of faith. I respect everyone and I am appreciative of the fact that we all have freedom of religion.
While I may not be a person of faith, I am definitely many things. I'm a thoughtful and loyal wife to my husband. I'm a kind, patient mother whose goal is to raise a compassionate, open-minded and giving daughter. There isn't anything I wouldn't do to help a friend. I volunteer my time to help those in need as well as giving regular donations to my favorite charities. I have a strong sense of right and wrong and I live my life leading by example. I'm passionate about life and I love and accept others regardless of their orientation. I don't say these things to seek praise, only to show that I'm not so different from anyone else pursuing happiness while living on this earth.
I'm writing this blog in hopes that it will shed some insight to other people who might not understand what being a non-theist truly means. No matter what you choose to call December 25th; Jesus' birthday, Saturnalia, Winter Solstice, Yule or whatever other terms are out there, the point is that the Holiday season is for everyone. For every belief, for every family, for every child whose face lights up at the sight of twinkling lights on a Christmas Tree.
And I'd like to close by quoting a fellow Atheist blogger who put it simply:
The only people I know who are ever offended at Christmas time are Christians who get angry whenever they hear or see the words “happy holidays” or “season’s greetings.” The angriest people I know at Christmas time are not people who are being prohibited from celebrating the holiday as they choose — they are people who are trying to prohibit others from celebrating the holidays in ways they claim to find offensive. If you are one of those people, I have a question. Is your religious faith so weak that you need everyone around you to keep it alive with words of agreement? If so, the problem lies not with others but with you. And if you’re so angered by the simple, pleasant greeting of “happy holidays,” I have another question. It’s a question I ask with no ill intent. I don’t mean to offend or insult, I simply want to understand. The question is this:
What is wrong with you?"
Awesome write up and very well put. Merry Christmas! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Thorpe! Merry Christmas to you, too :)
ReplyDeleteI started to type out a long response. But I can't put together my thoughts the way I want to right now. You are absolutely correct that Christians don't have a monopoly on Christmas and the traditions. I agree that there are those out there too quick to judge, too quick to condemn. I will say that there are atheists that are just as quick to judge an individual believer based on the actions/words of others. Both situations are regrettable. My faith is about way more than one day of the year. I think that it is an essential part of who I am. I do believe there is something for everyone in it, but I know that my words will never bring someone to that point. So I'll just say that I appreciate your honesty and rational thinking.
ReplyDeleteNicole, thank you for your comment. I totally agree that Atheists can be just as condescending and contrite as anyone else. We're all human, after all, and self-righteousness is in everyone regardless of religious orientation. My point was mainly meant to convey that when people try to force what they believe to be truth on to me and my family in a mean-spirited way, it's difficult not to want to scream from the rooftop, "Just because you believe that your way is the ONLY way, does not make it true!". That and I wanted people of faith to understand that non-theists are really not all that different. When they understand why they deny every other God, then they will understand why I deny theirs. I wish everyone were as open-minded and loving as you are, in the name of Christ.
ReplyDeleteYour list of what you are is absolutely true. I found you to be a delight to be around when we skated together. I know we don't share the same belief system, but I have never found that to be a problem or an issue as I have developed friendships. It only becomes an issue when the two people make it an issue and decide they cannot offer respect and love in the presence of differing beliefs. I am perfectly fine to listen to what others believe. How dull the world would be if we were all the same and believed the same things. There would be nothing to talk about but the weather!
ReplyDeleteI, for one, do not at all believe that we (I'll include myself here as I am a believer in and follower of Christ) own the holiday season, and I am fully aware that many of the traditions of the Christmas season come out of pagan traditions. I am not at all offended when people say "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" because it is a happy, holy day for me(the etymology of holiday), and why wouldn't I celebrate the season's greetings regardless of the faith background of the person who offered the sentiment? I say Merry Christmas because I am celebrating the birth of Christ. If you want to say Merry Christmas, I'm for it! At the same time, I told my husband that I had great respect for you for posting about your "blissmas tree". It made sense to me that you would take Christ out of your celebration and your language as you don't believe in Him.
And, in my experience, atheists are not at all hateful, baby-cookers. Instead, they are some of the most moral people I know. We don't agree about the existence of God, but we can still learn from one another in the way we choose to live our lives.
With Nicole, I'd like to offer that I appreciate your honesty, and I appreciate YOU! And Merry Christmas! :)
Reckless, you're so right! People don't have to believe the same thing in order to get a long and have meaningful relationships with one another. It's unfortunate that for so many, belief systems are "make it or break it" when it comes to acceptance. I want to see that changed! I don't care if someone believes in the biblical God, buddha, or the spaghetti monster in the sky...who you choose to worship has no bearing on my feelings towards you as a person. As long as people are kind, understanding and loving towards me and my family, I will love you wholeheartedly in return. It's just saddening that so many people have a hard time doing that. Believers or not.
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