An Atheist’s Defense of Christmas
Once again, apologies for the long hiatus. Drama has a good habit of keeping me away. But, I’m back, It’s nearly Christmas and I have something to write about.
If you’ve been reading Slate lately, you might have seen Christopher Hitchens’ article about the moral and aesthetic nightmare of Christmas. And I have to agree… I’m getting sick of the red and green crap too. I’m getting sick of the fake snow and everything being about snow– which is more of a Winter Solstice thing rather than anything to do with Christmas (particularly where I am, I live in an area that very rarely gets snow). I’m tired of the generic Jingle Winter Santa’s Reindeer Bells Wonderland songs. (I swear to any God/dess out there, I will go nuts if I hear “Jingle Bell Rock” or “Little Drummer Boy” one more frigging time! ) I’m sick of stores switching back over to “Merry Christmas” simply to get more fricking money. I’d much rather Christmas be a religious, stay-at-home-with-the-family holiday where everything is closed, people stay home and hand each other small gifts, then go to church and sing pretty hymns.
And I’m a bloody freaking atheist.
Nobody can argue that Christmas is a moral nightmare. It’s a commercialized, overplayed and meaningless waste of a perfectly good December (and last week of November). And then some uppity religious folk do what they do best and blare music praising the “Dear Leader” and decorate everything with the Dear Leader’s face to prepare for his birthday.
(To be honest, this was the only part of his article I didn’t quite agree with. I may post on Ex-Christian frequently, but I don’t go out of my way to bash Jesus.)
However, some religious folk want to put “Christ” back in “Christmas”. Which is cool. Fine by me (as long as they don’t shove it down my throat). Some go a little out there. They’re stupid and should GTFO. It’s when they actively bash atheists for doing what more liberal Christians have been doing: commercializing Christmas. Okay, so the U.S. is mostly Christian. I get that. But Jews live here too, and Pagans, and Buddhists, and Muslims, and atheists, and other people. Don’t attack us atheists for not celebrating your holiday. Don’t attack us for celebrating a slightly different version of your holiday that isn’t the way you like it.
But… I think atheists should just shut up. Yes, I’m saying atheists should shut up. I’m telling myself to shut up, thank you. Christmas is a “Christian” holiday. It’s the day Christians celebrate Jesus’ birth. Okay, so Jesus was most likely born in spring, and Pagans already had winter solstice and the Christians moved their holiday to December 25 to stamp out the Pagans and yada yada yada yada yada. So what if the Christians are wrong? Why don’t atheists get all pissy over Easter? Or Hanukkah? Or Passover? Or Ramadan? Why is it just Christmas?
It doesn’t matter what religion you are or aren’t. It doesn’t matter what you think December 25th is. Whether you think it’s a trite, commercialized waste of a December, a holy day to celebrate the birth of the Savior, a day to celebrate the Winter Solstice, a non-religious day to celebrate family, a good day to go to the movies, or just December 25, celebrate it your own way– and shut up and leave others alone.
Happy Holidays!
Leave a Reply