The war on Christmas?

I was listening to a friend lament. 

            "When I worked at Home Depot, they forced us to say 'Happy Holidays' instead of 'Merry Christmas,' she told me. "I was mad because after all, it was really Christmas."

            Or was it? What is this "war on Christmas" we are hearing so much about?

            Perhaps what my friend fails to see is that the Christians are sharing these December dates with many other celebrations of many other religions. Here in America, being the "hodgepodge" of cultures, we host many of these religious traditions within an abundance of temples and churches. The person with whom she wished to share her Christian sentiments might have desired to receive a "Happy Hanukkah," or a "Festive Kwanzah" greeting instead. I suppose her employer felt that since this was the case, a "Happy Holidays" would suffice. After all, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are all really just holidays that came from religious events that required time set aside to worship and celebrate with family present. One of the best aspects we have here in our country is the right to come here from somewhere else and be able to bring your religion with you and worship freely. We take pride in this freedom and these family celebrations.

            The Jewish celebration referred to as "Hanukkah" is observed for eight days and eight nights and can occur (according to the Georgian calendar) any time from late November until late December. It can also be referred to as the "Festival of Lights", which just happens to be the same nickname used for "Diwali,"  or the Hindu celebration in November. Of course, the actual Hindu celebration that falls on December 21- 25 is "Pancha Ganapati" where flashing lights, tinsel and colorful hanging ornaments are added to a statue or picture of the deity Ganesha. Children are given gifts which can only be open on the fifth day. I'll bet those little Indians jump up and down on their parents as soon as the sun comes up to get them moving so the present-opening can begin. Sound familiar?  Islamic worshipers celebrate the birth of Mohammad in a similar way Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. There are so many December religious celebrations going on, it's mind-boggling.

            Actually, the Christian celebration of "Christmas Day" looks very much like an ancient event called "Saturnalia" which began in ancient Rome and ran roughly from December 17 for five days. During Saturnalia, a huge banquet was held, businesses, courts and schools were closed and gifts were exchanged. Does this also sound familiar?

            This begs an answer to the question many scholars and others often ask. Why must religion divide us so? If everyone who practices a particular brand of religion could only see the fierce line drawn around them that separates them from others, perhaps they might not be so fast to insist on a precisely religious greeting as opposed to a more generalized salutation. Before religion defines us, we are all human, one and the same, after all. What would happen if the imaginary lines disappeared?

            Being an Atheist leaves me with an advantage, I believe. I am able to clearly see, study and understand many religions without appearing to be a traitor to my faith. Since I do not believe in the existence of a Deity, I study religion from a purely historical viewpoint and can look closely at the people and traditions without the emotional undertones such as the anger displayed by my friend . I find the history fascinating and see many similarities among cultural traditions. Many religions contain a similar main deity, journey and sentiments as others and in order to notice these similarities you have to step over the imaginary line and see things through the eyes of another.

            I would be happy to see folks reveling in the similarities and accepting those who worship alternative Gods as say, distant cousins. These folks seem to have the same goals in desiring to be lifted up from where they are to a higher position filled with love and light. To me, that seems a worthy endeavor no matter what guidelines you choose to follow.

            I am not sure if my friend felt as though the phrase "Happy Holidays" made her joy feel too secular or she just felt shorted by not being able to express her own religious excitement. I was saddened that mere words could cause the feeling of religious censorship. If I were faced with this anger, I would not hesitate to create my own December greeting and it would go something like this:

            Rejoice, human! If you are receiving this message you are alive! Perhaps you have others who are well and alive around you as well. May you be full of peace and the ability to know the joy of giving. We have made it another year and  I am thankful you are all here walking among us.

            It's a bit longer than the traditional December greetings but I'll work on it.

A Fight For The Truly Faithful

The Encarta Dictionary defines dynamic as: "being full of energy, enthusiasm, and a sense of purpose and able, both to get things going and to get things done."

            I think it would be fair to say that Religion is a dynamic enterprise on so many levels. Scores of entities and branches have developed over thousands of years both remaining the same throughout history and changing drastically as the centuries pass. It has been an elusive creature in a sense, being difficult to understand or define or even identify for many observers yet easily obtainable to so many. How can something be so much to some and nothing to others?

            The very existence of a power that can both attract and deter is the reason for its divisional qualities among populations. In order to participate certain personal and external traits have to be present within a community. I truly don't see a person, having minimal contact with others, obtaining and practicing any established religion. You have to observe it, grow with it and become involved. Often, there is a carnal need to fill a spiritual desire.

            All of the personal things we allow ourselves to experience that are used to enhance our lives and make us happiest become as important as mere survival techniques as our lives progress. Sometimes religion becomes intertwined with other practices: the way we gather with others, treat our spouses, dance or even give birth. It's often all-encompassing and that can make it difficult for some to accept.          

            There is no middle ground between practicing religion or not. Unlike other personal endeavors, a neutral zone was never allowed to exist. Take music, for example. You can either play an instrument or not and are not usually judged one way or the other depending on your involvement. If you practice spirituality, you may be judged and more astounding, if you don't practice you may be even more harshly judged. It's all just strange, as though this particular practice has been elevated to a functional status among groups and those left standing contentedly on the sidelines are bewildered.

            When something is elevated to such an majestic, functional status among a group of people yet another group does not desire to comply, a division will ultimately take place. Another gesture of grandeur will be created that rivals the first or a position of non-existence may be embraced.  Owners of all three positions must vie for superiority. We can blame our human evolution for this phenomenon. We always want what others have but if we aren't at the helm, we feel inferior somehow. This is the root of the chain of intolerance.

            I see the extreme culmination of this phenomenon happening today when I try to understand the function of mega churches and holy wars. Why is money amassed in such huge quantities and why are personal religious guidelines forced on non-believers? Looking back throughout history, I can find examples of this happening over and over so this is not a new occurrence. And the non-believers are not a newly created group. There have always been Atheists. From knowing this, I can make a few good assumptions and have tried relentlessly to steer clear of being involved in any sense within this serious disagreement. I just can't endorse it as a beneficial exercise.

            We have survived living within the throes of religion versus non-religion since the beginning of time as people searched for ways to explain the things they didn't understand. I believe today's world is no exception. Our world is unstable and we are divided amongst ourselves. The religious are fiercely trying to use their tools of trade to understand these differences and sometimes that need is so strong and fearful that they see total conquest of superiority as the only final remedy. The Atheists just want to be left alone, in peace but realize they will actually have to fight for that and the circle continues. When will it ever end?

            When I am voicing my personal thoughts on this whole atrocity, those on the side of Atheism, I am not taking a stance against anything, but rather for my ability to be apart from something. I should have that right without a fight of course, but I think we have proven that this will not be allowed. The machine is too large and the fuel too plentiful to stop running over me. I feel its weight no matter how far I run away. When will the barrier of my neutral zone appear?

            If we can do anything to stop this insanity and to stop the hatred and especially the fear between the religious and non-religious by bringing the practice back to a quiet, personal level I believe we could root out the criminals who hijack the entire system for their own personal gain. We need to separate the truly faithful from the religious zealots and annihilate the latter altogether. ISIS, fanatical Christians, untaxed mega churches, false prophets and the like have to go. Whose war is this, exactly? Certainly not Atheists. Change has to come from within and I call upon the faithful to recognize and fix this problem.

            As an Atheist, and a person in love with the human condition, I stand fully behind to support you. I want you to love your life and I want you to be happy. But I want the same for myself. You are strong in your convictions. I feel you can be just as strong and rise to the occasion of tolerance. Rid yourselves of those who claim to share your beliefs and strive to prove it by criminal means.