A recent email has been circulating the web capturing a Ben Stein interview with CBS from December 2005. In this interview Ben Stein talks explicitly about his frustration with people picking on Jews and Christians... more generally, those you believe in God (see the following website for Ben Stein's full dialogue http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/confessions.asp). Specifically, he calls out atheists on their assault on Christmas... highlighting the way they push vague generalities that couldn't otherwise indicate a celebration dedicated to religion i.e. "Holiday Trees" or "Happy Holidays". I applaud Ben Stein for his boldness and unique perspective on the social issue, but what if we demanded a stricter paradigm on such religious assault? Instead of demanding the persecution to desist, what if we called for atheists and agnostics to assault each holiday equally!
If "Merry Christmas" should be turned into "Happy Holidays," then what does that say for every other holiday we celebrate? In all fairness to Atheistic semantics, we should honor each holiday with a vague and unsentimental "Happy Holidays". Forget Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Memorial Day, or Happy 4th of July. Instead, let us associate them together... religious or irreligious... as vague "Holidays". In fact, why should we consider saying "Happy Thanksgiving"? Instead, let us relish in good food and cheery fellowship in the name of yet another "Happy Holiday".
Sure, Atheists would say that they oppose the overtly religious symbols of the Christmas Holiday because such expressions are offensive... but aren't we abridged religious freedom as American citizens? If I didn't believe in love, could I complain that Valentine's Day was offensive and should be referred to as a mere "Holiday"? If I didn't believe in our Independence, would I be justified in calling Independence Day, "Holiday"? It sounds stupid, right? Because inevitably most people don't care how others celebrate their personal holidays... religious or irreligious. If anything, our nation has promoted diverse religious expression since its inception.
Hence, the movement to abolish Christmas captures simpler but deeper frustrations from within the Atheist community. How can you disprove God (see Stephen Hawking's "The Grand Design" for ideas)? The quest must exhaust devout Atheists. Ultimately, Christians are content when they cannot fully explain God... they define this as faith. Atheists are stricken with anger when they cannot disprove him... this is called doubt. To wit, the celebration of Christmas to Christians won't change even if the title does... because their faith is rooted in the spiritual sentimentalism of the season. But what do Atheists gain if the season is still celebrated but the title changes?
I say, let 'em have it... they need it more than Christians. But just one request of those doubting Atheists... please treat EVERY Holiday with equal disrespect!
If "Merry Christmas" should be turned into "Happy Holidays," then what does that say for every other holiday we celebrate? In all fairness to Atheistic semantics, we should honor each holiday with a vague and unsentimental "Happy Holidays". Forget Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Memorial Day, or Happy 4th of July. Instead, let us associate them together... religious or irreligious... as vague "Holidays". In fact, why should we consider saying "Happy Thanksgiving"? Instead, let us relish in good food and cheery fellowship in the name of yet another "Happy Holiday".
Sure, Atheists would say that they oppose the overtly religious symbols of the Christmas Holiday because such expressions are offensive... but aren't we abridged religious freedom as American citizens? If I didn't believe in love, could I complain that Valentine's Day was offensive and should be referred to as a mere "Holiday"? If I didn't believe in our Independence, would I be justified in calling Independence Day, "Holiday"? It sounds stupid, right? Because inevitably most people don't care how others celebrate their personal holidays... religious or irreligious. If anything, our nation has promoted diverse religious expression since its inception.
Hence, the movement to abolish Christmas captures simpler but deeper frustrations from within the Atheist community. How can you disprove God (see Stephen Hawking's "The Grand Design" for ideas)? The quest must exhaust devout Atheists. Ultimately, Christians are content when they cannot fully explain God... they define this as faith. Atheists are stricken with anger when they cannot disprove him... this is called doubt. To wit, the celebration of Christmas to Christians won't change even if the title does... because their faith is rooted in the spiritual sentimentalism of the season. But what do Atheists gain if the season is still celebrated but the title changes?
I say, let 'em have it... they need it more than Christians. But just one request of those doubting Atheists... please treat EVERY Holiday with equal disrespect!
I never could understand the "upside" of Atheism. I think the secular progressives, as Bill O'Reilly aptly calls them, perceive themselves to be superior to us pedestrian folks that cling to "guns and religion" because we lack intellect, imagination and the ability to resolve every conflict with dialog alone. If I were to hazard an educated guess, I suggest the secular progressives really fear we Christians might be right!
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