hollybrooke: (Evil Homer)
[personal profile] hollybrooke
Atheists ad campaigns stir the pot during holiday season

Okay, I'm not going to lie about it. I've had my doubts about religion and Christianity. I haven't actively went to church in a long time. The last time I went to church was for Kevin's dad's funeral, and the only other time before that was when Hunter got baptized. I've done my fair share of reading about the creationism vs. evolution. It's just so scary to think that there may not be a God, and all of the time we spend praying and believing in something that may not even exist could be all for nothing. What then? It's like when you're a kid and you're told that Santa Claus doesn't exist.

I don't even really know where I'm going with this. I want to believe in God, and heaven and hell, and that Jesus died for my sins. But I just have a very hard time taking that leap of faith if it can't be proven. You can prove something more tangible like the theory of evolution with science. I think it's why I'm having such a hard time with this holiday season in particular. I've been questioning a lot of my own beliefs, and trying to form my own opinion instead of just going with what everyone tells me to believe. And I have a hard time telling anyone this because I don't want to be bombarded with a bunch of religious propaganda from the Bible thumpers. (I work in a very conservative, right-wing town. Hell, there's a freaking shrine of the passion right down the road that I pass by every day going to and from work.)

....I just don't know.

Date: 2010-12-03 11:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] stormer1-1.livejournal.com
Basically we put up a tree for some reason and get drunk.

Date: 2010-12-04 04:36 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] promisemewings.livejournal.com
I've read that even the traditions of putting up a tree and exchanging gifts stems from Paganism.

Date: 2010-12-04 06:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] therealycats.livejournal.com
Yes. If you really want me to go to into parallels of Jesus (in particular) and pagan traditions, I can, but I could be typing for a while. But the gist of it is that as Rome conquered more and more lands, and after Constantine's conversion, to sell the conquered peoples on the idea of Christianity, pagan celebrations were basically adopted by the empire and the Church to make the transition more accepted by the masses. Celebrating the birth of Christ at the winter solstice is done for this same reason; most scholars seem to be of the opinion that Jesus was born in the spring or summer.

I'm not saying that to trample on anyone's faith; my personal opinion is that if someone's faith is strong enough then they can hear and even accept historical facts that might contradict certain aspects of that faith and still believe in whatever it is they follow; in my opinion it's the hateful Bible thumpers, like Westboro Baptist, or even less extreme examples (and I don't mean to just relegate this to "Christians"), who really lack that faith and feel the need to browbeat others into submission with hateful speech and acts because they're so insecure in their beliefs, and THAT frightens them.

But anyway, Christmas is a solstice holiday adaptation, just like Easter is an adaptation of the spring equinox--it even has a Greek goddess's name in it (Eos, goddess of the dawn). Easter gets into that dying and reviving god aspect that's prevalent in a lot of religions (Dionysus, Osiris, Balder), which is also related to spring (death of the plants in the winter, revival in the spring).

Date: 2010-12-04 08:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] boojie-30.livejournal.com
That they do.

Date: 2010-12-04 12:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mellebelle13.livejournal.com
i really don't have any ties to my catholic upbringing. i go to church for christenings, weddings, and funerals.

christmas has become so commercialized, that i celebrate it as such.

Date: 2010-12-04 05:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] trewesterre.livejournal.com
I visit my family and friends, exchange gifts and eat too much food. I also wish people happy solstices or new years preferentially, but I don't usually make a big point of it.

At any rate, you definitely don't have to tell anyone anything if you're not comfortable with it or you think that you'll be harassed for it. Only tell people you want to tell about it and if you want to keep it quiet, make sure they're people you can trust to keep it quiet.

Also, the internet is usually helpful, there are forums out there where somewhat serious discussion is encouraged and people will either not be total jerks about what you believe (or don't believe) or they won't know who you are anyway so it won't matter. That way you can talk about it behind a veil of anonymity.

Date: 2010-12-04 05:36 am (UTC)

Date: 2010-12-04 06:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] therealycats.livejournal.com
Okay, and now having seen the billboards, I really think that kind of baiting is just tacky and pathetic and childish. I don't know which billboard came first, but I don't think the other side should have responded to it either. I don't believe or agree with a lot of things, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go around telling people they're wrong just because I think it's funny to watch them squirm. If I have a conflicting opinion with someone and it comes up, I explain myself without shitting on their beliefs, and if they don't want to hear it and respond with some immature retort or start trying to pick a fight, then fine; they get to come off looking like an ass and I get to walk away knowing that I'm not one.

Date: 2010-12-04 08:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] boojie-30.livejournal.com
I can understand your reluctance to share this with people. My mom's family is highly religous and when I told them i was a pagna they were devastated. My uncle who is a pastor still asks me at christmas every year if i have found jesus yet. I just grin and deal with it. I told them this 17 years ago. I just stick to what i believe. If other people cannot understand then they maybe they dont espouse the tenants of their religions which says judge not lest ye be judged yourself. well wenough out of me. *hugs* luv ya Hun.

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