"War" on Christmas, and other Assorted Seasonal Amusements...

RedNeckoBlogger ^ | 12/7/2010 | RedNeckoBlogger

[FiddlePig]

December 7, Pearl Harbor day... so war (I 'spose) is appropriate subject matter. Among the news of the day, we have billboard ads about the nation purchased by atheists, dissing Christmas ("season for reason", as opposed to "Jesus, reason for the season"... clever those atheists). However, as an unabashed theist of the “born again Christian” variety... I find the atheist is a strange sort: he(she)often as part of their argument, rails against the "injustice" of God who does not exist, then (exclusively) claims to be of "rational and reasoned" mind! Try as I might, I can’t calculate their “math” (what is "good", "justice" and "reason" in a random meaningless universe?)... it just DON’T ADD UP, such is the paradox! While dismissing all theistic faiths, they appear (from my humble observations) to have particular animus towards Christianity... go figure? The so-called "war" on Christmas continues and is ongoing as a subset of the disdain against all who subscribe to the "maker theory"... see Psalm 139 in the (alleged) Holy Bible for further detail.

[FiddlePig]

The irony of our existence is we ALL, be we theist, pagan, New Ager, Flying Spagetti Monster, and/or atheist... are STUCK with an ultimate act of “faith” in our earthy sojourn. We must accept that a “miracle” of some kind occurred in the dim recesses of the past. One (hopefully with an explanation) that gave rise to all that is known as “us”... (and without “us” the rest doesn’t matter)!

[FrankR]

As I learned it, one of the most wonderous things about being a Christian is, it is a personal faith between you and God.

We do not need to have a "call to prayer" droning incessantly throughout the day to know WHEN to pray...we just pray - whenever and whereever we feel the need to talk to God.

We don't have to be kneeling, and facing at any particular compass point to get our message through, we can be upside down on a roller coaster, and still pray (and many do).

It's the same with Christmas; no one can take the true meaning of Christmas away from us, it's an individual thing which - if need be - can be celebrated inside our minds without anyone even being aware of it.

Even the gift-giving aspect of Christmas need not be abandoned. Let's says the muslim invasion does manage to intimidate all of the stores from mentioning Christmas, and the schools win on their "winter soltice" trek, December 25th will always be Christmas in my mind.

It wasn't all that long ago that there were no malls, no department stores, and no Christmas specials on TV because there was no TV. Yet somehow, our forebearers managed to celebrate Christmas after Christmas after Christmas.

They even managed to give gifts - maybe not Nintendos or bicycles - but homemade gifts like knitted sweaters and apple pies and hams.

It doesn't matter what the left say, what the media says, and especially what the muslims say - Americans will have Christmas in one way or another. The Bible tells us about all of the non-believers, but the one things the atheist, pagans, new agers etc cannot take away - even through the ACLU, is our FAITH.

Our celebration of Christianity and Christmas scares the leftists - it's a threat to them for as long as we believe and celebrate, they can't get their hooks into and control us.

Say "Merry Christmas" to one and all, not "happy holidays" or "joyous winter fest"...it's Christmas, we know it and they know it, it just scares them to hear us say it.

[mtnjimmi]

first if there is no god, why rail against him? since s/he does not exist it seems to me that is a waste of time.
second if there is no god then why call oh god in time of peril? there would be no god to help[ you and again your wasting your time.
third or perhaps there is a God and He is in charge of everything and your just been to Burger King too often and just want it your way, if this is going to work we have to conform to God’s way.

[Cyber Liberty]

I always say “Happy Kwannza” when I see a liberal. Drives ‘em nutz.

[dog breath]

To be a complete rationalist and exclude the influence of a greater pervasive divine energy in the universe, in short God, requires a faith beyond that what they argue against. The irony of rationalist arguments is their total faith in randomness. To factor in the probability of things coming to pass as they have come to exist points to a universe even more bizarre then the acceptance of divinity implies.

[whattajoke]

first if there is no god, why rail against him?

This atheist, nor any I know, do that. To your point, that just doesn't make sense.

since s/he does not exist it seems to me that is a waste of time.

Agree 100%.

second if there is no god then why call on god in time of peril?

Why indeed? I have never called on a supernatural deity of any sort when I've been in peril. Who tells you atheists do that? The old "atheists in foxholes" canard? That's just a silly saying, not exactly based upon fact.

there would be no god to help[ you and again your wasting your time.

Agree 100%.

third or perhaps there is a God and He is in charge of everything and your just been to Burger King too often and just want it your way, if this is going to work we have to conform to God’s way.

You lost me here. But I could say "perhaps there are some Gods and they are in charge of everything and you're just not allowed to go to Burger King because cows are sacred."

Makes just as much sense to me.

[whattajoke]

We must accept that a “miracle” of some kind occurred in the dim recesses of the past.

Why?

There are things that will never be truly known and I don't really understand why I have to therefore assume it is/was magical and mystical. What's wrong with unknowable at present?

[FiddlePig]

Unknowable is fine... but that’s NOT what you advocate. If there is “unknowable” out there... how does one “know” there is not God (based on what “is” is)? The agnostic can make the unknowable argument (bit cowardly IMHO)... the atheist cannot, for to be atheist with certitude requires an act of faith. Merry Christmas, God bless!

[whattajoke]

I’m sorry, I wasn’t clear. (And I agree that the whole agnostic thing is weak tea; as weak as the Pascal wager argument FOR god.)

Your argument still doesn’t hold water. By your line of thinking, leprechauns, Zeus, Odin, astrology, Yahweh and the Flying Spaghetti Monster all exist equally because no one can prove otherwise.

What I’m saying is that none of these entities exist because there is no evidence for any of them. (Again, historical accounts don’t count and if they do, you’ve still got plenty of competition for Christian God.) By “unknowable” I meant things like “where did it all come from” and I also mean “unknowable for now.” There have been many, many things over the last 2000 years attributed to supernatural forces that have become “knowable” through reason and science. The God of the Gaps is getting smaller and smaller I’m afraid.

And Merry Christmas to you as well!

[FiddlePig]

You like to counter arguments I do not make... nowhere do I say God and/or Flying Spagetti Monster exists because no one can prove otherwise. You actually make that argument, just in the negative. The irony is IMHO... you admit “unknowable” things like “where did it all come from” are “unknowable for now.” Yet claim you KNOW where we DIDN’T come from (God, Christian or otherwise). I do not take issue with your atheism as such... just that to be one requires an ultimate act of faith on par with mine. Then we can have lunch.

[whattajoke]

I admire your understanding. But I think we have different definitions of faith. Regardless, next time you’re in CT...