Gina's Journals

The Hypocrisy of Christmas

And I am the first one to hold up my hand and say guilty as charged. I have a Christmas tree and angels and am generally full of good tidings and cheer. I love this time of year, not as much as Halloween, but I still love this time of year. Which is why I have such a problem with it.

You see, I am, by most religious reckoning, an atheist. I mean, I buy the angel-astronaut theory, but I don't believe in worshipping a higher being simply because they are smarter than I am. If that were the case I would be kissing my cousin's butt every Sunday. But that is just my opinion.

I also have an unduly sense of right and wrong which gets me more headaches and my mouth into more trouble than it is worth. Really, I have stomach problems because I, literally, think too much about things or, at least, feel too deeply about it.

So here is my conundrum. I am an atheist that participates in festivities around the week of the 25th. In otherwords, I celebrate Christmas with my family, friends, and my husband's co-workers (I work at home and my only co-workers are the cat and dog.)

Nothing wrong with that, right? Lots of people do it.

I also feel very strongly that religious preferences and ideals should not be pushed on anyone. Religion and faith are very, very personal and I don't think they are any one else's business. I am fully against organized prayer in school in any form (silent prayer is ok by me since the kids aren't being led but choose themselves.) I am also against creationism being taught as an alternate life theory in science classes (especially when people that profess this belief consider people who believe the angel-astronaut theory are kooks.) And I am against people bringing in things to sell at schools or government facilities to raise money for their church.

I am, however, supportive of charity at this time of year (winter) because the months are so hard on the less fortunate. But I think charity can exist without religious interference and does. I give money, food, clothing, and toys not because of any religious belief but because I have more than enough and hate to see anyone go without the basics. It breaks my heart. I believe in doing and being good for the sake of goodness and not because it may count for or against me in the afterlife. And I blame the religious organizations I was forced to attend as a child for screwing me and so many others up on this point. Reward for giving is the giving, not the salvation, not the earth, and certainly not a pat on a head (all though acknowledgement is a wonderful thing.)

So here's the problem, how do I get out of being a hypocrit? Quite honestly I don't and, on more than one occasion, it has led me to tears. Realize at this point I'm very sensitive and have a strong Thoreau belief in the sense that if something is worth believing strongly in it's worth dying for.

I don't think there should be a Federal holiday marked as CHRISTMAS on the calendar and the government saying it has nothing to do with religion. It does. Look at the decorations. Christians hijacked Winter Solstice several hundred years ago so, the majority of the country see Christmas as a celebration of the Saviour's birth. Ask anyone on the street what Christmas origins are. I'll bet many have no idea what Winter Solstice is let alone that it was celebrated.

So I suggest that the government, instead of taking away a day off for their employees (because they have so few off to begin with) change the name on the calendar. If people are so concerned that the true meaning of Christmas will be lost (which is, incidentally, remember Christ's birth to many, not necessarily charity and mercy as Dicken's so eloquently put it) they can take comfort in that Christmas will be known as Charity day. Instead of presenting each other with another worthless gift, let's donate some time at a food kitchen or give some money to help the elderly woman across the street with her bills or give a family some assistance with repairs to their house so they don't live in squalor.

But that will never happen. People want to give charity in the form of clothes and toys but never in what the less fortunate need, a hand up not out. And what it boils down to is the child like fascination that we have with sparkling packages under the tree and not actual interest in helping our fellow beings. People may rally around a symbol but if that is the case, it's like saying the cause is somehow less important.
And that is the case. People say Christmas is a time for giving. That is a lovely sentiment but what they mean is Christmas is a time for giving presents to your family and friends to show you appreciate them. It has very little to do with charity and more with greed and appearance.

So why not have the gift giving holiday combined with the thanks giving holiday and kill two birds with one stone. You can show your thanks for your family by giving Turkey day gifts. Then, at the end of the year, if, as a nation, we feel we are not in debt enough, we can have a Charity day and give gifts to the less fortunate. This will cut down on the violence of Thanksgiving and make the Season of Giving exactly that, a season for giving.

Of course, I attack something popular and will thus be shunned.

Posted by gmwood at December 17, 2004 03:22 PM