Some people aren't religious. But they are also not anti-religious. I'm one of those people.
I think a lot of individuals see the bad done in the world in the name of religion. While I think it's true that religion is an easy way to mobilize people to do terrible things in the name of God or Gods, but I also think we underestimate the good thing people do in similar names.
I don't belive in God, but I also don't not believe in God. Some might say I'm an atheist because I think people who solidly believe in God and the stories thereof are not the most analytical, but I also feel the same way about proteslatizing atheists. I don't believe in a God that can be written about is likely a God that exists. I sound so very Taoist. Thank you Tao of Pooh and the the I Ching I was given when I was 12. Basically, I'm pulling a Socrates, all I'm sure of is how little I'm sure of.
Now, back to the issue at hand. Christmas and Jesus.
I love Christmas. It's tied with Passover as my favorite holiday. And the older I get the more this is true. Not because of presents or food, though those things help, amirite? No, I like Christmas and Passover because they are the two holidays that I think follow the best miraculous stories. Easter's aiight, but a both a bit too morbid and yet not bloody enough. I mean, where is the river of blood? Christmas and Passover are just good fairy tales that emphasize hope when all seems lost.
I don't have to believe in Jesus or Moses to love a story that includes three wise men or 10 plagues. These are great stories with the same general jist, sometimes when things look terrible, miracles might just happen. Like sometimes when you're a 13 year old preggers girl on the road, sometimes you get a roof and some strangers come and give you a little something to get you through labor and after. This is a great story. And that dude that was born, the stuff he represents later on aren't so bad. He who casts the first stone and all that.
Now I'm not saying the bible, Old or New Testament, is all butterflies and rainbows. But fairy tales don't have a history of being all lovely and peachy. And society has a way of changing things as we go along to fit what works for us at the time. What's sad about religion, thus, is not the stories, just like the problem with Christmas is not Jesus. It's that some people need to think the stories are real to find the meaning in the messages and miracles.
In short, Jesus should stay in Christmas. And, well, I guess Santa can stay, too. Only because I like the idea that his belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly. But, I don't think it does really.
I think a lot of individuals see the bad done in the world in the name of religion. While I think it's true that religion is an easy way to mobilize people to do terrible things in the name of God or Gods, but I also think we underestimate the good thing people do in similar names.
I don't belive in God, but I also don't not believe in God. Some might say I'm an atheist because I think people who solidly believe in God and the stories thereof are not the most analytical, but I also feel the same way about proteslatizing atheists. I don't believe in a God that can be written about is likely a God that exists. I sound so very Taoist. Thank you Tao of Pooh and the the I Ching I was given when I was 12. Basically, I'm pulling a Socrates, all I'm sure of is how little I'm sure of.
Now, back to the issue at hand. Christmas and Jesus.
I love Christmas. It's tied with Passover as my favorite holiday. And the older I get the more this is true. Not because of presents or food, though those things help, amirite? No, I like Christmas and Passover because they are the two holidays that I think follow the best miraculous stories. Easter's aiight, but a both a bit too morbid and yet not bloody enough. I mean, where is the river of blood? Christmas and Passover are just good fairy tales that emphasize hope when all seems lost.
I don't have to believe in Jesus or Moses to love a story that includes three wise men or 10 plagues. These are great stories with the same general jist, sometimes when things look terrible, miracles might just happen. Like sometimes when you're a 13 year old preggers girl on the road, sometimes you get a roof and some strangers come and give you a little something to get you through labor and after. This is a great story. And that dude that was born, the stuff he represents later on aren't so bad. He who casts the first stone and all that.
Now I'm not saying the bible, Old or New Testament, is all butterflies and rainbows. But fairy tales don't have a history of being all lovely and peachy. And society has a way of changing things as we go along to fit what works for us at the time. What's sad about religion, thus, is not the stories, just like the problem with Christmas is not Jesus. It's that some people need to think the stories are real to find the meaning in the messages and miracles.
In short, Jesus should stay in Christmas. And, well, I guess Santa can stay, too. Only because I like the idea that his belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly. But, I don't think it does really.
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