508 The Atheist Who Likes Christmas
Donnie says he doesn’t believe in God. As a statement, he doesn’t even capitalize God when using it in a sentence in the same way many Christians don’t capitalize Satan.
“So Donnie,” I asked him the other day, “do you like Christmas?”
“You know it’s weird, I don’t believe in god but I do like Christmas carols. Does that make me a two-faced wit?”
“I don’t think so. Tell me more.”
“What can I say; I love the idea of Christmas carols. They make me feel good because they sing about peace and joy. Besides, people singing to me makes me happy. When else does that happen?”
“But Donnie most of those songs are about Jesus and God? That doesn’t bother you?”
“There are people who say they are offended by Christian symbolism and are put off by the manger and the baby Jesus, but I guess there will always be some humorless, legalistic people out there.”
“You’re obviously not one of them.”
“Neither are you Clothman or you wouldn’t still be my friend.”
“Thanks Donnie. You know I’m a big fan of the Christmas story. I think it was a pivotal point in time when God chose to personally enter humanity so as to change the direction of history and help us with those two nasty problems called sin and death. But I doubt any of that be even remotely believable to you if I rejected you because we don’t think alike? Wouldn’t my attitude turn you off and make the Christmas story completely irrelevant?”
“Exactly. For me Christmas is fun for what it represents not for the religion it's derived from. Like I said, it represents peace and joy and good things like giving …and cookies. I love Christmas cookies. Christmas carols are part of that magic and nostalgia. I also like the decorations and that everyone spends more time thinking of their loved ones. Just because I don’t believe in god it doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy Christmas. I think most people who don’t believe in god would say the same thing.”
“So Donnie, you’re at the check-out counter and as you leave the cashier says “Merry Christmas!” How would you respond?
“I’d say Merry Christmas. I may not believe in god but I don’t have claws and fangs. So Clothman, what if the cashier says to you “Happy Holidays!” How would you respond?
“Touché. I’d probably say, ‘Thanks and a Merry Christmas to you.’ I think ‘Happy Holidays’ tends to be a corporate enforced, politically correct, profit driven greeting.”
“Well, ‘Ho, Ho, Ho’ to you Clothman.”
“Opps. Now we know who has claws and fangs. Hey, thanks for the chat Donnie. You helped me see the Christmas declaration, ‘I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people’ (Luke 2:10), in a new light. By the way, I still don’t think you are a two-faced wit for liking Christmas carols – whatever that is.
“Merry Christmas, Donnie!”
“Merry Christmas Clothman.”
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