How do atheists celebrate Christmas? I posed that question to my friend Michael Shermer, the editor of Skeptic, during our recent Cal Tech debate. (My two debates with Shermer will soon be up on the web and I'll link to them on this blog.) Shermer replied that he puts up Christmas trees, and his kids sing Christmas carols--even the religious ones--and he exchanges gifts just like everyone else. Here is a guy who is not a believer but who at least respects what Christianity has done to shape our civilization and our world.
Then there's Christopher Hitchens, whom I've known over the years and like just as much. Hitchens, alas, seems to be letting his atheism get to him. First, the poor man is never seen without a drink. As a wine aficionado myself, I cannot begrudge Hitchens his affection for the spirits. In fact, a priest friend of mine once observed that wine is evidence of how much God loves us. It seems odd, however, that Hitchens feels the need to imbibe even when he's on national television or giving a public speech. If you watch our debate on C-Span or on my website dineshdsouza.com, you'll see that Hitchens reaches for his glass with the same alacrity that fundamentalists reach for the Bible.
Recently Hitchens appeared at a "secular Christmas party" thrown by the libertarian magazine Reason. Many libertarians are basically conservatives who are either gay or druggies or people who generally find the conservative moral agenda too restrictive. So they flee from the conservative to the libertarian camp where much wider parameters of personal behavior are embraced. To the sensible idea of political and economic freedom many libertarians add the more controversial principle of moral freedom, the freedom to live however you want as long as you don't harm others. Hitchens, needless to say, is at home in this group.
Hitchens' contribution to the party was to read an irreverent Christmas ditty by the lyricist Tom Lehrer. Remember Lehrer? He's a bit of a relic, like the Monty Python and the Rocky Horror movies. When I was eighteen and a freshman at Dartmouth I found Lehrer and Monty Python very sophisticated and amusing. Most of us, however, outgrow the juvenile sense of humor that they represent. Hitchens also offered a brief summary of his view that God is a celestial dictator. He portrayed God as a kind of Kim Jong-il and Jesus as a kind of little Kim waiting to inherit the throne. So here we see another portrait of Atheist Christmas: bitter guys making sophomoric jokes and staggering out of the room inebriated.
Yes, I agree that many nominal Christians have also forgotten the message of Christmas. Even so I wonder: what's the atheist equivalent of Christmas? Darwin's birthday? For many libertarians I suppose it's the day they get their tax refunds.
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Reader Comments ( Page 53 of 54)
781. Anytime you use group labels to spread mistrust and hate ("atheist" or "christian" or "muslim" or whatever) you are maligning individuals who don't fit the stereotype you're trying to promote. When those individuals answer you (often in kind) it's comforting to call it "venom" but more likely it's an uncomfortable reflection of yourself.
More honest to say Hitchins is a jerk, or D'Souza is a jerk, and that perhaps they deserve each other.
I'm an atheist and by most measures not a bad guy, though I lack the "virtue" of believing in things for which there is no empirical evidence. I spent Christmas with my family and have no problem with good wishes in the Holiday, whatever one believes.
george.w at 4:30PM on Dec 25th 2007
782. "How do atheists celebrate Christmas? From what I can tell, just like they celebrate most days -- by spewing venom into your blog comments."
Considering the venom IN this author's essays, I find that the height of irony.
slpage at 5:56PM on Dec 25th 2007
783. Hey... Jesus is alive & Maurice - posting the same thing over and over again is just plain lazy.
fabio at 11:19PM on Dec 25th 2007
784. http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com
prffsrx at 5:48AM on Dec 26th 2007
785. Rock on, Dinesh!
And all those atheists who think that Christians do not think they are good people, you are worng. Many atheists are great people who are caring and compasionate. The point isn;t who is better - we are all children of God whether we want to admit it or not, thus there is no "better" or "worse". The simple division between the two are that one group choses salvation while the other group does not.
Merry Christ-mas!!!!!
Peter Feige at 9:05AM on Dec 26th 2007
786. "the sensible idea of political and economic freedom many libertarians add the more controversial principle of moral freedom, the freedom to live however you want as long as you don't harm others. "
I am curious how any putatively sane or intelligent person could consider this very simple, very basic, idea to be "controversial". Indeed, I'd call the degree of acceptance of it a fair measure of an individual's intelligence and sanity. To my mind, this is akin to "the controversial idea that the world is round". Yes, there's a handful of nutters out there who don't believe it, but the mere fact they don't tells you all you need to know about them.
As for how atheists celebrate Christmas...well, being born Jewish, I never had to worry about it, but since I married into a believing Christian family, I celebrate it by getting/giving presents, cooking and eating a huge dinner, and watching favorite videos while talking and laughing. Apparently, this somehow makes me less of an atheist, though you'd never know it from the 6 hour theological debates my wife and I have on long car trips. So it goes.
Lizard at 9:13AM on Dec 26th 2007
787. Christians do not own Christmas!!
It's just another pagan holiday conquered by a then very oppresive Church. Same with Easter.
jeffrey at 11:26AM on Dec 26th 2007
788. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son; that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Personally, I'd rather live my life as if there's God and die to find out there isn't than to live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is. Pretty much common sense, I'd think.
Mary at 11:42AM on Dec 26th 2007
789. This is just ridiculous. My celebration of Christmas is the habit of a lifetime, added to pure enjoyment of a happy, beautiful holiday. You don't have to be a Christian or even respect the religion to enjoy giving and receiving gifts, singing beautiful music, and decorating your house. Most of which dates back to pagan ritual anyway! It means NOTHING about what I personally think of Jesus or Christianity.
Your summary of libertarians is both insulting and wrong; although I am not one I find it offensive. For one thing, you act like Republicans can't be gay...may I introduce you to the Log Cabin Republicans? Also, my parents are Republican and Christian, and have no problem with accepting gay people.
Lastly, attacking Hutchins for alcoholism? Low. That's really, really low. You seem to be implying all atheists are alcoholics, and turn to it because they don't have god in their lives. Well, guess who else was a raging alcoholic? My childhood priest!
Louisa at 12:22PM on Dec 26th 2007
790. 785. Hey... Jesus is alive & Maurice - posting the same thing over and over again is just plain lazy.
fabio at 11:19PM on Dec 25th 2007
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786. http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com
prffsrx at 5:48AM on Dec 26th 2007
==================================================
...and calling yourself Maurice one minute and prffsfx the next is cowardly.
fabio at 2:26PM on Dec 26th 2007
791. quite frankly, a personal attack doesn't make Christianity look good nor does it show maturity.
not telling you my name. at 4:51PM on Dec 26th 2007
792. all atheists take it in thier rear ends
tbr8407 at 7:54PM on Dec 26th 2007
793. Response to 621. If Peter saw Jesus perform miracles, why did Peter deny knowing Jesus three times
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First, Because Jesus said he would.
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So Jesus MADE Peter deny him. Thank you. I was wondering about that.
Jesus did not make Peter deny him.Jesus already knew that Peter would deny him. Because Peter said he would die with Jesus.Matt 26:35 "Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples." Jesus also foretold his own death, would that mean he cause people to kill him as well?
Jesus is alive at 1:05AM on Dec 27th 2007
794. I am writing to you today to let you know the depths of God's love for you. Yes, you. No matter who you are, or what you have done, or, are doing presently, God still loves you and wants you close to Him. John 3:16 say's "For God so loved the world(that's you), that he gave his only begotten Son(Jesus), that whosoever believeth in him(Jesus) should not perish(in Hell), but have everlasting life(In Heaven)."(Italics are mine) Let's look at this scripture this way: "God" ..................... The greatest Lover "So loved" ............... The greatest degree "The world" ............. The greatest number "That He gave".......... The greatest act "His only begotten Son".......... The greatest Gift "That whosoever".................. The greatest invitation "Believeth".................. The greatest simplicity "In Him".................. The greatest Person "Should not perish"............... The greatest deliverence "But".................. The greatest difference "Have".................. The greatest certainty "Everlasting Life"................ The greatest possession This scripture is God's invitation to you to come to Heaven. He has offered you the best that Heaven has to offer in Jesus Christ, and He is waiting for you to respond, by receiving the greatest gift that was ever given to you. God has chosen you, even before the foundation of the world were made. He wants to have a relationship with you. God is coming soon to take His people back with Him, and He desires for you to come with Him in that day. What ever you have been going through, God sees. God sees your hurts, pains, and struggles, and He wants to help you. Please understand that true help is in Jesus Christ, God the Father's only begotten Son. God wants to teach you how to pray(talk to Him), so He can can meet your needs. God is not looking to condemn you, rather to help you live successfully on the earth, as well as open the door for you to one day come to Heaven, by means of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Bible say's that, "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." God sent Jesus to save you in this life, and in the next life(after you die). His hands are extended to you even through this letter, offering you eternal life through Jesus Christ. You can not save yourself, neither does doing good things save you, your family can not save you, nor can going to Church save you, only through believing in God's Love Gift of Jesus Christ, repenting of your sins (turning from doing wrong), and asking God to forgive you, can you have eternal life in Heaven. Again, God's hands are stretched out you, offering you what you really need before or above everything else, Jesus. Will you accept Jesus today as your Lord and Savior. If so, pray this prayer by saying: Lord God, I am a sinner coming to your throne of mercy, seeking forgiveness, because of Jesus sacrifice for me. Right now, I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I believe that He (Jesus Christ) died on the cross for my sins (wrongs), was resurrected (rose from the grave), and is now seated on the right hand of God the Father, making intercession (praying) for me. I confess all of my sins to you Lord God and I repent (turn away from doing sin). Please frogive me for everything that I have done in my life that was against you, any, and all sins. Right now I turn from all sins and confess here & now, that I choose Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Savior, from this day forward. Thank you Lord for hearing my prayer and accepting me as one of your children. Help me to live for you each day of my life. In Jesus name I ask this. Amen. (You must know and believe that you are saved{Truely you must hold it and believe this and do not let the devil steal it from you. He(The Devil has come to steal, destroy,plunder, and pillage the very belief that our Father has for you to be saved.}) If you have just said this prayer, then you have just made the most important decision on your entire life. It is important that you don't just sit there and do nothing, because the Devil wants to steal what you have just gained in making a decision to accept Jesus as your Lord and Ssavior. It is important that you now come around people who believe in Jesus as you do, for we are strengthened when we come together, study God's Word, and pray one for another. Make a decision to go to a Bible Believing Church this Sunday. You are now a Christian, please feel comfortable coming to your father's (God) house. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me I will have information that will help you grow in Christ. May God Bless You "
The Savior "Jesus".. Rev 22:12 says "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev 22:14 "Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev 22:16 "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star." Rev 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
Jesus is alive at 1:08AM on Dec 27th 2007
795. ..."let him take the water of life freely." It is a pity when someone plagarizes from "STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND", but dost thou GROK it?
JefFlyingV at 7:30AM on Dec 27th 2007