An Atheistic Attack on Christmas… or Not?
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Can you be good without a god?
With Christmas upon us again I saw an interesting story on the Bobo Files about an organization called the American Humanists. They are taking out ads calling for a “Godless Holiday” that, according to Executive Director Roy Speckhardt, seeks to:
…build awareness about the humanist movement and our ethical life philosophy–particularly among the ‘nones:’ the rapidly growing percentage of people who claim no religion.”
Obviously the ads are there to get the attention of people as they say they don’t believe in a god but are wearing Santa hats (though most people don’t make the connection between Christianity and Saint Nicholas).
People are very protective of their beliefs… is this really an attack on Christmas? In the past we have seen people trying to remove “In God We Trust” from our money (it was put there in the 50s as a response to the “godless” Soviets) and having manger scenes removed from public property, etc. One has to be very careful where one draws the line between honoring the spirit of the “seperation of church and state” bit while not ignoring the fact that most Americans celebrate Christmas and believe in a Christian god.
According to the American Humanist’s website:
This year’s holiday campaign aims to promote the idea of being good without God. For example, on D.C. ads that appear on the interior of Metro cars and buses the slogan is accompanied by the explanation, “Be Good for Goodness’ Sake. Humanism is the idea that you can be good without a belief in God.”
We could get into all sorts of highfalutin discussions about why morality exists and whether it is innate in humans or simply inculcated into society by religion, but suffice to say I don’t think the American Humanists are seeking to replace or end Christmas.
I do agree that their ads are meant to challenge people and get a strong reaction. Playing off of Christmas to get their message across is effective advertising but what I find most ironic is they state on their website that many have a negative view of Atheists and Atheism yet I don’t think most people will find these ads paint them in a very positive light.
What do you think?
On a related note… a very good 9 minute story from 20/20 featuring John Stossel and a story about an Atheist who ran into trouble for her beliefs at her high school in Oklahoma.
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9:08 AM
…the pessimist in me says that this advertising is meant to get atheist $$$ in the holiday season.
off topic-i watched the “grinch” last night. No, not that Jim Carey drek. The real one from 1966.
Almost every commercial was directed toward celebrating materialism in the holidays, which is what the cartoon was against.
/sighs, and realizes why my dad resents the holidays
9:20 AM
Thanksgiving is the only holiday that hasn’t been ruined by Consumerism.
10:20 AM
I watched the clip about the athiest girl, that is really sad the way she was treated. Personally I think religion needs to be kept out of public schools and that our govt. should stop with the school taxes and let parents use their own money to send their kids to the type of schools they choose, whether parents choose an Athiest (public-run school) Chrisitan, or Jewish-run schools.. it should be a fair and affordable ‘choice’ for parents to make. Also, Islam-run schools can exist too, but out govt. would need to make sure the materials they use are not all about jihad and plotting to harm infidels (non-Muslims).
Ps- If anyone is interested in learning about the twisted & disgraceful history behind ‘The Real Story Of Christmas’.. this downloadable lecture (at the link below) was awesome, very insightful. In short, the holiday of Christmas has a very repulsive background.
http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm
11:31 AM
Yes what happened to that little girl is very, very sad. The Japanese proverb that comes to mind here is: “The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.”
10:23 AM
Atheists and agnostics are very sensitive whenever they hear the words God and Christ. Most of the young people in my family don’t believe in God and don’t go to church anymore. I can’t even say, “God bless you!” at the end of a phone call, without ruffling their feathers! They celebrate “Noël” (not Christmas.) They put up a “Holiday Tree” (not a Chrismas one). It’s totally ridiculous. Sheer paranoia! I give in in small things. Their efforts to “convert me” always lead to boring conversations. The amusing thing is that it has been a tradition of mine to invite 2 nephews, and 1 niece to hear “Handel’s Messiah” with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra. And they’re still coming this year!!!!
As I wrote to Bertrand Russell, years ago, “If God doesn’t exist, why did you waste your precious time, discussing Him in a book?”
Humanism is OK with me. And I’m sure it’s OK with God. And it can exist peacefully with Christianity. We all know that most people don’t buy things at Christmas to celebrate Christ or inherent goodness…….
11:32 AM
Noel means Christmas in French… that is an odd choice of words. Holiday Tree strikes me as more than a little disingenuous and forced.
Did Russell write back?
12:54 PM
Of course, Russell didn’t write back. I had pointed out to him (nicely) that for someone who had written “In Praise of Idleness”, it certainly seems a waste of time to speak so much about a Person who didn’t exist….I wasn’t hostile. I rather like Bertrand Russell. I was just curious to hear what he would say.
Writers write back only when you praise their books. I got lovely letters from John Le Carré, Arthur C.Clarke, Isaac Asimov etc. And an autographed photo from Zubin Mehta.
When you tell politicians what to do, you receive a polite, official acknowledgement to thank you for your attention. They never say what they will do about what you wrote.
“Holiday Trees” is the term used in Toronto, where the pines trees are sold at Christmas. You’re right. Noël (et arbre de Noël) is what we use, in Québec, for Christmas. So we have less problems with atheists and other religions. And they pipe down carols music without the words, in the malls. Out of “respect” for unbelievers.
How do you think a Christian girl would be treated in a Moslem village and school? Minority people suffer, no matter where they live, unless they’re anonymous, in a big city. People are expected to be sheep. If you can’t bleat, leave…..I’m being ironic, here.
Joyeux Noël! Cheers!
8:15 PM
Et tu aussi!
6:01 PM
Does humanism really need more awareness? It is one of the most entrenched and pervasive discourses in Western culture.
.-= Burro´s last blog ..Killer Jellyfish =-.
6:10 PM
I think if you know the words “entrenched” and “pervasive” then it does not!
7:51 PM
You failed to add the part in the quote where they specifically stated they want a “Godless Holiday.” Sorry – but – this is the CHRIST MASS season and therefore God cannot be taken out of it. As I stated on my blog – this is a veiled attempt – but – nevertheless – an attack on Christmas.
Thanks for the linkback.
.-= The BoBo´s last blog ..I thought P-BO was supposed to tell us his Afghanistan strategy?!?! =-.
8:05 PM
Any time; I found your post very interesting. I did not quote the text only because I thought the poster’s words expressed it in a clearer way.
5:28 AM
Hasn’t Christmas already been transformed/marketed into a godless holiday already? As a Christian, I seriously can’t see how it could be changed any more materialistic by society than it already has been.
7:39 PM
I would have to agree with you there. It’s a real shame, too.
5:52 AM
Rob, Christmas was always a godless holiday, the whole thing was a big farce from the very beginning. There is a link in my other post above which further explains.
5:34 PM
IN GOD WE TRUST first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin.
Another Act of Congress passed on March 3, 1865. It allowed the Mint Director, with the Secretary’s approval, to place the motto on all gold and silver coins that “shall admit the inscription thereon.” Under the Act, the motto was placed on the gold double-eagle coin, the gold eagle coin, and the gold half-eagle coin. It was also placed on the silver dollar coin, the half-dollar coin and the quarter-dollar coin, and on the nickel three-cent coin beginning in 1866. Later, Congress passed the Coinage Act of February 12, 1873. It also said that the Secretary “may cause the motto IN GOD WE TRUST to be inscribed on such coins as shall admit of such motto.”
The use of IN GOD WE TRUST has not been uninterrupted. The motto disappeared from the five-cent coin in 1883, and did not reappear until production of the Jefferson nickel began in 1938. Since 1938, all United States coins bear the inscription.
7:37 PM
“Under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance due to the USSR. If I misspoke in the article I am sorry.
The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins.
http://www.treas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/in-god-we-trust.shtml