Quote:
Originally Posted by Livia
It hasn't been a pagan festival for hundreds of years... You're surely not suggesting that non-believers are celebrating the ancient ritual? Don't see many people out making bonfires on 21st December... or adhering to any other pagan rites. They're worshiping mostly at the alter of consumerism, picking and choosing the bits of the Christian festival that they like most. The presents, the carols... the schmaltz. It seems a little disingenuous for those same people to be celebrating the reported and of Christianity.
You seem to be suggesting that Christians deserve to be ridiculed and chastised because they once burned witches. That's not your serious suggestion, surely. And on that point, I'm not sure witches were burned in the UK, I think they were mostly hanged... but that's a whole other discussion.
All I'm saying is, if you're an atheist, good luck to you, that's your affair.. But don't make it your mission to prove people of faith wrong. No one can prove what faith is... that's why it's called faith. Perhaps just allow people to express their faith freely without all the iconoclasts turning out to knock them down.
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The current incarnation of the festival seems a bit moot. Unless it was a Pagan festival to begin with, then we have no idea what Christmas or the accompanying paraphernalia would resemble, and whether there would even be a celebration for the baby Jesus at all. I think if you took the Jesus birth myth out of Christmas, then most people wouldn't even notice.
I'm neither suggesting, or ridiculing Christians myself, by saying that the history of religious abuse stretches long and far, and through times where even to say you doubted the existence of god would end in torture at best. So the fact that we're even in a position to discuss the issues is a secular triumph. I don't think Christians/Abrahamic religious people should be too surprised when people are happy to see the power of the church dwindling. As long as we are a Christian country, with representatives in the HOL, then they are up there to be shot at.
I'm not a fan of religion (as you know), but I'm more of a fan of expression and free speech. The further religion is moved out of the public sphere, the better for everyone, but I have no desire to see religion stamped out at all. It should be a really personal thing, and I also have no issues with having public churches, mosques, synagogues, or temples. Just not at the expense of the taxpayer.
People can do what they like as far as I'm concerned, but time is not a significant factor in working out whether opinions and views are worthy.