Christmas
My beliefs have changed a lot since I first started this journal in 2003. In many ways I’ve done a 180 in my religious, political and social convictions. I guess that’s what you do in your 20’s… change. I know the changes life has wrought within me were all definitely for the better. I’m a much more open-minded, caring and self-actualized person than I used to be.
So Christmas 2003, I had no idea what I did but I went into my archive and discovered that I spent it with my mom, grandma, Josh and the kids. James was super tiny, like only 4 years old, and apparently I bought him play dough. I spent part of the holiday with my dad - and actually bought him a gift, something I hadn’t done in years. So he and I were barely embarking on the relationship we have today. I was living with Kylene and we went to Denny’s Christmas night and stayed up late drinking. While I didn’t attend church (the first Christmas in eight years) the idea of Jesus and his birth was still very much a part of my belief system.
Six years later and here I am. James is 10! TEN YEARS OLD! If I bought him play dough he would look at me as if I were insane. In fact, he asked for an iPod and cell phone this year. My mom is deceased; my grandma is no longer able to travel. My dad and I have the best relationship I’ve ever had with him, even better than the relationship we shared when I was a child. I live alone; Kylene is married and lives in Seattle. And Jesus? Jesus has absolutely nothing to do with my celebration of this holiday any longer.
What happened? What changed? I can honestly say that while Evil!Church did not help matters in terms of my religious beliefs - it isn’t at the crux. I think there has been an evolution of my spirituality over the past 6 years. I like the idea of Jesus, but it is impossible for me to believe that God would create only one way to get to Him. Especially when that way is OUR way, the White way, the way of Western Civilization. How completely egotistical are we as a civilization anyway? To think that our approach to God is the only approach, the best approach, and any other approach banishes you to hell for all of eternity.
So Rachel challenged me the other day, challenged my celebration of the holiday. I can’t remember exactly what she said, but from what I took away she meant it was hypocritical of me to celebrate a holiday that was put into place to honor a God whom I do not believe in. And she gave me pause, because if there is one thing I refuse to be it’s hypocritical. She got me a-thinkin’. At the time I said that I am Christian by culture, not of faith. And I do stand by that statement. Christianity is as American as apple pie, other religions are tolerated within these boarders, but we aren’t fooling anyone. This is definitely a Christian nation and I was raised not only as a Christian but also as an American. For me not to celebrate Christmas would almost seem unpatriotic.
So anyway, I did a little research. A little non-Christian research, to discover the OTHER reason for this holiday and I learned that it is rooted in a pagan Roman ritual called Saturnalia. It was a weeklong festival where the Romans celebrated the god Saturn. In the 4th century, the Church was trying to convert the pagans in Rome into Christians, and so they went around telling them they could still celebrate Saturnalia even if they were Christian. But because there was nothing Christian about Saturnalia the Church declared the concluding day of the festival, December 25th, to be Christ’s birthday. Many of the traditions of Saturnalia became part of what we celebrate today as Christmas traditions (like caroling, but in Roman times it meant walking around the streets drunk and naked, singing songs - LOL those crazy Romans).
Today kitty posted a link to an article on Facebook, an article where a bunch of Christians are complaining that Christmas isn’t Christian ENOUGH, and that it has been secularized. I just found that so ironic, because the entire origin of Christmas is not only secular, it’s pagan. Those folks ought to get out their Google and do a little research before they open their mouths. Yes, the holiday is a Christian holiday and I recognize it as such. But I also recognize that all of our Christian holidays have origins in pagan rituals and were blended together for the betterment of the civilization at that time.
Why can’t we do the same? Why can’t those of us non-Christians take from the holiday the parts we do believe in? Like family, friends, love, goodness, charity, and good-will? Why can’t we just leave the Jesus part for those who believe in Jesus? Why does it have to be all or nothing? Maybe if people today were more tolerant, more willing to blend different thoughts and beliefs together, maybe we’d all get along a whole hell of a lot better.
Oh, and as a side note, I watched Religulous the other night with Erin. And Oh My Gawd how much I loveloveloved that movie!!! Apparently 16% of American’s consider themselves to be non-religious. That is a HUGE percentage. A bigger minority than the gays and the African-Americans. So there are at least 16% of us out there, celebrating Christmas despite being non-believers. And I think that’s okay.
So Christmas 2003, I had no idea what I did but I went into my archive and discovered that I spent it with my mom, grandma, Josh and the kids. James was super tiny, like only 4 years old, and apparently I bought him play dough. I spent part of the holiday with my dad - and actually bought him a gift, something I hadn’t done in years. So he and I were barely embarking on the relationship we have today. I was living with Kylene and we went to Denny’s Christmas night and stayed up late drinking. While I didn’t attend church (the first Christmas in eight years) the idea of Jesus and his birth was still very much a part of my belief system.
Six years later and here I am. James is 10! TEN YEARS OLD! If I bought him play dough he would look at me as if I were insane. In fact, he asked for an iPod and cell phone this year. My mom is deceased; my grandma is no longer able to travel. My dad and I have the best relationship I’ve ever had with him, even better than the relationship we shared when I was a child. I live alone; Kylene is married and lives in Seattle. And Jesus? Jesus has absolutely nothing to do with my celebration of this holiday any longer.
What happened? What changed? I can honestly say that while Evil!Church did not help matters in terms of my religious beliefs - it isn’t at the crux. I think there has been an evolution of my spirituality over the past 6 years. I like the idea of Jesus, but it is impossible for me to believe that God would create only one way to get to Him. Especially when that way is OUR way, the White way, the way of Western Civilization. How completely egotistical are we as a civilization anyway? To think that our approach to God is the only approach, the best approach, and any other approach banishes you to hell for all of eternity.
So Rachel challenged me the other day, challenged my celebration of the holiday. I can’t remember exactly what she said, but from what I took away she meant it was hypocritical of me to celebrate a holiday that was put into place to honor a God whom I do not believe in. And she gave me pause, because if there is one thing I refuse to be it’s hypocritical. She got me a-thinkin’. At the time I said that I am Christian by culture, not of faith. And I do stand by that statement. Christianity is as American as apple pie, other religions are tolerated within these boarders, but we aren’t fooling anyone. This is definitely a Christian nation and I was raised not only as a Christian but also as an American. For me not to celebrate Christmas would almost seem unpatriotic.
So anyway, I did a little research. A little non-Christian research, to discover the OTHER reason for this holiday and I learned that it is rooted in a pagan Roman ritual called Saturnalia. It was a weeklong festival where the Romans celebrated the god Saturn. In the 4th century, the Church was trying to convert the pagans in Rome into Christians, and so they went around telling them they could still celebrate Saturnalia even if they were Christian. But because there was nothing Christian about Saturnalia the Church declared the concluding day of the festival, December 25th, to be Christ’s birthday. Many of the traditions of Saturnalia became part of what we celebrate today as Christmas traditions (like caroling, but in Roman times it meant walking around the streets drunk and naked, singing songs - LOL those crazy Romans).
Today kitty posted a link to an article on Facebook, an article where a bunch of Christians are complaining that Christmas isn’t Christian ENOUGH, and that it has been secularized. I just found that so ironic, because the entire origin of Christmas is not only secular, it’s pagan. Those folks ought to get out their Google and do a little research before they open their mouths. Yes, the holiday is a Christian holiday and I recognize it as such. But I also recognize that all of our Christian holidays have origins in pagan rituals and were blended together for the betterment of the civilization at that time.
Why can’t we do the same? Why can’t those of us non-Christians take from the holiday the parts we do believe in? Like family, friends, love, goodness, charity, and good-will? Why can’t we just leave the Jesus part for those who believe in Jesus? Why does it have to be all or nothing? Maybe if people today were more tolerant, more willing to blend different thoughts and beliefs together, maybe we’d all get along a whole hell of a lot better.
Oh, and as a side note, I watched Religulous the other night with Erin. And Oh My Gawd how much I loveloveloved that movie!!! Apparently 16% of American’s consider themselves to be non-religious. That is a HUGE percentage. A bigger minority than the gays and the African-Americans. So there are at least 16% of us out there, celebrating Christmas despite being non-believers. And I think that’s okay.