Well we had a few “colorful” comments on that last story, didn’t we? Was she typing in tongues or was that some type of technical Tourette’s syndrome? Now, I am not going to cast any stones. In fact this holiday I am going to do my level best to be respectful of all my new friends out there. And I am encouraging you to do the same… if only for the holiday. But some of you out there need to understand that while you are celebrating the birth of Christ, your neighbors may be spinning a Dradle or worshipping a cow. And somehow, we’re all going to have to learn to be OK with that.
Jesus is the reason for the season unless you practice Islam, Hinduism, Chinese Traditionalism, Buddhism, Animist, Spiritism, Sikhism, Juche, Judaism, or any other of the two dozen or so major world religions. And let’s not forget about the citizens of the world who are non-religious because there are over 1 billion of them. In the United States today, over 75 million Americans are not Christian.
And while I am on the subject of not being Christian, it might interest some of you out there to know that God isn’t a Christian. Think about it. He’s God. Now I am going to stop there for a second because I am sure a few of my Christian friends just exploded.
(pause)
OK. For everyone still able to focus: This is the single most important issue facing the world. It is the cause of more war, poverty, disease, and just plain old hatred than anything else. Nothing else is even close except maybe Sarah Palin but she’s young so the jury is still out.
No matter what you believe, over four billion people believe differently than you do. Four billion. That is almost half of what George Bush and Dick Cheney spend on the war in Iraq each month. For those pro-war Republicans who don’t have an issue with that number, think of it this way: If you started counting right now, you would reach 4 billion in 126 years, 276 days, 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 12 seconds – give or take a few hours. And if you’re Joe the Plumber and that number is still just too big for your brain… well just imagine billions and billions of McDonald’s hamburgers. Trust me. It’s a lot.
And when it gets right down to it, the only way to make sense out of all of this is to just have faith. But faith is personal. And personal means it’s OK if others don’t share in your joy because they’ve got some things that are personal too.
There are many reasons for the season. One of them is peace on earth, good will toward men. How ’bout we work on that one? It’s a tall order, and should keep us busy for quite a while.
I think I’ll go have some pie now. Come back soon. You’re beginning to grow on me. I mean it. Really.
Maybe the term “Gee Whiz” and “Gee” should cease to exist in usage, I hope before the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler’s bloodline will peter out. Some people says worst name than that. One gunman said an F-word to Jeremiah Alvin Neitz, and Neitz told to shoot him and the gunman said F— off and he died by his own hand. Jeremiah’s brother Mike should have said, “he doesn’t believe in God,” while Jeremiah should have said, “Well, Mike, he does now.” Just like my brother said it to me about that.
By: V.E.G. on November 23, 2010
at 6:42 PM
Great column and here’s my reason for the season.
http://www.cafepress.com/crimsonnose
By: Shannon on November 19, 2009
at 9:52 AM
Chalk – was the movie “Dogma”?
By: Δ hole on January 16, 2009
at 12:05 PM
I believe the current Santa is a creation of the Coca Cola Bottling Company
By: catfish on December 23, 2008
at 11:16 AM
P.S. To the Anglo-centric poster: Since when did Jesus Christ speak English? There is historical documentation which would lead us to reasonably conclude that he spoke Aramaic, as well as Hebrew, and possibly Greek, Arabic and/or Latin, but English? Get real.
By: Paige on December 23, 2008
at 3:02 AM
Sorry to be so late responding, but I must tell you that I soooooooo agree with your analysis of this alleged “war on Christmas”. I fail to understand how acknowledging that there are people who believe differently than I do somehow diminishes my faith. Our civic center has displays to recognize the diversity of our citizens. We have a Christmas tree, a Menorah, Kwanzaa decorations, Santa’s house and numerous other religious, ethnic and cultural symbols. Not only does allowing other traditions to be represented not threaten me, it makes me secure in the knowledge that I have the right to practice whatever faith (or lack thereof) that I choose without fear of reprisals. If EVERYONE does not have religious freedom, then NOONE has religious freedom.
By: Paige on December 23, 2008
at 2:50 AM
Colorful says: “But He is even more unhappy that you have made it your mission to mock his day. A day that should be made holy by all who walk his great earth. There is but one God and he gave us his ONLY son and we are all called to spread his gospel.”
Is that what you think you’re doing, Colorful? ‘Cause to all the rest of us it just looks like you enjoy spreading your hateful attitude around.
And get a clue, chickadee . . . you DO NOT speak for the Christ.
Seriously, think about it:
Spredding the Gospel . . . Ur Doin It Rong.
By: Leigh Williams on December 21, 2008
at 12:32 AM
This is probably your most important post. Love your blog!
http://homespunphilosophy.blogspot.com/
By: Jeanne Rhea on December 20, 2008
at 8:10 PM
http://souledout.org/healing/healingdeities/ganesh/ganesh.html
By: Charles on December 19, 2008
at 12:51 AM
“”"”…….Four billion schmillion, if English was good enough for Jesus it’s good enough for the US !”
ah ! ah! ah! regi : (
today, he’s joe whitehorse walking on turtle island and he speaks tsalagi, ojibwe, lakota, dine. choctaw, hopi………
By: gramma rock on December 18, 2008
at 11:05 PM
I agree!
By: Ilene Grady on December 18, 2008
at 1:42 PM
Four billion schmillion, if English was good enough for Jesus it’s good enough for the US !
By: Regi on December 18, 2008
at 11:02 AM
Amen, sisters! About “God is not a Christian.” I have so many objections that I could state if I were as courageous as you. I am a wimp when it comes to speaking my mind, so I enjoy reading your blog. So many Christians claim that America is supposed to be Christian but don’t realize that most of the Founding Fathers believed in God but were NOT Christians. Even Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence was a Deist. He believed in God, but not in Jesus or the Trinity!
So, what is so all-fired wrong with the whole world accepting God (or Goddess) as the Creator of All??? Except, of course, Atheists, but they are allowed to UNaccept, if they want. I truly believe, in this day and age, as well as in history, it is the Christians who are the worst about forcing others to believe. “You worship MY God or HE will send you to MY hell!”
Enough, already! Let’s make America a Creator worshiping country for everyone of every faith.
“And that’s all I have to say about that!”
Except, you ladies ROCK! When I’m 83, will I have the courage you have?
By: Connie Peterson on December 18, 2008
at 8:42 AM