Y'know, if it were my religion's most important holiday, I might be somewhat annoyed by your assertion that nobody gives a rat's ass (regardless of whether or not you're correct).
Fortunately, it's not. My religion's most important holiday is not tainted with such distractions ... well, other than white sales. And hats. And chocolate and marshmallow figures of Pagan fertility symbols ...
... Oh. Crap.
Well, at least it doesn't go on for a whole freaking month like Commercial Christmas does (and no, I will not count all of Lent as part of it), since (AFAICT) that's not hyped and commercialized the way PreChristmas is. Yet.
-- Steve thinks that current Christmas traditions and festivities a lot more reflective of the holiday's origins than the tacked-on nativity stuff that doesn't even have Biblical support. (Note that most of the texts actually suggest that Jesus was born in spring, around the same time as Easter in one of those Greek tragic circle thingies.)
So what? That's great. From there, it's just a short mental skip to "if the fatass isn't real, the baby Jesus thing is probably bullshit too." People need to stop coddling their children with nonsense.
Death: Humans need fantasy to *be* human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape. Susan: With tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Death: Yes. As practice, you have to start out learning to believe the little lies. Susan: So we can believe the big ones? Death: Yes. Justice, mercy, duty. That sort of thing. Susan: They're not the same at all. Death: You think so? Then take the universe and grind it down to the finest powder, and sieve it through the finest sieve, and then show me one atom of justice, one molecule of mercy. And yet, you try to act as if there is some ideal order in the world. As if there is some, some rightness in the universe, by which it may be judged. Susan: But people have got to believe that, or what's the point? Death: You need to believe in things that aren't true. How else can they become?
-- Steve's not enamoured with much of the Christian mythos, but does think that Sir Pterry has something of a point there.
Don't get me wrong, i agree that myths are important. I'm simply opposed to parents lying to their children, especially over bullshit like "where presents come from". Myths don't become powerless once you realize they're myths.
That's not so. Mercy isn't quantifiable. It is a construct. Not necessarily a human one; it can perhaps be occasionally observed in non-sentients, depending on your definition, but it isn't a solid, measurable thing. It is as 'real' as any other idea.
I can't remember where i saw this, but there was a sticker or poster or something that said "hey kids, when you find out the truth about santa claus, remember what your parents have told you about god"
In other words "your imaginary man doesn't exist, but ours does. Worship him because he's better."
That's fucked up, man. Real or not, Santa is a beacon of hope, where Jesus (while he can be hopeful) is usually the beacon that crazies like to use to justify their horrible actions.
If the clergy who gave mass would drink more, I would probably return. At least there would be some entertainment value in going to church [1].
Alas, this archbishop, isn’t the only banal adult out there who seem to get some sick and twisted pleasure telling kids that “Santa Claus” ain’t real. Christopher was told by his French teacher this year that Santa Claus isn’t real. Thanks a lot you f*cking bitch! How about I go over to your house and take a shit in your egg nog?
[1] I really did attend Christmas mass where the priest was drunk. Best mass evar!
- Christian Von Wernich, a motherfucker (kidnapper, torturer) who is in jail and yet he has not been penalized by the catholic church in any way: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_von_Wernich - Former Argentine archbishop gets jail term for sexual abuse http://www.topnews.in/former-argentine-archbishop-gets-jail-term-sexual-abuse-2248651 - bishop says "don't use condoms" http://wwrn.org/articles/1154/
That's what I had to put up with, back when I was living in Argentina. It also made me the virulent anti-religious person I am now.
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(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 03:16 pm (UTC)I went looking for the silver lining, really I did
Date: 2010-12-16 11:10 am (UTC)Fortunately, it's not. My religion's most important holiday is not tainted with such distractions ... well, other than white sales. And hats. And chocolate and marshmallow figures of Pagan fertility symbols ...
... Oh. Crap.
Well, at least it doesn't go on for a whole freaking month like Commercial Christmas does (and no, I will not count all of Lent as part of it), since (AFAICT) that's not hyped and commercialized the way PreChristmas is. Yet.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 03:26 pm (UTC)-- Steve thinks that current Christmas traditions and festivities a lot more reflective of the holiday's origins than the tacked-on nativity stuff that doesn't even have Biblical support. (Note that most of the texts actually suggest that Jesus was born in spring, around the same time as Easter in one of those Greek tragic circle thingies.)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 03:33 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 04:04 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 04:12 pm (UTC)-- Steve's not enamoured with much of the Christian mythos, but does think that Sir Pterry has something of a point there.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 04:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 04:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-16 12:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-16 12:26 pm (UTC)How very un-Platonic. I love it.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 09:23 pm (UTC)He said children "should know that, in reality, the gifts come from the efforts of their parents and with the help of Jesus."
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-16 12:07 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-16 07:59 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 04:25 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 04:55 pm (UTC)That's fucked up, man. Real or not, Santa is a beacon of hope, where Jesus (while he can be hopeful) is usually the beacon that crazies like to use to justify their horrible actions.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 05:58 pm (UTC)Alas, this archbishop, isn’t the only banal adult out there who seem to get some sick and twisted pleasure telling kids that “Santa Claus” ain’t real. Christopher was told by his French teacher this year that Santa Claus isn’t real. Thanks a lot you f*cking bitch! How about I go over to your house and take a shit in your egg nog?
[1] I really did attend Christmas mass where the priest was drunk. Best mass evar!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-15 07:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-16 03:19 am (UTC)- Christian Von Wernich, a motherfucker (kidnapper, torturer) who is in jail and yet he has not been penalized by the catholic church in any way: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_von_Wernich
- Former Argentine archbishop gets jail term for sexual abuse http://www.topnews.in/former-argentine-archbishop-gets-jail-term-sexual-abuse-2248651
- bishop says "don't use condoms" http://wwrn.org/articles/1154/
That's what I had to put up with, back when I was living in Argentina. It also made me the virulent anti-religious person I am now.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-16 12:29 pm (UTC)Apparently, Sigampa's God is a jealous god.
What is Santa but yet another god/father character? They even both have the white beard thing going on. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-17 02:47 am (UTC)Oh yes. That's the one.
How I miss We The Robots :(