'So, what are the issues which might confront the non-believer, who, in an expression of humility, of comradeship, tries to share the religious celebrations of the faithful, the believer. And how are they to resolve them?'
Christmas is or can be a joyous time for the World, irrespective of whether you are religious of not and of which, if any religion you belong to. Either nominally or as a devout believer.
After all, how can anybody, except the most fastidious or fundamentalist devotee, not be affected by the Christmas spirit, or, to personify it even more, the 'Spirit of Christmas?'
If you happen to be living in a country where Christmas is celebrated?
Forget any pretensions you might have about not celebrating or engaging in the Christmas celebrations, or, if you prefer, holidays.
It has very little to do with religion and a great deal, if not nearly everything, to do with commercialism.
It is mostly about being merry. About eating to excess, drinking to excess.
About being exceptionally sociable and of more goodwill than you/we might have been at other times throughout the year.
Yes, Christmas is doing nearly everything in the form of 'giving', in excess.
But, of course, for the more devout of those who believe in the Christian doctrine.
For those who do not know the intriguing and/or layered deception of Christmas, or have deliberately chosen to ignore it.
Christmas is supposed to be about the 'birth of the Little Baby Jesus Christ, the Son of God', and is meant to be a celebration of his virgin birth.
It is supposed to be a time when we, or, rather the devotees, remind ourselves of how the Christian God, deceptively, some would argue.
Send his only begotten Son to be mysteriously secreted amongst us humans. A scenario which leads me to ponder whether is was not Adam, who was, in fact, the first Son of God.
Under the pretext of teaching us humans about the dynamics of suffering, sin and redemption, by becoming, like us, human.
Notwithstanding the fact that, for us humans, a more efficacious method of redeeming ourselves, might be for us to become like the gods which we revered.
But then again, they are only our own creations, so they are likely to have the same limitations and weaknesses which are inherent in us.
To be continued!
No comments:
Post a Comment