Monicks: Unleashed

Tag: secular

  • Yes, I do celebrate Christmas — only I call it Giftmas.

    Yes, I do celebrate Christmas — only I call it Giftmas.

    Ever got asked by a Christian, “do you celebrate Christmas?”. I have, frequently. I find it particularly funny, especially when they do this in public forums and the like; I bet they think they are about to make the most clever and novel statement ever as they get ready to pwn us atheists, because we do celebrate the season. Why wouldn’t we?

    Oh, Christians get quite testy, and call us ‘ignorant’ when we go through the explanation of the astronomical event called Winter Solstice, (because an astronomical event is what it is), and we mention how Christianity stole the pagan celebration of the the midwinter, that was the last feast celebration before deep winter began. Google it, it’s an interesting read.

    I really like Christmas, only — I call it Giftmas.

    Many atheists in the blogosphere have come up with witty ways to celebrate a secular Christmas, but I don’t think we do anything exceptionally different. We get time off to spend with our loved ones, we exchange presents, we eat yummy treats, the decorations, the eggnog… what’s not to like about Giftmas, the carols? Please, don’t say ‘Christians’, they are not much different during the season than they are all year-round; and we, well, we get to practice our tolerance. *giggles*

    Tim Minchin sums it up quite nicely in this very moving, sentimental song. Yes, my friends, I really like Giftmas…

    Enjoy.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q&feature=youtu.be]

    Lyrics:

    I really like Christmas
    It’s sentimental, I know, but I just really like it
    I am hardly religious
    I’d rather break bread with Dawkins than Desmond Tutu, to be honest

    And yes, I have all of the usual objections
    To consumerism, the commercialisation of an ancient religion
    To the westernisation of a dead Palestinian
    Press-ganged into selling Playstations and beer
    But I still really like it

    I’m looking forward to Christmas
    Though I’m not expecting a visit from Jesus

    I’ll be seeing my dad
    My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
    They’ll be drinking white wine in the sun
    I’ll be seeing my dad
    My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
    They’ll be drinking white wine in the sun

    I don’t go in for ancient wisdom
    I don’t believe just ‘cos ideas are tenacious it means they are worthy
    I get freaked out by churches
    Some of the hymns that they sing have nice chords but the lyrics are spooky

    And yes I have all of the usual objections
    To the miseducation of children who, in tax-exempt institutions,
    Are taught to externalise blame
    And to feel ashamed and to judge things as plain right and wrong
    But I quite like the songs

    I’m not expecting big presents
    The old combination of socks, jocks and chocolate is just fine by me

    Cos I’ll be seeing my dad
    My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
    They’ll be drinking white wine in the sun
    I’ll be seeing my dad
    My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
    They’ll be drinking white wine in the sun

    And you, my baby girl
    My jetlagged infant daughter
    You’ll be handed round the room
    Like a puppy at a primary school
    And you won’t understand
    But you will learn someday
    That wherever you are and whatever you face
    These are the people who’ll make you feel safe in this world
    My sweet blue-eyed girl

    And if, my baby girl
    When you’re twenty-one or thirty-one
    And Christmas comes around
    And you find yourself nine thousand miles from home
    You’ll know what ever comes
    Your brother and sisters and me and your Mum
    Will be waiting for you in the sun
    Whenever you come
    Your brothers and sisters, your aunts and your uncles
    Your grandparents, cousins and me and your mum
    We’ll be waiting for you in the sun
    Drinking white wine in the sun
    Darling, when Christmas comes
    We’ll be waiting for you in the sun
    Drinking white wine in the sun
    Waiting for you in the sun
    Waiting for you…
    Waiting…

    I really like Christmas
    It’s sentimental, I know…

  • “Militant Atheism” — I don’t think that means what you think it means.

    There is this new tendency to label outspoken atheists as “Militant Atheists.” Here’s why I think it’s wrong.

    I wish I could renounce the label Atheist, to begin with. In case you didn’t know, “atheist” is a label given to us by believers. It used to be a derogatory label, a Christian slur against us coined used in France in the 16th century as a reaction to growing free thought, skeptical inquiry, and intellectual criticism of religion. When someone called you an atheist it was not a good thing. “Atheist” was used exclusively as an insult. 

Nobody in their right mind would have called themselves an atheist back then, if you were an atheist, you were an outcast.

    No one ever needs to identify himself as a “non-astrologer” or a “non-alchemist.” We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make in the presence of unjustified religious beliefs.

    — Sam Harris,  The End of Faith

    I concur.

    I can’t singlehandedly ditch the label entirely, as it is a way to identify our lack of belief in deities. Until we unbelievers get to a consensus on what would be the best term to describe ourselves, I am in some way forced to keep it, sadly.

    But on top of that, now I am labeled “militant.” This is totally inaccurate, and I – and hopefully you – won’t take it silently.

    https://twitter.com/#!/Monicks/status/138813196139106307

    Let’s look it up. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

    Militant:
    1. engaged in warfare or combat
    2. aggressively active

    We might be loud, we might be strident, we might be angry, but we are not militant. Advocacy, rational inquiry, is not militancy. We are not aggressive, we are not violent, we are not at war, we are not fighting, we are not blowing ourselves and our detractors up to make a point, we don’t fly plains into buildings. Heck! we don’t even knock on anyone’s door to dis-indoctrinate them. Our only weapon is our rationality. We have rational discussions, we challenge irrational beliefs. That is what we do.

    We have to speak up — we need to! It is the only way to normalize a concept that has been considered taboo for ages; that’s how we de-demonize a label. Furthermore, it’s been scientifically proven that the more we force people to think about their beliefs, the more we force them to justify their ideas, the more cognitive dissonance we generate, more and more people will break free from their dogmas. Once they abandon one dogma, there goes the rest of their belief system, and they start walking their path toward rationality.

    That feeling of discomfort when an atheist points out facts and evidence that obviously contradict your strongly held beliefs, is not us hurting you, it’s your cognitive dissonance at work.

    But there is more to it, it has an ulterior motive. It’s the fallacy of disambiguation, or poisoning the well: a technique that by disparaging the source deems all that comes from it worthless and unreliable.

    There isn’t any inherent dogma in atheism that advocates any violence in the defense of non-belief; so, no, I won’t take it. I am not militant. I am not violent.

    Next time you want to come up with yet another derogatory term to label us unbelievers, check your facts before applying your unsolicited labels wrongly.

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  • Crosses

    Posted By Martin S Pribble

    I don’t normally do poetry but yesterday I awoke with some of this running around my head. Thanks to Monica for allowing me to cross-post this here.

    Crosses

    Cross yourself and speak unto Jesus
    And hope for the species that the people deceased
    Are released from the pain and the suffering
    Your faith is decreasing, the pages are creasing
    In the only book you’ve been reading.
    The idea is appealing, but somehow revealing
    Of the fear that you’re breeding.

    And you’re left needing…

    You’re only human.
    A part of this species that does as it pleases.
    If you do what they tell you then you will be free,
    Dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s,
    Putting crosses in boxes like a job application
    Delivered not into temptation but redemption
    And carry the cross on your chest like disease
    The people beneath us will be recieved above,
    And you will be there to receive all the love.

    Still you cross your chest as you cross your fingers,
    And cross your legs too for there’s evil down there,
    And preach the love as the hatred increases,
    The cross on your chest, double-crossing the rest,
    Treating others like feces.

    As the crosses increase for the people beneath us
    Crossing your chest as you cross your fingers
    The hope that you’ll be received
    And haven’t been deceived,
    That the Jesus you speak of
    Is real and forgiving.
    You give up on living, your life is in pieces
    Dashed against rocks, or stoned for your failings.

    The bible tells you you’ll go to heaven,
    You’ve been told this since before you were seven,
    But even now you have doubts,
    The cross is a crutch to reassure you.
    Crossing your fingers and crossing your chest, if you’re good, and love Jesus, you’ll see heaven with the rest.
    See, he died for you
    And when you leave the species you’ll be with him too…

    Cross your fingers…

    Originally posted at Martin S Pribble.