Christ-mas is on its way. Got that sinking feeling?

[kiraboo]

Does anybody else find that this year, like the last few, the holidays don't bring the pleasure and excitement they once did? I am not a Christian, but the Christmas celebration nevertheless has in the past had a spiritual component to it... a residue of my childhood I suppose. I used the time to ponder what Christ as a symbol said about the mainstream cultural values - our hopes, our compassion, our fears. Love for the fellow man and all that.

But this sense of connectedness has disappeared. Christ as a symbol or even as a historical figure has been gagged, bound, carted away and ultimately mutilated by the religious right. And in the process has been exposed the ugly, filthy side of America. Our gullibility. Our tendency to deceit. Ignorance. Violence. Arrogance. In a twisted logic, Christmas has for me become a vigil, a wake. A darkened time. Ame I crazy?

[MadisonProgressive]

1. No, you're not crazy. You make some good points.

[JackDragna]

2. Same here.

I dread the holidays due to the overwhelming consumerism that hits America for a month and a half. It's all people can talk about..where to get the right gifts, whether their loved ones will spend enough money on them, how bad the traffic gets and so on. The outpouring of avarice disgusts me. I cannot tell you how many people I know who give lip service to being good, decent people, but turn into monsters when the holidays rolls around. The emphasis on material things has done ugly things to our culture.

The only thing I truly enjoy about the holidays is seeing my family. The rest is pretty disposable.

[Ladyhawk]

33. Even seeing my family has become adversarial.

I didn't celebrate Christmas last year. The year before I remember as being adversarial. After being forced to listen to the Christmas story (which is presented as TRUTH), my brother made some really nasty comments to me.

Couple that with others expecting me to buy them gifts I can't afford and the whole thing is just a pain in the ass. I need to decide what to do about this year. I may ask, once again, that no one buy me a gift, but they do it anyway. :(

[Viva_La_Revolution]

43. I used to put up decorations...

wrap presents for the kids, bake banana bread for the office.

Last year, no decorations, I didn't feel much like baking, and the kids and I went shopping after Christmas (they got twice as much stuff, and they insist we do it the same way this year.)

This is not the country I grew up in. :(

[CatholicEdHead]

3. No, you are not crazy

Part of it is the even earlier commercialization of it. Now we are before Halloween in most stores (some even earlier). That puts the focus on spend, spend, spend. And an idoltratic view of money that is really prevelant now (e.g. Free Market will solve everything) only adds to the feeling.

[HockeyMom]

9. CVS

I went there the day before Halloween to get candy. One aisle had the Halloween supplies, the next aisle had Thanksgiving paper plates, etc., and the next TWO aisles were full of Christmas decorations. The piped in music was playing Christmas songs. It was October 30th.

[pstokely]

41. stores put stuff out earlier every year

they had school supplies in stock before some schools were out for the summer

[knitter4democracy]

4. Nah, you're normal.

I hate the holidays. Hate them. As an adult child of divorce, all they do is stir up old fights (which still go on to this day now that grandkids are involved) and old, bad memories.

I'm an Eastern Orthodox Christian, and the only thing that gets me through is my church. At least during liturgy, I can hide from all the material crap ("if you love your kids, buy them this" kind of thing) and my family. I find the old, mystical expressions of the faith really help in such a soulless, dark time.

I agree with your assessment of how my faith has been dragged in the mud and damaged by those wackos who just don't seem to get it. I don't think they own Christmas, though. No one does.

[kstewart33]

5. To me, Christmas is a time to celebrate

yourself, your family and all the good things that you have. It's larger than the Christ debate or what the right wingers have done. I don't really care what they've done. To me, it's best to make Christmas what you want it to be, and not let others affect that in anyway. Christmas can be all about Christ or nothing at all about Christ. It's totally up to you.

[sufrommich]

17. I so agree with you.

Christmas is a time to get together with friends and family and reflect on the things and people that make you happy.I am not the least bit religious and it's my favorite time of the year.I love the music and decorations and the hustle and bustle of the season.Give yourself a break from the problems of the world and politics for awhile and enjoy.

[seabeyond]

6. christ has been taken out of christmas more by the fundies

the very people that are yellling about christ being taken out of christmas. i cant/wont do their hypocrisy, so i tend to go to the extreme, the other side. so there isnt as much the joy in celebrating christ as has been in the past. again let me say, because of the religious. i wont go to church either, because of the religious and what they are doing to religion. i just find that amazing. anyway

but no christmas hasnt become less. i have kids family and friends, lots and lots of love and in essence that is what it is about, a joy and celebration. and that has NOT lessened, if anything it is even more grand. a house of love. my space. right here.

[MADem]

26. The Fundies do have some guy named Jeeeeeeeesus in their celebrations

though--he is a meanass sonofabitch who doesn't want you to do ANYTHING fun, he wants you to be scared shitless of their pulpit authority, he wants you to be in a perpetual state of denial and sacrifice, he likes war, despises non-Xtians, fosters hate, and if you do not feel perpetually GUILTY, you are doing something wrong!

He has nothing to do with the historical figure of many years ago, though....

[seabeyond]

30. kinda like wlaking away form christ words, killing in the name of

christ. yes all of that. i have a church in texas that is saying they will vote to not allow discrimination against gays. the methodist church put out a statement. i know the two bigger methodist churches in town and i am going to ask them if they are giving this to their people also. if so, i am going to join. my kids will. i cant do group and people. loll ol

gotta get the majority in the lite of christ words, not wandering in darkness. i said a couple years ago, the real battle is not left and right, it is old testament religion vs new testament christ words.

[Ladyhawk]

34. Don't forget the first heretic, Paul.

He's the one who spouted all the homophobic and misogynistic nonsense. When his epistles were included in the biblical canon, it was almost as bad as including OT genocide.

I'm not religious. Having escaped from fundamentalism, I have zero use for religion, but recognize the right of others to worship in whatever way they see fit. Unfortunately, many of the fundies seem to think this gives them the right to shove their religion down my throat either personally or through the state (prayer in schools, vouchers, the new pledge of allegiance that includes "under god," putting "In God We Trust" on the money, Ten Commandments in front of judicial buildings, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah). Leave it at home where it belongs. I sure as hell don't go door to door spreading the gospel of atheism. Nor do I demand that the words of Bertrand Russell, Voltaire, Thomas Paine, Carl Sagan, Dr. Albert Ellis, Robert Green Ingersoll, etc. be posted on public property or taught in the schools.

[lizziegrace]

7. I agree

For a number of reasons, it's going to be a lean holiday season. My daughter (in college) only has one gift request and she want that early. I told her that there won't be much to do on Christmas morning (opening lots of gifts) and that we'd find some other way to spend the day. Still thinking what that will be. The shelters and soup kitchens have a glut of help on Christmas and Thanksgiving days here. We'll keep working on it.

There's a book that was published in the 90's called "Stealing Jesus, How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity". There's one whole chapter devoted to the "Choir Boy" aka Ralph Reed and the Christian Coalition. A man who lived among the sick, the downtrodden and the poor is now big business. The message has been lost and the messenger is hardly reconizable now.

[Ladyhawk]

35. I would give this as a gift to my fundy family if I thought it would help.

It would be bad form, though, like them buying me a Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity book.

[bluedawg12]

8. We -society- seem to have lost the Christ of love and kindness the one

the symbolized a yearning for mankind to be better and to rise above it's own flawed nature.

We have instead replaced him with a protestant, up tight, angry, judge mental, theology that fans the flames of inter-religious war fare and encourages intolerance to others who are different.


My attitude is that "they" don't influence how I think, feel, or act, especially spiritually, they can all kiss my ass.

From Madison Avenue that wants to hawk and shill their sh8t wares even before Halloween, to the lazy preachers that never work a day by the sweat of their brow to earn their daily bread but enjoy stirring hatred and guilt in the hearts of men.

So, Christmas will be a time for reflection, good food, a good book, some fun movies, it will be something they can neither give me, nor take away from me.

[C_U_L8R]

10. Christianity is not for Christians Anymore

At least anyone who holds dear any teaching of Christ.
IMHO, The whole religion has been hijacked and ruined by
a bunch of sanctimonious profiteers, pundits and politicans.
I certainly don't worship their god of hate, intolerance and greed.

Maybe one day... the churches will wake up speak out and expose
the fakers and the crooks. Until then... the churches are the
biggest part of the problem with their silence and complicity.

[Gildor Inglorion]

11. Ignore the commercial garbage - it's what YOU choose to make it

I make an annual trip to New York City to spend Christmas week with family. We exchange small gifts, but the fact that we're able to be together one more time is what matters.

[wake.up.america]

21. There ya go! Cutting out the commercialism is refreshing...

I will, on Chrismas, go to the church where Stille Nacht was first performed.

[Luna_Chick]

48. I did the "Just say no to Commercial Christmas" years ago

and still do it today. Granted, I have to tell certain people (friends and family) every year not to give to or expect gifts from me, since I don't believe that's what the holidays should be about (I don't subscribe to any particular "religion" but practice and hold dear various philosophies from a number of them). It's still tough sometimes, getting the evil eye by some individuals who want to be on the gift receiving end, but after awhile, you really just have to say ENOUGH. Thankfully, my mother is of like mind. And in case I need to clarify, no I'm not anti-gift giving at other times of the year, and do enjoy getting a gift for someone at birthdays or when there's no specific "holiday" dictating I must..buy..something.

[Pool Hall Ace]

12. Nope, not crazy.

One thing I have realized lately is how many people who at first appear as kindly Christians are actually hateful racists. My in-laws are a good example. Rednecks with a little bit of money, that's what they are.

December rolls around, and they're celebrating the birth of Jesus, who would not approve of the way they feel about icky brown people, gays, and others Not Like Them.

And I supposed they'll be buying crap for the grandkids, too. I don't know for sure, because we didn't spend last Christmas with them. They did buy us a gift last year, but I really don't want anything from them. It's nothing personal, I just don't need to celebrate Jesus' birth by maxing out my credit card.

[chat_noir]

22. Christmas - celebrating the birth of Christ?

No one knows what day Jesus Christ was born on. From the biblical description, most historians believe that his birth probably occurred in September, approximately six months after Passover. One thing they agree on is that it is very unlikely that Jesus was born in December, since the bible records shepherds tending their sheep in the fields on that night. This is quite unlikely to have happened during a cold Judean winter. So why do we celebrate Christ’s birthday as Christmas, on December the 25th?

The answer lies in the pagan origins of Christmas. In ancient Babylon, the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25. Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.

In Rome, the Winter Solstice was celebrated many years before the birth of Christ. The Romans called their winter holiday Saturnalia, honoring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. In January, they observed the Kalends of January, which represented the triumph of life over death. This whole season was called Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. The festival season was marked by much merrymaking. It is in ancient Rome that the tradition of the Mummers was born. The Mummers were groups of costumed singers and dancers who traveled from house to house entertaining their neighbors. From this, the Christmas tradition of caroling was born.

In northern Europe, many other traditions that we now consider part of Christian worship were begun long before the participants had ever heard of Christ. The pagans of northern Europe celebrated the their own winter solstice, known as Yule. Yule was symbolic of the pagan Sun God, Mithras, being born, and was observed on the shortest day of the year. As the Sun God grew and matured, the days became longer and warmer. It was customary to light a candle to encourage Mithras, and the sun, to reappear next year.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

23. Ka-Ching!!

That's EXACTLY it. Saturnalia, Winter Solstice.

Yay! X-tians have stolen from other religions! What a surprise!

[CatholicEdHead]

24. Not stolen, adapted to get converts

that is what the RCC did to get the "pagans". They made Christian ("Catholic" at the time) holidays at the same time of the "Pagan" celebrations. Some of it was to grow the Church, some of it was to grow the Church coffers.

[msongs]

29. Every element of christianity previously existed......

seems to me that every element of christianity (and judaism too for that matter)was taken from a previously existing religion or culture, all of it. sorta co-opting the virgin birth concept, the crucifiction, resurrection, the biblical floods of the jewish books, all of it
appropriated for marketing purposes and/or to cover up and conceal the massive wealth and power grab imposed by the cat-holic church.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Pool Hall Ace]

28. Hey, now that is some good info.

Thank you! :hi:

[Ladyhawk]

36. "One thing I have realized lately is how many people who at first appear

kindly Christians are actually hateful racists."

Or homophobes or misogynists or against those who don't believe the way they do. I've learned the hard way never to trust fundies. If they're being nice, there's an ulterior motive: conversion.

[enid602]

13. divided

How can anyone enjoy the the holidays when we're all so divided? I dread having to spend time with those relatives who've not yet figured out what's going on.

[Ladyhawk]

37. "I dread having to spend time with those relatives who've not yet

figured out what's going on."

Or those who will never catch on because they don't want to. My own relatives have been a major driving force behind the new fascism. They have a stake in it. They believe in it. They've supported groups like the Christian Coalition. They're friends with neocons like Rico Oller, who luckily lost his bid for a seat on the House of Representatives.

They'll never admit to wrongdoing and they have no respect for any of my views. I'm the one with the problem. All they have to do is look at the illnesses I've suffered to feel superior. After all, a person with major depression can't have anything important to say about current affairs or fundamentalist Christianity.

[enid602]

39. relatives

I too have some fundie relatives who continue to support the regime, but I can see why they do. I have other godless, uninsured, barely-making-it relations who are also loyal to Bush; it's like Bush and their allegiance to the Republican party are the only things which keep them from feeling like losers.

[enid602]

40. relatives

I too have some fundie relatives who continue to support the regime, but I can see why they do. I have other godless, uninsured, barely-making-it relations who are also loyal to Bush; it's like Bush and their allegiance to the Republican party are the only things which keep them from feeling like losers.

[yorkiemommie1]

14. nope

i share many of your feelings.

how do you feel about seeing the cross symbol sold everywhere? on the hosts on the shopping channels, in catalogs and in stores. i wonder if it's 1: catering to the religious right 2: a fashion statement that has become so because of the rr. and/ or a reaction to 9/11; 3: in the case of the hosts , a public statement of faith ?

i guess i am really suspicious that there is some subtle message being put out there.

i was born/raised catholic but feel very alienated from the church.

that being said, the sermon on the mount is the basis for my liberalism.

[CatholicEdHead]

18. Church is not always the building you attend

or the people who run it. There are many disconnects now between the institution of the RCC and many members of it.

[Ladyhawk]

38. Actually, the cross seems macabre to me. Maybe we should start

a new trend: little guillotines as fashion statements. :)

[Roland99]

15. I'll enjoy decorating a tree and spending time with family/friends

in the spirit of the season.


That's about it.


;)

[The Animator]

16. I saw an animated sketch a while back.

It might have been SNL or Mad TV or something like that.

Jesus was sitting at home watching TV when a Televangelist came on. He got a buch of stuff wrong, it pissed Jesus off, so he smote him.

He see another TV with another Televangalist on it, he pissed Jesus off so he smote him too.

This happens several times. Jesus decides he's seen enough TV and goes for a walk, thuroughly depressed, and bitter. He passes by a TV store, and sees that the TV is playing the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. It is the scene where Linus is up on stage telling everyone finaly what Christmas is all about. As he sees this Jesus wells up with tears. The Linus and Lucy song plays and we see Jesus doing the Peanuts dance on the sidewalk outside the TV store.


I just thought I'd share that.

Happy upcoming winter solstice

[Deja Q]

19. Remind people of this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5280473

THEN remind of them of bankruptcy "reform", amongst other things.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

20. X-mas is jsut one big party to me.

The X-tian Jesus wasn't even born in December, so if you're going to be a "real" Christian, you should probably celebrate his birthday in March or so, not on December 25th.

Just get out there and party; never mind who was "born" then.

[Frustratedlady]

25. I'm lucky in that I've already

been gifted for a lifetime, and those gifts continue to bring me joy and love that warms this house at Chritmas time. Those gifts are my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

They keep me in touch with Christmas Past and excited about Christmas Present and, hopefully, Christmas Future. Their eyes still sparkle when they ooh and aah over the decorations...they add warmth to their smiles when they smell the aroma of their favorite foods from Christmas Eves of the past...they never fail to thank me for the time and energy it took to renew their memories of so many Christmas celebrations of their childhood. THAT is my Christmas. THEY are my gift from my God, their laughter is the MUSIC of Christmas.

Nobody can take that away from me. It will only fade away as my memory bank begins to empty. Until then, I will enjoy my "gifts" and be glad they still want to come home again to that special time with family.

Don't let anyone take away your joy of Christmas. It is in your heart...in those special memories of your childhood. All you have to do is reach back and pluck those moments out to savor for a while. As you do so, the sounds and smells and love of Christmas will warm you again and bring back that glorious excitement from days gone by.

[sufrommich]

27. Beautiful post.

It made me cry.Tradition in families is so important.I can still remember the smell of my grandmas house on Christmas and every decoration on their tree.What a beautiful gift to your grandchildren!

[Arugula Latte]

31. I'll admit that as a parent I have huge conflicts over Christmas.

We don't believe in any dieties, Jesus-as-an-immortal, angels or any of that stuff. The Solstice is far more meaningful to us. However, we do celebrate X-mas as a fun family time. Our kids (5 and 8) have had pretty indulgent Christmases (part of it is due to all the gifts showered by family). (I also remember a huge pile of presents under the tree on X-mas morning when I was a child.) But I also feel sick thinking about buying these toys, finding places for them, seeing them break or sit on the shelves. I know it's disgusting and materialistic and overkill. Yet, the kids somehow always wind up with a big haul.

We do things like adopt a needy family, buy toys for toy drives, etc., as well. I hope as my kids get a little older I'll be able to rein in the presents. My son this past birthday did agree to ask for donations to the Humane Society rather than gifts, so he's on the right track.

[SmokingJacket]

45. Even when I was a kid the excess of Christmas made me queasy

even as it excited me. I see the same conflict in my own kids. I try to limit the presents, but they have so many family members who love them and want them to have lots of things.

I've been putting the focus on making things and playing music. I hope that's what they remember.

[Individualist]

32. If you're crazy, so am I

Simply hearing or seeing the word Christmas depresses me.

[anitar1]

42. Why not celebrate Solstice, the return of the light?

After all, it is the original holiday anyway. Very nice to have a solstice celebration and hope for the "light" to expose all negatives.

[phusion]

44. Maybe we should all start celebrating Festivus?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festivus

:)

Seriously, though, has anyone ever read Bill McKibben's Hundred Dollar Holiday?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/068485595X/104-9827178-6470331?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance

Review:
This brief, eloquently presented book offers a simple and inviting strategy for handling the most complicated holiday of our times--Christmas. Reacting to the commercialization and overspending that has come to define it, author Bill McKibben (The End of Nature) argues in favor of only spending a hundred dollars at Christmas. Rather than grousing about the deterioration of Christmas, McKibben matter-of-factly explains that there was a time that giving extravagant presents may have been a satisfying and meaningful ritual. "The Christmas we now celebrate grew up at a time when Americans were mostly poor ... mostly working with their hands and backs," he writes. If we now feel burdened and unsatisfied by the piles of gifts and overconsuming, it is not because Christmas has changed all that much, he adds, "It's because we have."

What we need and long for now are the gifts of time, meaningful family connections, periods of silence, a relationship with the divine, McKibben writes. How to give and receive the Christmas gifts that matters? Make homemade presents (he even offers a chapter's worth of great ideas). Give children coupons for zoo visits or an evening devoted to playing board games. It's likely that McKibben, a former staff writer for The New Yorker, could launch a national movement with this inviting and sensible concept. But no matter how many dollars you spend, factor the cost of this book into your Christmas budget! --Gail Hudson

[pitohui]

46. well you don't sound like v. much fun at the dinner party :-)

i won't say you're crazy, i'll say you are taking too seriously something that is supposed to be fun

plenty of people have a great time at christmas w.out necessarily believing in christ

i think the magic of christmas is not about a baby being born, which certainly wasn't magical to me even as a tiny child, but the magic of glitter, of parties, of getting together and making time to see friends & family you wouldn't normally see, the magic of lights on the trees and the stars overhead in the crisp winter night, of cooking those special cookies you only cook on christmas eve...

yes, religion has become an ugly thing associated w. kooks & extremists but you can still enjoy the magic of the season w/out getting all stressed abt religion

druids, atheists, i don't know who all, celebrate christmas these days & prob. have more fun than the person sitting thru some shout-fest at an assembly of god metal building church

[kineneb]

47. celebrate Solstice, the real holiday

the return/rebirth of Sun. The Early Church coopted several existing celebrations, tacked on the Nativity and created "Christmas." So not being Christian, I celebrate mid-winter, and light candles on Solstice, as my ancestors probably did, to bring back the sun. Trees with lights are fine and fun as well. The whole season, beyond the modern commercialism, was made-up because the pagans of northern Europe refused to stop celebrating their various winter holidays. So happy Solstice, one and all.