What's Wrong With Christmas?

I take a lot of lumps around this time of the year because of my open dislike of Christmas.



This is not to say that I am unappreciative of the cards I've received from a few very well-meaning individuals. It's nice to be remembered, even in a small way, and I know you well enough to know it comes from your hearts. I love you guys.

HOWEVER ...

Let's face it: Christmas is a toxic extension of a religion that has become spiritually poisonous.

I could go into all the tired ways that people have hashed out the problems with Christmas - the outright deceit of Jesus' December birth, the commercialism, the insanity of shopping, the constant bitching about it, stress and suicide, etc.
Right now, I'm gonna pick on something no-one has touched so far: Christmas carols.

Just for the record, I loved Christmas carols while I was growing up. L-O-V-E-D them. Even now, my favorite is still "O Holy Night". Whenever I hear it, it makes me want to cry. (I know, I sounded like John Boehner just then.)

If you pay attention, the traditional Christmas carol is the distillation of what is supposed to be the best aspects of Christianity. Let's use "O Holy Night" as an example. Here's the lyrics of the first verse and the chorus:

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angels' voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Have you ever paid attention to what this song is about?
Re-read the words. Say them aloud. This song acknowledges that men live in sadness and misery. It's a call to look above and beyond. It says there is something greater than ourselves and we should be filled with awe, humility, and also ...  hope. C'est beau.

Here's another one of my favorites, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen":

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray:

O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Translation: Life sucks, man, but don't let it harsh your mellow. The Dude came and, like, died to help our sorry asses. It's good news. Don't worry, be happy. (Doo-doot-doot-doot-doot-doo-be-do ...)

CHEESE AND RICE! SO WHAT, ROB?

So what? Seriously?

If I presented myself to you in one way and then acted in a manner inconsistent with that, what would you call me? You'd call me a liar, a fraud, a criminal. You'd shun me and, if the situation warranted, you'd take me to court. However, the great majority of people voluntarily participate in something that puts on a ho-ho-holiday facade of love, hope, and forgiveness while extreme practitioners of the religion run rampant spreading an INEXPLICABLE doctrine of hate. Hate of women's reproductive rights. Hate of reason and rationality. Hate of homosexuals. Hate of Muslims. Hate of science. Hate of peace and fellow-feeling. Hate of everything and everyone that doesn't agree with them. You've watched FOX, haven't you?

Christmas has become the prime representation of a religion that has rotted from the inside out. "Tidings of comfort and joy" -  MY ASS. "Fall on your knees"? Yeah, and suck a big fat one. The current message of American Christians is one that lacks reasonable discourse and is filled with threats, ignorance, and violence.

Are you afraid of Muslims and Sharia? Heck, Christian Sharia is on its way. Every day you stay silent against the madness - the INSANITY - of injecting religion into politics, you willingly assist in the establishment of an oppressive American theocracy that will trample every citizen in a way that will make the Spanish Inquisition look like a little girl's tea party.

THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH CHRISTMAS.