Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Humbug THIS!
Just like I did last year on my other blog, and as Craig did recently on his, I will now do...now.
I shall rant about Christmas and explain, in simple terms, why it sucks.
1) The main reason, apparently, that we celebrate Christmas, is to celebrate the birth/life of Jesus. Unfortunately, no rituals that are performed during Christmas have anything to do with Jesus. Christmas trees, Santa Claus, Reindeer...the only thing I can think of that related to Jesus is eggnog. He loved that stuff. Some would say that the giving of gifts might have something to do with how he lived his life...
2) Giving gifts to others is a good sign of generosity. Jesus was apparently a little like this in his time. But how can you call it generosity when we're setting aside a single day of the year for the sole purpose of giving to people that we know (by rote) who we (usually) know will return the favour? (again, by rote) I would have said it'd be a better display of generosity to go around doing stuff for people you don't know, all throughout the year. That's what Jesus did, or so the autobiographical account by William Shatner tells me.
3) Most people who celebrate christmas in the above-described fashion aren't even christian anyway. Quite a few atheists (or people who just don't know/care one way or the other what they believe) celebrate christmas just like any devout christian. More or...less...
4) One thing that DOES happen a lot during christmas is buying. Lots and lots of buying. People running around like crazy, spending money. Retailers all around the western world are laughing come christmas time, and I really don't think I have to explain why.
Our new god is commercialisation. Or money. Or the accumulation of possessions. Christmas is how we worship it with each rotation of our round little ball of dirt. What christmas used to stand for (if it ever really did stand for anything else) is now irrelevant. If the corporate world wasn't pushing it, I doubt we'd still be celebrating it by now. Like I said last year, it's a holiday on life support.
I shall rant about Christmas and explain, in simple terms, why it sucks.
1) The main reason, apparently, that we celebrate Christmas, is to celebrate the birth/life of Jesus. Unfortunately, no rituals that are performed during Christmas have anything to do with Jesus. Christmas trees, Santa Claus, Reindeer...the only thing I can think of that related to Jesus is eggnog. He loved that stuff. Some would say that the giving of gifts might have something to do with how he lived his life...
2) Giving gifts to others is a good sign of generosity. Jesus was apparently a little like this in his time. But how can you call it generosity when we're setting aside a single day of the year for the sole purpose of giving to people that we know (by rote) who we (usually) know will return the favour? (again, by rote) I would have said it'd be a better display of generosity to go around doing stuff for people you don't know, all throughout the year. That's what Jesus did, or so the autobiographical account by William Shatner tells me.
3) Most people who celebrate christmas in the above-described fashion aren't even christian anyway. Quite a few atheists (or people who just don't know/care one way or the other what they believe) celebrate christmas just like any devout christian. More or...less...
4) One thing that DOES happen a lot during christmas is buying. Lots and lots of buying. People running around like crazy, spending money. Retailers all around the western world are laughing come christmas time, and I really don't think I have to explain why.
Our new god is commercialisation. Or money. Or the accumulation of possessions. Christmas is how we worship it with each rotation of our round little ball of dirt. What christmas used to stand for (if it ever really did stand for anything else) is now irrelevant. If the corporate world wasn't pushing it, I doubt we'd still be celebrating it by now. Like I said last year, it's a holiday on life support.
Comments:
Ted, I like Christmas because I spend it with people I care about (and yes, i am strange because this includes my family.)But you can still give gifts and not succumb to commercialism. Don't give the 'normal' chrissy gifts of soap, photo frames, perfume packs and ipods. (If you ever give me any of the above i will bash you...well maybe except the ipod.) Anyway if you really care about a person give them a gift but put some thought into it.
So having said that Ted, next time we catch up I will be giving you your chrissy present. And you will love it. (Although it did end up costing a fair bit, but youre worth it).
So having said that Ted, next time we catch up I will be giving you your chrissy present. And you will love it. (Although it did end up costing a fair bit, but youre worth it).
# posted by 
: 29/12/04 11:12 pm
: 29/12/04 11:12 pm
Well, yeah, there are always exceptions. And I knew you'd be one of 'em.
But my arguments still stand! (where they will) :P
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But my arguments still stand! (where they will) :P
# posted by : 29/12/04 11:19 pm
: 29/12/04 11:19 pm
