Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Being an atheist has nothing to do with my protest of the pope today
Being an atheist has nothing to do with my protest of the pope today
Trying to write more - so heres a quick missive before I head out the door to todays protest. Whilst ill as a very ill thing.
I find it fascinating that it appears assumed that most people protesting the pope will be atheists. Is it true?
Either way that assumption allows Joseph Ratzinger to diminish all criticism as being the work of aggressive atheists hating God.
This morning as thousands head towards Hyde Park Corner to protest the easiest way that our comments can be ignored is by people being able to diminish the protest as purely atheist in nature.
That as an atheist I cant criticise the sexist treatment of women, or the luddite and murdering approach to contraception (especially with the regards to HIV and Africa), or the systematic and calculated cover up of the abuse of children because deep down Im really complaining that these people believe in God.
I find this absurd. But, listening to the words of the ppe during this trip, in all his silly hats surrounded by pomp and parade, Ive realised something. His comments against the secularising of UK society and marginalising of faith in this country is not a plee to become a Catholic. Although obviously he would like that. The reason for all these strong words is to fence off the secular and atheistic view point in the minds of the general public.
I think he wants to remind people that religion is magic, and thus so criticising it is dangerous, and even if you are apathetic towards it you need to respect it.
In addition, the unfair position that the Pope has been given due to his position as head of state (of a citizen-less state no less) is a reason to protest today all by itself. If we gave state visits to the heads of every faith then this would be acceptable, but as it stands the Pope has been given a position above any other faith to come to the UK and criticise our way of life. Which we will pay for the pleasure for.
So, that being the case, a defence of our way of life is just.
It isnt due to my lack of a belief in God that I protest today – but because I do believe that, for all its flaws, when it comes to equality, family planning and religion this country is progressive and civilised and as such closer to any God than the man that today will wear a silly hat inside a stupidly named car who preaches famine as contraception and that no women can ever equal a man.
Even though, in my opinion, no God exists. Obviously.
Available link for download
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Being an atheist at Christmas
Being an atheist at Christmas
Every year, around this time, I get a rather itchy case of cognitive dissonance. Im an atheist enjoying Christmas.
Invariably a friend, who will typically have no religious beliefs themselves, will ask why I celebrate the festival when Im not religious.
Christmas is originally the celebration of the Winter Solstice (21st - 22nd December), which rather than being a day for pagan magic, is simply the peak of winter — the day with the longest night.
All of this.
So with all possible respect, whilst we both should join each other on enjoying our decorations, our trees, our winter days and our presents. We should all be hoping for Peace and Goodwill to all men. But, you can keep your tales of Christ in a pig trough, your magic flying super-intelligent creatures, your wise men and your acts of baby genocide. And Ill keep my Christmas alive — just like you will.
Furthermore, Christians might currently own Christmas but at best they are mearly custodians, the temporary baton carriers of a festival that stretches into prehistory. It would preposterous to tell me that I cant connect to the history of our species because a certain fraction of people with certain specific beliefs are, as of yet, refusing to hand over custody to capitalism, scientology, atheism or whatever new group will take it upon themselves next. It doesnt work that way.
No greater proof of this can be more forthcoming than the damnations Christmas receives in the old testament itself.
1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
The Christmas tree was a pagan and roman celebration of life (it is easy to see how a vivid green tree at the peak of winter would raise the spirits) and as such was a symbol of competeing faiths, and so condemned in the Old Testament.
However in the years that followed as Christianity spread north these people who celebrated in the harshness of winter, were won over and converted to Christianity.
But these people needed this festival in the same way we do today. They couldnt bare to abandon this important gathering of friends and family, so they moved the birth of Christ and made the festival about that so that the important aspects of it could survive. They hid their festival in the trappings of the day.
It might be depressing for Christians today, to see that same process repeating itself, it suggests that Christianity might be on the wane.
But that wont stop it happening.
Other things worth mentioning
9 Lessons and Carols for Godless People is pretty much the celebration for people with similar views to myself. Its wonderful and I cannot recommend it enough. Whilst you might struggle for tickets this close to the event, you can buy a DVD of last years at the equally wonderful Gofasterstripe. Im off to see it this Tuesday at Bloomsbury.
Tim Minchin is releasing his Christmas single White Wine and The Sun that covers much the same topics, but from the point of view of someone who has Christmas in the middle of summer. Ive embedded it below:
I think it is lovely.
Oh, and for those of you who think, well fine, just stop calling it christmas, Im afraid that history doesnt work like that, for example, we dont need to come up with another name for saturday, because we dont use the day to worship the greek god or agriculture any more.
Sorry for the saccharin and gooey post today, but normal cynical service will be resumed as soon as possible. Sooner if I get an iPhone for Christmas allowing me to actually blog again.
Available link for download