I recently read an apologist article that defended Christianity by saying, among other things, that it's still a minority religion. Another article defended Christmas for Atheists by redefining it as a “family holiday,” ignoring both the intent and the history of it. I'm currently removing follicles in bunches, asking why it's so difficult to grasp reality: It's faith that's the problem!
Frankly, it matters little whether you call your religion Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, generic spirituality, or even Scientology, it's the approach to thinking that matters. I'll agree that we can't legitimately put the blame for all of the world's problems on any one religion, or even on religion in general, but we can state unequivocally that adding the element of faith to any situation exacerbates the problem and leads to more problems.
Imagine two individuals discussing a subject, any subject will do. Individual A makes a statement to the effect of, “I think this is true.” B says, “I'm willing to agree with you, if your evidence is convincing. Please provide me with your evidence, and I will examine it for myself.” Even if B does not accept the evidence, A at least knows that the opinion is respected and has been judged on the facts provided. If A still desires to convince B, more, perhaps better quality evidence must be provided. Granted, emotions can, and sometimes will, cloud either individuals judgment, but eventually reality will rule.
Take the same situation and inject the element of faith. Regardless of the evidence A provides, B stubbornly refuses it because it contradicts the “faith,” the belief without evidence, that B has been indoctrinated with. B will make such statements as, “You need to look at this with the spirit in your heart,” though A knows that this is nothing more than saying, “You must let your emotions control you before you begin thinking about the situation.”
Certainly, reasonable people can disagree, but the facts will eventually provide clear enough evidence that even the skeptics will be convinced. Though radical in their time, rational people now accept ideas concerning the sun's place in our solar system, the shape of the Earth, the evolution of species and of life in general, gravity, and countless other subjects that would have resulted in disgrace or death under faith-based governments. Thus I implore my fellow unbelievers, and all who sincerely wish to improve the role of reason in their lives, to eschew faith in all its forms and all faith-based activities.
Which includes Christmas, a holiday invented for any number of reasons, but unquestionably still clinging to (and encouraging clinging in others) past superstitions and myths. Celebrating Christmas by a non-Christian is equivalent to celebrating Hitler's birthday by Jews. Compare the bright, shining tree that proclaims “I'm Christian” to everyone with the burning cross employed by the KKK, and you'll find similar thinking. Both are symbols that say quite clearly, “If you ain't one of us, you ain't welcome in these parts!” Get past the warm, fuzzy associations from childhood brought about by bribing you with toys and goodies and see this annual coercion-fest for what it really is. (There's no biblical passage describing gifts for all the kiddies, just a description of the ancient tradition of offering gifts to gods.) There's nothing wrong with getting together with friends and family, so long as you find the intestinal fortitude to let them know you are not there to celebrate the birth of some ancient mystic, nor any other such religious event. At first, relatives will resist this (and you'll find out just how accurate the comparisons above are), but eventually, if they are a family worth having, they'll accept you as you are rather than the facade you present annually.
