Nerdologist
Cecilia Davidson
I can't help but wonder, though - can the things that are traditionally religious be separated entirely from their being utilized by various religions?
(I'm afraid I was not clear) OUTSIDE OF COMMERCIALIZATION, can we accomplish a separation of things deemed religious from their religion and yet allow them to keep their meaning and symbolism? How would we be able to accomplish such without ourselves creating a religion?
To separate them from their religion, we must personalize the meaning of these things and reject their traditional interpretations and purposes. In so doing we might create a new religion (it really depends on how you define religion), but as long as this religion represents our values and beliefs better than the original religion, it's worth establishing. How would you define religion? And what is it about creating a religion that worries you?
This is probably completely off topic, and if it is, I apologize. But what the above individual stated reminds me of my own first initial experience of becoming an atheist (or coming to the realization that I reject the notion of a Creator) and how I believe I interpreted what the original forum starter was asking...
Perfect ax ample for me; Christmas.
Christmas means nothing to me. Never did, never will. Historically it makes no sense other than Christianity hijacking it to convert pagans, and the GROSS commercialization of it nowadays. My father was an agnostic and justified it because Christmas has 'tradition'. So did sacrificing animals... I don't see most of the real world religions doing that today? (Or at least we know of) so that's a stupid excuse. My mother was a DEVOUT Jehovah's Witness yet lived a serious double life and became a Swinger, over sexualized object at night and sometimes on the weekend. Her reason for Christmas was nonexistent. JWs' don't believe in that crap for their own (legit) reasons.
That all being said, I've resolved to go back to pagan roots and celebrate winter solstice. It makes sense, I still get to buy the cute stuff at Pier One with a purpose and educate uneducated people along the way. Am I against this "Merry Christmas" stuff that the right thinks is under attack?
Well, you can't really attack something that doesn't have any validity of its own, now can you?
Happy holidays!