Is it hypocritical for an agnostic or atheist to wish others a "Merry Christmas?"
I suppose one might say so, but it seems to me like no more than an innocent, good-natured pleasantry, the sort of low-cost thing one does to be agreeable. Albert Mohler takes exception, though. Writing of Richard Dawkins, the author of recently-published The God Delusion, Mohler notes that Dawkins is "happy to 'wish everyone a Merry Christmas,'" and then snarks:
The title "Christ" is a transliteration of the Greek word for "the anointed one" — the Messiah. He mocks the holiday but declares the fact that Jesus is the Messiah every time he wishes anyone "Merry Christmas" — whether that is his intention or not.
The book of Ecclesiastes declares that "the voice of a fool [comes] through many words" [Eccl. 5:3]. For Richard Dawkins, it just takes two words. Merry Christmas.
Oh puh-leeze. Does Mohler mean seriously to say what he so smugly seems to say here? That everyone who says aloud the word "Christmas" is declaring that Jesus is the Messiah? All the good-natured Jews who wish their Christian friends "Merry Christmas," too? And the good-natured Muslims, Hindus, Bahai, agnostics and atheists, Wiccans, and on and on — all of them guilty of a stealth-heresy against their own beliefs? All of those who simple-mindedly wish for others whatever peace their different faith affords them?
Dang. Who knew? No wonder that "Peace on earth, good will toward men" is so hard to come by.
So we've got Donald Wildmon, of the American Family Association, running around demanding that everybody say "Merry Christmas," and raking in the cash for his trouble. And we've got Albert Mohler, the very mightiest of the Southern Baptist theologians, explaining that those who say "Merry Christmas" without belief in Jesus' divinity are fools.
Whatever is one to do?
For the record, y'all:
- Merry Christmas!
- Happy Hanukkah!
- Good Kwanzaa!
- Cheery Solstice!
- Happy Rohatsu!
- Have a great Saturnalia!
- Lovely Lenaea!
- Good Festival of the Sun!
- Happy Shabe-Yalda!
- Happy Ramadan!
- And on and on ... after all, it's the Solstice, the real reason for the season for every faith everywhere.
And to all you bothersome noisemakers:
- Go to hell.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Alex
I think Atheist who are secure enough in their religion of Atheism would not be hollering like this guy just did! I am a confident Christian, and I don't have to fight or belittle people like this guy is doing about Mohler and whoever else that doesn't follow his doctrine of Athrism. I don't know why Atheist feel so threatened by Jesus Christ followers, maybe its in their religion to be like that.
2 - Melita Teale
Bob Felton didn't mention being an atheist, Alex.
The next time you think about "feeling confident" and "feeling threatened" when it comes to religious conviction, you should pray to God to give you enough confidence in your faith in Him to not feel threatened by people who question the irreligious babblings of economically opportunistic "Christian" charismatics.
Because you don't sound confident at all.
3 - Alex
Melita... What are you talking about? This whole article is about Atheists and what they can say and what they mean when they say it! It is an attack on a nut named Albert Mohler who is making a big deal about the hypocrisy of Atheists! Who cares if Atheists are hypocrites, the world already knows it.
Melita... what can I say to a person who is so nose deep in Atheism that she/he can't reason without attacking other religions.
Atheists make it a point to attck other religions (they even have a Curriculum on January 5 to band together), but do you not see that Atheism is a religion itself. Melita... look up David Bedford!!!! He is a self-proclaimed atheist messiah!
You will understand better at what you believe if you start using your brain and stop listening to other peoples contempt and ideas to attack all religions on a global scale! Atheism is a religion based on intolerance! Its only support for existence is to pick at the hypocrisy and violence that religions have spurned over the world's life time. Stop following and start researching Melita! Good luck!
4 - darwinsuncle
Muslims carry around a book, written by Mohammad, that says it is alright for a man to marry and have intercourse with a 9-year-old girl. Christians and Jews follow Moses, who instructed his soldiers to rape virgin Caananite girls. Can I at least be intolerant of these guys?
5 - Alex
First off... I'm a black man... should I be intollerant to all of my white neighbors for their injustices to the black race in the past?
No! Neither should the Caananites to Moses for what he did. War is an ugly fact of life, it will always be there... so long as their is intollerance. We need to learn from our mistakes and stop the attacks on religions. That goes for Muslim against Chrsitian, Christian against Jew, Jew against Atheist, etc...
Different cultures... different practices... it still doesn't give you or anybody the right to preach hate and intolerance in the name of Atheism.
6 - darwinsuncle
Alex,
If your white neighbors tell you that they practice a religion whose founding documents say that it is alright to rape black women-and insist that every word in said documents is the inerrant word of their god, then no, you do not need to be tolerant.
As an atheist I am perfectly comfortable with the fact that you have a Constitutional right to practice your faith. Just as I have a Constitutional right to say it's a crock. I'm not attacking you as a person, I'm attacking your belief system. These out-dated superstitions have got to go. Did you notice you actually tried to justify what Moses did in your comment? See, that's the problem with religion-you have to spend so much time trying to explain the obvious contradictions and moral relativism.
7 - Alex
Darwinsuncle,
You know... Atheist always try to deny and justify their beliefs historical errors. You probably would argue with me and deny that Hitler was ever an Atheist? Right? You probably would even say that Stalin was justified in killing milions of religios and political enemies!??? Admit it!
The documents in the Torah, Quaran, and Bible (all same) do not advocate rape, murder, or whatever ills this world has (that is man). Man has used God's laws to hurt others. Hitler (an atheist) used Christ and manipulated the people to kill jews. This is the problem, this is why so many people are confused. Rev, James Jones led a cult in the name of God to kill all those people in Guyana! Men/Women are the ones twisting and hurting the beliefs in God. Stop listening to other people's lies about a good book and research it yourself man!
I'm not attacking you as a person, just your rationality and belief system you joined. I have no problem that you wish to celebrate your religion of Atheism. I don't... because if you agree with me or not... it is a religion. America gives us the right to believe (and in your case the right to defame other religions and believe in yourselves). I respect your right to party and defy all religions. However, I also have the right to think your belief system is foolish, tyrranical, evil, manipulative and hypocritical! The hypocrisy of Atheists... they say they are a rational intelligent organization (meant to update people's minds)... however Atheists are replacing God with themselves and attacking religions... That is wrong! Look at history.. remember Stalin! You guys even have a Messiah called David Bedford! Atheism is a child's idea for adults... Similair in the vain of the LITTLE TRAIN THAT COULD... remeber "I think I can"!
8 - darwinsuncle
The Bible does so advocate murder and rape. Here:
(Numbers 31:7-18 NLT)
"They attacked Midian just as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed all the men. All five of the Midianite kings â€" Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba â€" died in the battle. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. Then the Israelite army captured the Midianite women and children and seized their cattle and flocks and all their wealth as plunder. They burned all the towns and villages where the Midianites had lived. After they had gathered the plunder and captives, both people and animals, they brought them all to Moses and Eleazar the priest, and to the whole community of Israel, which was camped on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the people went to meet them outside the camp. But Moses was furious with all the military commanders who had returned from the battle. "Why have you let all the women live?" he demanded. "These are the very ones who followed Balaam's advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the LORD at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the LORD's people. Now kill all the boys and all the women who have slept with a man. Only the young girls who are virgins may live; you may keep them for yourselves."
Would you share this story with your children?
---Further "atheism" has no set dogma to follow. There is no organization. Its certainly not a "belief system" as you are suggesting. The fact that Stalin and I share a disbelief in a god makes me no more connected to the atrocities he committed than the fact that Stalin and I are both Russian. Now if I subscribed to Stalinist Communism you might actually have a point. Most of the theists i have known over the years are good people, but that doesn't change the fact that their sacred texts are full of violence-and even go so far as to advocate for it. Do the sacred texts of atheism do the same? Oh wait, there are no sacred texts of atheism, its not a religion.
9 - sr
Humans make mistakes every day. Just what if eternal is eternity. Flip the coin. Heads I win, tails you lose. Dare Ye enter.
10 - Alex
Darwinsuncle
Atheism is a religion.. it's sacred texts are history (Stalin and Hitler) and is contnually being written today! There is an Atheism conference this Friday/Saturday... doesn't a confernce constitute organization?! Atheism is an organized group sharing an idea (a religion - see definition) that all religions are wrong. And people like Dawkins and Bedford are proving it is becoming a newly registered Dogma religion that preaches hate!
Atheism practices intolerance and hatred towards people with beliefs in a God. Darwinsuncle... you believe in only yourself (you've replaced God with yourself), and you preach against all religions... don't you think that maybe you are in a dangerous group/religion that outright disrespects all religions?!?!
11 - Alex
Atheism is a belief system darwinsuncle! I can not be a part of your religion (Atheism) if I believe in God. Will you accept me as an atheist if I believe in God? NO... your religion states I must believe in myself only in order to join Atheism! If I went to the Atheist conference (Atheist church) on Januray 5th, do you think all of the atheist there would treat me kindly? No.. they are an organized religion who hates believers in God.
You will understand better in what you believe if you start using your brain and stop listening to other peoples contempt and ideas to attack all religions on a global scale! Atheism is a religion based on intolerance! Its only support for existence is to pick at the hypocrisy and violence that religions lead by man have spurned over the world's life time. Stop following and start researching! Good luck!
12 - Alex
Do I have to continuously attack Midian to be considered a true believer in God? Thats a ridiculous statement to say the Bible/Torah supports rape and violence. "Numbers" states a moment in History where a man named Moses led a war against his enemies who were deadly and dangerous. Did you read that book before these chapters? Did you read what happened afterwards? Lets keep things in context here.
Thats what I find funny about atheists, they always try to find something wrong about another religion, but they fail to continue to see the whole picture. Its like walking out of a movie midway through!
If you want something current of a religion that advocates murder, look to Stalin who committed mass murders of Orthodox christians because they were a threat to Atheism. He hated religion, just like Bedford and Dawkins do.
Now you may not hate religions like these men! However, your group you belong to is all about hate. Maybe you can be considered an agnostic or a conservative atheist... however you cut it bro you do not need to be hating religions. I don't hate atheism, I just find it silly that Atheists are claiming to be the intelligent people's club, and still not see they are a religion.
For the record...
Believing in God is a personal thing. No group should be allowed to claim God as their own. I do not belong to any group, because everygroup seems to be misusing God's name and hurting others. To say I am this or that, would bring about stereotypes. I read for myself, and I think for myself. I believe because I made that decsion. You don't believe because it is your decision to do so. Know that, and you'll be okay. But if you belong to a religios group like Atheism then you are a hypocrite. Because no group should deny people the right to believe in God.
I respect your right to believe in only yourself, however I have the right to believe that your egotisic beliefs is a belief. And that Atheism is a religion based on hatred towards all religions. Keyword here is hatred!
13 - duane
What is the basis for your belief, Alex?
Oh, by the way, I hate you. Oh, wait, no I don't. Nevermind about that. But please answer the question.
14 - Alex
Duane.... here you go brother!
Hitler's Hatred of Religion
Another reason for the great importance Hitler attached to the theory of evolution was his seeing the theory as a weapon against religious belief. Hitler had a great hatred of divine religions. Moral virtues such as compassion, mercy, and humility, ordered by divine religions, represented a great obstacle to the ruthless and warrior Aryan type the Nazis wanted to create. For this reason, once the Nazis came to power in 1933 they tried to turn German society back to its old pagan beliefs. The swastika, a symbol from the old pagan cultures, was a sign of this return. The Nazi ceremonies held in every corner of Germany were a return to the ancient pagan rites. The idea of evolution, an inheritance from pagan cultures, fitted in exceedingly well with the ideology of Nazism for this reason.
Actually, the fundamental cause of the countless catastrophes visited upon the world in the 20th century was the character of such people as Hitler and the Nazis who had no religion. These people who denied the existence of God and believed that human beings had evolved to become developed animals, saw themselves as unchecked, with no responsibility to answer to anyone. Because they had no fear of God and the hereafter they knew no limit to their immorality and tyranny, and for that reason they mercilessly killed millions of people. The difficulties and pains there will be in a society without religion are clearly to be seen in the example of Hitler. And not just Hitler: as we shall see later Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Franco, Mussolini and the others who drowned the 20th century in blood were known for being completely devoid of religion. A lesson must of course be drawn from the nightmare which comes from lack of religion.
Whereas those who fear Allah and live by Qur'anic morality always bring peace, calm, security, plenty, and enlightened times to a society. People faithful to the religion of Allah never disturb the peace anywhere in the world, on the contrary they always encourage compassion, pity, friendship, faithfulness, and co-operation. (For further information on the subject, see "Disasters Darwinism Brought to Humanity" by Harun Yahya)
15 - Alex
What is the basis of your belief?
And duane... or whoever you are... why you hating?
16 - Alex
duane... maybe you hate me for not being an atheist. But other than that you don't know me. My only other thought is that maybe your a racist.
And racists are no strangers to atheism.
17 - duane
I don't hate anybody, Alex. Well, except for my ex-girlfriend.
Which belief are you asking about (#15)?
And why would you think I'm a racist, Alex?
So, if I understand correctly, Hitler has provided you with the foundation for your belief in a Supreme Being?
18 - Alex
duane... you are as confusing and hypocritical as Atheism? You hate me and know you don't!
(1) Well I guess I'm alright with you saying you do not hate me. To be honest I don't know you and I don't care. Im just curious why you made such a statement. But read a little on forgiveness if you want to live a happy life without hating your girlfreind through out your long lived years. Everyone on earth has a purpose.
(2) #15... well why did you choose to believe in no God? What is you belief in believing only yourself. This of course is an assumption, but your welcome to fill in the pieces.
(3) I mentioned on here I was black... read #5. Other than that you don't know me to hate... which you've clarified here as your mistake in saying.
(4) Hitler has provided me with the foundation that Atheism is a trip... a messed up ideology. Were you asking me about my belief in why Atheism is a bunk?? Or are you asking me about my spirituality and how I came in to it??
duane... everyone in their life will come to terms with their mortality and beliefs. Your day of enlightenment will come one day or another.
19 - duane
Well, Alex, first you say I hate everybody, then you say I'm a racist, and now I'm a hypocrite.
Not the most auspicious start to a friendly discussion, now, is it?
As for being "confusing," well, OK. I will be happy to clarify where needed.
And I'm having some trouble with some of your sentences, such as
You hate me and know you don't!
??
Or are you asking me about my spirituality and how I came in to it??
Yes.
20 - Alex
duane...
okay man what is going on...
(1) First off I never said you hate "everybody" (read past posts)... those are your own words.
(2) i assumed you are a racists because you said "I hate you. Oh, wait, no I don't..." What was the pointing leaving that in your post?
(3) Hypocritical... well what does this statement mean... "I hate you. Oh, wait, no I don't..." ??
What do you want to discuss man?
What do you want from me, or what is your purpose on this board?
Confusing:
Can you clarify why you left this in there:
"I hate you. Oh, wait, no I don't..." ??
Clarifying:
"You hate me and know you don't" = You said you hated me, but you really don't hate me because you don't know me.
Where do you want me start with my life and my enlightenment? I can't teach you anything if you continue to have a close your mind.
21 - duane
Oh, Alex, and now you think I have a closed mind. Tut tut. Are all believers such poor judges of others?
If my mind were closed, how do you reconcile that astute observation with the fact that I am asking you about your faith. Prejudging, are we?
Alex: And that Atheism is a religion based on hatred towards all religions. Keyword here is hatred!
Alex: And duane... or whoever you are... why you hating?
Alex: i assumed you are a racists because you said "I hate you...."
Obviously, I was poking a little fun at your sweeping generalizations.
Alex: What do you want from me, or what is your purpose on this board?
Purpose? Ummm ... just trying to have a conversation with a true believer? I won't bother you anymore, if that's what I'm doing. I just asked you a plain and simple question. I don't want your life story, just something that will let me understand why you are a believer.
22 - Alex
To understand you must have an open mind! Isn't it true that Atheists advertise that their religion is for people with an open mind?
You can't answer...
duane... it is safe to say you do not want to learn nor do you want to listen to a life story. Why did you come on this board for? Will you ever answer honestly?
23 - Alex
duane...
You prejudged me even before you posted! Isn't it true... will you ever admit it?
Good luck duane!
24 - Alex
duane... Are all atheists hypocrites and instigators of hatred? Can you answer for your religion?
duane: Oh, by the way, I hate you.
duane: I don't hate anybody, Alex. Well, except for my ex-girlfriend.
Good luck duane!
25 - Alex
Are there any real atheists out there with an open mind to talk to? I know this is a religion, but open minded people talk don't they... or are atheists really not open minded as they say? duane couldn't say anything about himself, all he could do was hate me and confuse himself... Is Atheism just that, a religion in which members don't question anything about themselves (because after all they can only have faith in themselves and are afraid to look into their immortality)?
I know there are people out there who believe Atheists are set in their ways and won't listen to reason. However, I believe some people who claim to be atheists are really closet agnostics. To hate all religions and to believe there is proof that God exists... is based on a faith of hatred. Agnostics speak up... let this board know that there are non-believers who are unsure of God. Teach Atheists that hatred of religions is wrong!
To learn however requires an open mind and a willing heart for self-reflection.