OK, so Paul got back to me re:my last post and brought my attention to this humorous poster that Matthew put on his (e:strip) blog. Then I saw Holly's PhotoChop of the image, which is way funny. So then I thought: Well, I should do a PhotoChop, too... So here ya go...

Xmas is always such a pain. And I don't mean to sound all Scrooge-y or Grinch-ish; I love the idea of coming together with family and friends to celebrate life and relationships, and I think the middle of winter is a good time for that kind of thing. No wonder so many belief systems of all kinds recognize the winter solstice as a conspicuous time of year. But don't go thinking that I'm arguing for some kind of "alternative" religious viewpoint.

I'm an atheist.I love being an atheist. I feel as good about being an atheist as most folks feel about being devoted to any religion, club, or team. Sometimes I even want to tell people about it, to prosyletize the joy of living in a godless world. But what's the point?

Still, it's sometimes made very clear just how on the outside we are. The holiday season brings it to the forefront. How will I raise my children to be proud of their atheism in the face of such cultural pressure to believe the lie? How do we celebrate the completion of a year, the bonding of a family, the accomplishments and hardships of a community without encouraging the destructive impulses of Christianity?

Public school funds can be diverted to counterproductive religious schools. Faith based organizations are being given more and more responsibility. In some states it is possible to be forced to sit through prayer before receiving state and federal assistance. The religious radicals of Christianity have led us into conflict over and over again; conflict within our western, American culture as well as conflict with other religious radicals. The past few years have exposed in bitterly clear ways the full effect of religious wrath and the numbing, dumbing effect of religion as the proverbial opiate of the masses.

Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas all refuse atheists the right to hold office according to clauses in their state constitutions. Massachusetts excludes non-Christians from equal protection under the law.

These are just a few examples of more gratuitous discrimination that many will dismiss as relics of old attitudes. But the attitude still very much exists. We're told to pray by the President often. Our crusades in the Middle East (the Administration's words; not mine) are a playing out of age-old religious differences, which were played out, in the first place, in service of dubious economic goals. Our Pledge of Allegiance... Our God Bless America... Our Shortsighted Ignorant Approach to Humanity...

Happy New Year