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Do you agree with Ben Stein's unique Christmas perspective?

Do you agree with Ben Stein's unique Christmas perspective?

  • Im a right leaning American, yes.

    Votes: 8 33.3%
  • Im a left leaning American, yes.

    Votes: 5 20.8%
  • Im not American, yes.

    Votes: 1 4.2%
  • Im a right leaning American, no.

    Votes: 3 12.5%
  • Im a left leaning American, no.

    Votes: 6 25.0%
  • Im not American, no.

    Votes: 1 4.2%

  • Total voters
    24
You have a distinct anti-religion bent. Im fine with believing what they'd like but I don't get your antagonism.

No, I have a distinct pro-reality bent. The problem with people believing absurd things is that beliefs inform actions and that leads to people acting in absurd ways which does affect others. If you can keep your mind poison in your head, fine. If you can't, then it is the responsibility of society to disabuse you of your religious insanity.
 
you wouldnt care if it was about jesus :mrgreen:

I would acknowledge the reality of it, I still wouldn't care or celebrate Jesus. The facts, however, remain the same, it is a primarily secular holiday that some people attribute some religious aspects to. It isn't about Jesus, it's about presents and getting together with family. That's just the way it is.
 
So why isn't the reverse also true? We all know what "Seasons Greetings" or "Happy Holidays" means. Why not just say that?


If someone wants to wish me a Season Greetings, fine, if someone wishes to wish me Merry Christmas fine.. or Happy holidays or what ever. Just be pleasant and happy to me, and I'll be pleasant and happy to you.
 
No, I have a distinct pro-reality bent. The problem with people believing absurd things is that beliefs inform actions and that leads to people acting in absurd ways which does affect others. If you can keep your mind poison in your head, fine. If you can't, then it is the responsibility of society to disabuse you of your religious insanity.

There are many real and tangible benefits of western religion as well, like charity, and healthcare. I honestly wonder if some of these militant atheists I see are aware of that.
 
If someone wants to wish me a Season Greetings, fine, if someone wishes to wish me Merry Christmas fine.. or Happy holidays or what ever. Just be pleasant and happy to me, and I'll be pleasant and happy to you.

Seems logical to me. Merry Christmas!
 
Modern healthcare was born of the Enlightenment (I wonder why they called it that?) Reason became the driving force for humanity, and science.
 
There are many real and tangible benefits of western religion as well, like charity, and healthcare. I honestly wonder if some of these militant atheists I see are aware of that.

All of which can be had without the absurd belief structure. There are plenty of secular charities and hospitals around.
 
There are many real and tangible benefits of western religion as well, like charity, and healthcare. I honestly wonder if some of these militant atheists I see are aware of that.

yes.. unfortunately, many people include 'tithing to the church' as their charity, rather than consider it separate. A lot of that money goes to maintaining the Church, providing for a pastor, and giving things like religious education to their own kids, so that the people that benefit from the 'tithe' are the ones giving the tithe. That isn't to say that there isn't wonderful works being done by the churches, but the fact so many people think that giving money to the church that directly benefits them as 'charity' is a bit inconsistent with what Charity is.

Of course, you don't have to belong to a religious organization to do charitable works either.
 
All of which can be had without the absurd belief structure. There are plenty of secular charities and hospitals around.

And you can find pro-capitalist communism as well.
BTW, even here in the US look at the top ten charities and I'd expect much of the hospitals to be religious. And its not like the problem is too many hospitals. If you are a boomer its something to consider.
 
yes.. unfortunately, many people include 'tithing to the church' as their charity, rather than consider it separate. A lot of that money goes to maintaining the Church, providing for a pastor, and giving things like religious education to their own kids, so that the people that benefit from the 'tithe' are the ones giving the tithe. That isn't to say that there isn't wonderful works being done by the churches, but the fact so many people think that giving money to the church that directly benefits them as 'charity' is a bit inconsistent with what Charity is.

Of course, you don't have to belong to a religious organization to do charitable works either.

Thats between the members and their Church/congregation/etc to decide. And it still doesn't change the fact that the religious give more to charity than the non-religious.
 
Thats between the members and their Church/congregation/etc to decide. And it still doesn't change the fact that the religious give more to charity than the non-religious.

Because of the fact that the 'tithe' to the church directly benefits them, it's not charity, even though they count it as charity. That skews the numbers. Because of that, I do not see how accurate that claim is. It might be true. It might not be. The numbers I have seen don't take that into account.. so I do not know if that can be considered true or not.

I can only know what I have done.
 
Because of the fact that the 'tithe' to the church directly benefits them, it's not charity, even though they count it as charity. That skews the numbers. Because of that, I do not see how accurate that claim is. It might be true. It might not be. The numbers I have seen don't take that into account.. so I do not know if that can be considered true or not.

I can only know what I have done.

The most recent study I saw (part of a longstanding trend) suggests that the majority (and still more than the non-religious) give to charitable organizations, ie specifically not a tithing.

So its not skewed, but if you have conflicting data please post it. This also extends beyond political ideology, as more religious dems and republicans give more to charity.
 
I don't agree with him on the 'saved' thing, but I do agree about it being about love and peace. For me, it's also about the fellowship and festivities. I absolutely love the decorations and lights. As for presents, I spend what I can afford, I do not drive myself into debt over it.
 
Who gave you, a mere Leftist of the party of hypocrisy and stupidity, that mantle?

You must be mistaken, I have nothing to do with the Republican Party.
 
I liked Ben Stein's definition of Christmas. It fits right in with my interpretation. It is about forgiveness. There are several Psalms that depict righteousness in the form of an evergreen tree whether it be the cedars of Lebanon, a palm tree, or an olive tree. I am reminded of that when I see a Christmas tree. Another thing that stands out to me is Hanukkah also known as "the festival of lights" and coincides in timing with the Gentile Christmas celebration. I happen to be from a family that has Jewish and Gentile traditions. In my house you will find a Menorah and a Christmas tree. Gentiles know how to do lights! :) But the Menorah is a reminder of a great miracle. All the commandments of God are summed up in two. 1. Love God 2. Love Others. Everything evolves around love. And in order to love you have to be willing to forgive.
 
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