Season's Symbolic Value

Published on December 9, 2004 By stevendedalus In Philosophy

This is the season — even Newsweek got into the act — to believe or not in the Christian celebration. Surely, it is the time to take in the symbolic beauty of it, even the commercialism, which on occasion can be quite charming. Although there are tree huggers who whine about the destruction of fir trees, the end result undeniably spirits symbolic joy to many. Those who do not believe or are of other faiths are caught up in the material culture of Christmas and suspend belief to take their children to sit on Santa’s lap. Even the display of the nativity if done artistically is a heartfelt symbol of good will and hope to those who look upon it as simply myth, just as there are those who feel a deep aesthetic sense in contemplating the greatness of the world’s artistic expressions — even a hardcore atheist will find pleasure in the Christmas Carol.

Notwithstanding disbelief, one need not feel guilty to partake the spirit of peace and good will. All the world loves a damn good story.

http://stevendedalus.joeuser.com

Comments

kingbee

on Dec 09, 2004

deck us all with boston charlie, walla walla, wash, and kalamazoo
nora's freezin' on the trolley, swaller dollar cauliflower alleygaroo
don't we know archaic barrel, lullaby lilla boy, louisville lou.
trolley molly don't love harold, boola boola pensacoola hullabaloo

mary xmas

T_Bone4Justice

on Dec 13, 2004

kingbee, you are truly a nutcracker!

TaBoo Tenente

on Dec 13, 2004

hardcore atheists may like a christmas carol, but more likely they're watching scrooged over and over. im not even a mediocre atheist, but i'm stuck to the couch when scrooged is on.

i'd also say that christmas spirit is something everyone can enjoy, but sometimes it becomes a little militant. the idea that a scrooge is bunkered in every unadorned house and needs carolers to waken the dead soul within is a bit troublesome. those "militants" could scare away my good cheer, anyway.

TBT

stevendedalus

on Dec 13, 2004

to waken the dead soul within is a bit troublesome

Especially for the other 364 days.Tbone, Yes, he cracked my nuts too.

latour999

on Dec 13, 2004

even a hardcore atheist will find pleasure in the Christmas Carol.

I'm an atheist and Christmas is my favorite time of the year! Only 12 more days!

stevendedalus

on Dec 14, 2004

I'm an atheist and Christmas is my favorite time of the year! Only 12 more days!

I think it's great that you take in the aesthetics of it.

stevendedalus

on Dec 16, 2004

King, deck us all with boston's big dig and pray we don't drown in the tinseled tunnel leaks.

bakerstreet

on Dec 16, 2004

There's something troubling about the neo-secularist attempt to remove all forms of Christmas expression. As if expressing the sentiment is somehow offensive. It's a very French attitude.

So much for the melting pot, where you can rub elbows with Jews, Christians, and everyone else during the holidays, all expressing their beliefs. To be truly free, it seems, we must limit our religious "expression" to non-public forums and leave the rest smelling of antiseptic.

What an ugly society this would be in a thousand years, how culturally bereft. Were these "rules" in place 30 years ago I would know little or nothing about other religions or cultures.

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