Mailbag: You Don't Know Love
Subject: Are You a Robot?
The only reason there is Christmas is becauwe of Christ. Us giving gifts to others represents the wisemen giving their gifts to Christ. ... If you're an athiest and don't believe in Christ then you don't know Love, or Joy or happiness or sorrow. You would be a robot. Are you a robot? No.
The "no Christmas without Christ" is a familiar refrain in America, although usually phrased as "Jesus is the Reason for the Season." Unfortunately for those singing this tune, they have it all wrong. Without Christianity we would still have Christmas - although it would obviously go under some other name.
Many cultures, in particular European cultures, there has always been some sort of winter festival that falls around the time of Christmas. Christianity didn't invent celebrations at this time of year and didn't even invent giving gifts, either.
Now, as to the idea that atheists don't know love, joy, happiness, or sorrow - what could be said about such nonsense? Even Jenny seems to realize how silly it is because she acknowledges that such a person would be a robot and that I am no robot. Perhaps she wishes to imply that I, therefore, really believe in Christ but am in denial? Although ridiculous, it is possible - she wouldn't be the first person to suggest such a thing.
The contradictions aside, there are also Christians out there who try to argue that "real" love and "real" happiness can only be found in their religion. Everyone else in the world is just miserable without even knowing it. I'm willing to grant that their beliefs are indeed a source of happiness and joy for them, but why aren't they willing to grant that others can find joy and happiness outside of Christianity?
More selections from the Agnosticism / Atheism Mailbag...
Comments
You mention the strange Christian tack that posits some sort of hidden belief in the unbeliever, which would explain the ability to love or the ability to reason.
I remember the first time I was introduced to this strange theory in a radio debate between George Smith and Greg Bahnsen in 1991, I believe.
It was very bizarre. Bahnsen continued telling poor George that he was actually a closet Christian, and that is how he was able to reason, because without Christ (so said Bahnsen) nobody can actually reason…
After all of these years, I still don’t really understand the argument, unless they really and truly mean, “Hey, he must believe in my God in particular, because without doing that, you can’t do such-and-such a thing”. In which case, I understand it perfectly well, and it just looks preposterous.
I think it makes them feel better, because many Christians cannot understand others operating in a healthy human fashion without their personal presuppositions.
No Jenny, it is YOU who is the ROBOT. If YOU cannot feel love, joy, happiness, or sorrow without your pre-programed ideas in your “operating system” known as religion, then it is YOU who is a machine unable to THINK FOR YOURSELF.
I find the claim by some varieties of Christian that only they can know the highest form of love to be offensive: and against their own scriptures. ‘Greater love hath no man but this: that a man should lay down his life for his friends’-Jesus.
Since laying down your life for your friends is in no way confined to Christians, they cannot scripturally claim to have ‘greater love’ than non-Christians. I wish I knew where that particularly crazy idea comes from.
It’s all just a defence mechanism. It’s an acknowledgement of either their own inner doubts, or their own inner prejudices, or both. Either way, it serves the same purpose that their weekly migrations to the temple with others serves - to reinforce their conviction. Anyone who doesn’t share their convictions is a threat, and presumably starts them worrying about things that they want their religion to give them certainty about.
Doug is right on and with your permission I intend to use/develop this idea in discussions.
Without Christ we’d be calling it Candlemas. Without all the saints it would be Samhain. Xians hijacked the European Wiccan holidays. Holiday came from Holly day.
My wife and I have been married for the last 27 years,and We are both Wiccan’s!!
I love ,honor,and repect,my wife. We found more happiness without your god,than with.
Todd, you’re on the right track, but I have to make a few corrections.
Candlemas is the first of Feb. You’re thinking of Yule or Yuletide.
Samhain is Halloween.
Wicca is a modern invention, although their holidays are based on ancient European holidays and festivals.
Holiday is a contraction of “holy day”.