Oh yes, they do practice theophagy, just as the mythical cults before them did. Amazing how paganism continues and people be in full denial of it. OK back to chocolate worship. :D
Yes, Doug, I do believe you are right about the theobroma and the confusion concerning chocolate.
Dark chocolate is good. “I’ve never met a chocolate I didn’t like.” :D
I love Christmas! The music, the ornaments, everything. We get a huge tree every year, decorate the house, etc. But it’s completely non-religious for us, no church, no praying, no stories. It’s an extended-family get together with presents and food, no more and no less.
However, we are slowly trying to move away from the gift-giving part of it, while keeping the rest. When I read about poor single mothers taking out loans to buy their kids presents “because they NEED them” I really get turned off on that whole part of it.
However, we are slowly trying to move away from the gift-giving part of it, while keeping the rest. When I read about poor single mothers taking out loans to buy their kids presents “because they NEED them” I really get turned off on that whole part of it.
I enjoy both giving and receiving gifts throughout the year, and I think that there is a way in which gift exchange can promote the thoughtful consideration of others in a way that is contrary to modern consumerism. However, I absolutely agree with you traveller888 that consumerism has reached a level of sickness in contemporary America around christmas time. It is also very hard to resist this trend, as most of the people around us buy us lots of things and expect to receive things from us in return. It is very hard to tell people that we don’t want such things from them and that we don’t want to buy them something either. I think this illustrates how interdependent we all are.
To be fair, I think that a lot of christian Americans feel this way too.
I enjoy both giving and receiving gifts throughout the year, and I think that there is a way in which gift exchange can promote the thoughtful consideration of others in a way that is contrary to modern consumerism. However, I absolutely agree with you traveller888 that consumerism has reached a level of sickness in contemporary America around christmas time. It is also very hard to resist this trend, as most of the people around us buy us lots of things and expect to receive things from us in return. It is very hard to tell people that we don’t want such things from them and that we don’t want to buy them something either. I think this illustrates how interdependent we all are.
To be fair, I think that a lot of christian Americans feel this way too.
Very true, it’s hard to balance gift-giving as generosity and thinking of others before yourself versus consumerism/materialism. I believe many people, religious and not, feel this way but can’t pull themselves out of the cycle at the risk of offending others, social pressures, etc.
I like George’s post about saying “Jesus was a nice guy”. My wife and I are having kids this year and I think that might by my approach.
I always do a tree, call it Christmas, put up lights and stuff but none of the “God loves you and thanks you for buying my album” carols. When we have kids, I want them to be “normal” but I want to make sure they know that the bible is a fairy-tale and Christmas is more of a get-together opportunity than a religious holiday.
And thanks for this post! I’ve always felt strange celebrating Christmas as an athiest. Its good to know i’m not the only one doing it.
HAVE A WONDERFUL WINTER SOLSTICE EVERYONE! (The real reason for all those other holidays)
May there be peace, love and cooperation for all humankind, free of dogma and tribalism.
