On Jesus and the Reason for the Season
I often use the expression "Happy Holidays" because I do not know what holiday everyone celebrates. Ed Cone does make an interesting point about the term, calling it less than adequate (saw this in the News & Record, cannot seem to find the link). This may be true, so perhaps I should re-examine my use of language. However, saying "Merry Christmas" seems hardly inclusive, and makes an assumption that everyone is Christian, which they may not be. So I am conflicted on what to say at the moment. I am not a fan of organized religion, as church does not really thrill me in the least. Neither does it seem logical to worship a man who died a long time ago.
In Western Civilization I class, I learned how corrupt the Church can be, how political it was at the time of Martin Luther, and how many rules on behavior and rituals the Church forced on the lay person which were far removed from Jesus' one message, "Love One Another". Not that my esteemed professor Jeff Kinard was dumping on religion, but in all honesty human nature has a way of corrupting something very simple. It is very shameful how the Christian Crusaders slaughtered, raped, and stole from Christian brothers and Moslems. All in the name of "God's Will". Does this sound familiar?
I am also bothered as of late all the What Would Jesus Drive? propaganda that has appeared lately in big mass-media newspapers. Jesus was poor, so he definitely could not afford a new fuel-efficient battery operated car, nor would he drive an ugly SUV. The trade-off for fuel efficiency in a car seems to be cushion to protect the driver in an automobile accident.
I hate SUVs, because they hog the road and the drivers who seem to want to show off their money by wasting it on a fad are often inconsiderate drivers. But I feel they should drive what they want to, no use in me using the government gun to force them to drive a tiny car they may get squashed in. After all, Jesus was not a fan of using force to achieve one’s agenda. I am rather fond of the Golden Rule: “Do onto others as you would have them do unto you”. Telling someone else what they should drive is a good use of free speech which I can agree with, but let’s stop there and not use legislation.
Jesus would probably drive an older model truck, with plenty of room for his carpentry. Who knows if it would have been up to environmental code, Jesus would be astonished at how much we pay to our Cesar instead of for our families and to the church.
It is astonishing how letters to the editor often appear around Halloween naming it a “pagan holiday” while these same people seem to have forgotten the pagan roots of the Christmas holiday.
11:28:49 AM 
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