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So I'm in the midst of the Holiday Season, a lone unbeliever surrounded by an extended family and spouse that are devout churchy-type people who are very prone to spouting long, tearful, emotional ramblings of gratitude for Jesus this time of year.
I usually just button my lip and try to avoid rolling my eyes...but this year I've been reading a lot of Joseph Campbell and thinking deeply about the whole thing, especially considering the ramping-up of my ongoing battle over religion with my wife. So here's what I see:
Jesus is the ultimate "perfect" person in our particular culture... someone who is unconditionally loving, sees all people as equals, is strong, omnipotenly powerful and intelligent beyond anything a human could ever be, yet humble, merciful, understanding and clearly knows when to use and especially when to not use his power. He is also willing to suffer and stick it out to the bitter end, because it is the right thing to do for everyone.
Who wouldn't want someone like that to lead us?
Sadly, it would take millions more years of evolution before this particular species of ape could produce such a fine specimen. But the idea of Jesus, though I doubt he ever actually lived (especially not as the story goes, anyway), itself serves as a kind of cultural compass pointing us in the direction we want to eventually go as a society.
So instead of getting mad at the fallacious idea of Jesus the real man, I am gonna celebrate Jesus the Archetype this holiday season, and not get mad about it. This year there is a (spagetti-free ) nativity scene on my mantle, and for me it means hope for a future humanity that has grown up and lives up to the ideal our ancestors passed along to us.
Oh, absolutely. This person (archetype) is usually also a king or great leader, and sacrifices himself/dies so life can be renewed. In pagan times, the Oak King was seen to have been sacrificed in order to bring the new Sun King to life (i.e. the turning point from the longest night and shortest day of the year, to gradually lengthening days and shorter nights). Winter is death, summer is life.
Jesus for sure fits all of this and it is definitely a nice story, I feel, at least when taken in this context. Everybody loves a hero! So celebrate away. Your idea sounds just beautiful!
But the idea of Jesus, though I doubt he ever actually lived (especially not as the story goes, anyway), itself serves as a kind of cultural compass pointing us in the direction we want to eventually go as a society.
That is a very good way to put it. Most of us would not want to be exactly like Jesus, but we would like to be better people than we are now. Having some kind of role model is good for us.
I guess that is why many Christians wear the WWJD bracelets. I bet almost all of them are better people when they remember the bracelet they are wearing.
One of my bible-banger friends, who is an extremely nice person, gave me a golf ball marker with a cross and an inscription on it. I always carry it in my golf bag. Like him, I am trying to be a better person, even if I am not using any kind of religion to help me. Instead, I read Thoreau.
This year there is a (spagetti-free ) nativity scene on my mantle, and for me it means hope for a future humanity that has grown up and lives up to the ideal our ancestors passed along to us.
So I'm in the midst of the Holiday Season, a lone unbeliever surrounded by an extended family and spouse that are devout churchy-type people who are very prone to spouting long, tearful, emotional ramblings of gratitude for Jesus this time of year.
I usually just button my lip and try to avoid rolling my eyes...but this year I've been reading a lot of Joseph Campbell and thinking deeply about the whole thing, especially considering the ramping-up of my ongoing battle over religion with my wife. So here's what I see:
Jesus is the ultimate "perfect" person in our particular culture... someone who is unconditionally loving, sees all people as equals, is strong, omnipotenly powerful and intelligent beyond anything a human could ever be, yet humble, merciful, understanding and clearly knows when to use and especially when to not use his power. He is also willing to suffer and stick it out to the bitter end, because it is the right thing to do for everyone.
Who wouldn't want someone like that to lead us?
Sadly, it would take millions more years of evolution before this particular species of ape could produce such a fine specimen. But the idea of Jesus, though I doubt he ever actually lived (especially not as the story goes, anyway), itself serves as a kind of cultural compass pointing us in the direction we want to eventually go as a society.
So instead of getting mad at the fallacious idea of Jesus the real man, I am gonna celebrate Jesus the Archetype this holiday season, and not get mad about it. This year there is a (spagetti-free ) nativity scene on my mantle, and for me it means hope for a future humanity that has grown up and lives up to the ideal our ancestors passed along to us.
I LOVE this! I like Jesus, I just don't like most of his followers! I appreciate his teachings of love, acceptance, and tolerance. Jesus was a socialist hippie! I do not believe he was a deity, however. I appreciate your message of tolerance during this particular time of "War on Christmas". You have a very mature way of looking at things.
The message of peace on earth, goodwill to men is a difficult wish to object to ( unless you're in arms manufacturering or gung-ho career military or certain type of government leader/follower)
Oh,gee, that's a lot of the worlds population, isn't it?
Ah well, the rest of us can ask Santa for it.
That is a very good way to put it. Most of us would not want to be exactly like Jesus, but we would like to be better people than we are now. Having some kind of role model is good for us.
I guess that is why many Christians wear the WWJD bracelets. I bet almost all of them are better people when they remember the bracelet they are wearing.
One of my bible-banger friends, who is an extremely nice person, gave me a golf ball marker with a cross and an inscription on it. I always carry it in my golf bag. Like him, I am trying to be a better person, even if I am not using any kind of religion to help me. Instead, I read Thoreau.
Dang!!!!! Thoreau makes more sense. At least he dealt with real things.
The message of peace on earth, goodwill to men is a difficult wish to object to
Agreed, also much like the golden rule, which is more common sense than theology. Sadly for many it is only lip service.
That said, one must also realize that here in the buy-bull belt, there is always an asterisk (*) and footnote when the fundi, ET'ers and primitive religion believers say that, as for them it only applies to those that have drunk the kool-aid and been assimilated into the mindless acceptance of their narrow and sometimes twisted views.
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) nativity scene on my mantle, and for me it means hope for a future humanity that has grown up and lives up to the ideal our ancestors passed along to us. 
