Opinion> Bill Oreilly> Have Yourself A Godless Little Christmas

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Have Yourself a Godless Little Christmas

Once again we are in the Christmas season, and the coal-in-your-stocking crowd is back at it. This year the American Humanist Association is putting up bus ads in selected cities that say: "No God? No Problem! Be Good for Goodness' Sake." The picture accompanying the text shows a group of young people wearing Santa hats. Ho, ho, ho.

The virulently anti-God group "Freedom from Religion" has launched a second front. It is celebrating Christmas in Las Vegas with ads that say: "Yes, Virginia, there is no God."

Nice.

The question is: Why bother? Why spend money at Christmastime to spread dubious will among men?

The reason, I believe, is that atheists are jealous of the Yuletide season. While Christians have Jesus and Jews have the prophets, nonbelievers have Bill Maher. There are no Christmas carols for atheists, no pagan displays of largesse like Santa Claus. In fact, for the nonbeliever, Christmas is just a day off, a time to consider that Mardi Gras is fewer than two months away.

But there is a serious side to this, and the American "Humanists" should listen up. Christmas is a joyous time for children, the big upside of celebrating the birth of Jesus. Why, then, do people who want to "be good" spend money denigrating a beautiful day? Could it be that the humanists are not really interested in good at all?

The head Humanist, Roy Speckhardt, says the anti-God signs are worthy because they send a message that atheists shouldn't be vilified as immoral.

Well, old Roy needs to wise up. The signs actually create resentment and hostility toward atheists. Here's a bulletin: Many parents don't want their children to see bus signs proclaiming that God is a big hoax. That message may be constitutionally protected, but it is not going to engender much good will among believers.

Of course, Speckhardt knows that and is being disingenuous with the "just looking out for atheists" posture. What many nonbelievers enjoy doing is mocking those who embrace theology. I guess that makes some atheists feel better, because there is no other reason to run down Christmas. It is a happy day for most human beings.

The latest Rasmussen poll on the season says that 72 percent of Americans like saying "Merry Christmas," while just 22 percent prefer the greeting "Happy Holidays." So the evidence suggests that despite the ACLU, atheist groups and a politically correct media, Christmas is actually gaining in relevance and, perhaps, reverence.

Most folks know a good thing when they see it, and the converse is true, as well. They know these anti-God signs at Christmastime are dumb and unnecessary. Isn't that right, Virginia?

Veteran TV news anchor Bill O'Reilly is host of the Fox News show "The O'Reilly Factor" and author of the book "Who's Looking Out For You?" To find out more about Bill O'Reilly, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com. This column originates on the Web site www.billoreilly.com.

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM

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How can you list O'Reilly under general opinion when you have a conservative option? Don't be unfair and unbalanced like Fox.

Comment: #1
Posted by: Mark
Sun Dec 6, 2009 10:43 AM

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What Bill O'Reilly doesn't understand is that Atheists are not bitter about the holiday season, we love it! The difference between Christians and Atheists or Agnostics is that the latter celebrates the holiday for family, friends, and humanity. It's a time to give and make others feel wonderful again in a time of need. We don't need Jesus to do that. We've realized that we're in control of our own lives and our own destinies and we don't take life for granted, so we are willing to help others for no reward. The Christmas season is a just time when that opportunity is more accessible to everyone.

Mr. O'Reilly claims that 72 percent of people say Merry Christmas, while 22 percent say Happy Holidays, but he fails to give a potential reason for this separation. In my opinion, less people say Happy Holidays because Merry Christmas is the defacto greeting. We might say happy holidays to an Indian or other nationality where Christmas isn't celebrated, but we would avoid saying Merry Christmas where it might offend someone. We will also reply with Merry Christmas if someone says that to us because it identifies their beliefs. We believe in mutual respect for others as long as that other person doesn't push their belief on us. This is why you never hear about Atheists and Buddhists at arms - Buddhists don't pressure people like Christians do.

It's not a matter of Atheists promoting some sort of propaganda during Christmas time. Atheists have had ads, buses and billboards running throughout the year in several different cities. Mr. O'Reilly has just decided to make an argument now without realizing that. We don't want to change people's minds either, there's no churches or door-to-door bible salesmen for Atheists, all we want people to do is fully understand the world using scientific reason and not just accept someone's word because it's written in some book. There's plenty of proof for scientific writings and evolution (not abiogenesis, which is still a hypothesis) but there's absolutely no proof for the existence of God. When you think of the Theory of Evolution think of it like the Theory of Gravity - they're both accepted as fact.

Comment: #2
Posted by: Allan
Sun Dec 6, 2009 6:26 PM

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I spent my life in the study of mathematics and science, as did the majority of my friends. Few believe in fairy tales in such company but that did not prevent us from exchanging Christmas cards. Only one found this objectionable and he was not an atheist but a religious Jew. I agree with Bill O'Reilly that running antireligious commercials at this time is stupid.
What most Christians don't know about Christmas is that for three centuries after the birth of Christ only pagans had celebrations shortly after the winter solstice. Only around the year 400 did Christians decide that if you can't beat them, join them and they started to celebrate the birth of Christ at that time of the year.

I DON'T WANT TO POST THIS COMMENT TWICE BUT YOUR WEB SITE GIVES NO INDICATION OF WHETHER ONE IS SIGNED IN AND WHETHER THE COMMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

Comment: #3
Posted by: Peter Ungar
Tue Dec 8, 2009 8:32 AM

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I can guarantee that over 90% of so called "christians" don't even know the true origins of their own religion.

Just about everyone celebrates Xmas in one way or another, and in this day and age, it has very little to do with religion and the BS surrounding it. It's about capitalism and tradition.

I used to watch Bill O because he was loud and obnoxious, now he's just another loudmouth hypocritical idiot.

Comment: #4
Posted by: Vincent
Thu Dec 10, 2009 1:04 PM

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