Examiner.com asked that all religion writers focus on the “War on Christmas” during this month. I’m committed to three articles. One article appears today titled “Let’s Face It People Love War”. It’s about how as humans we seem to crave this need for conflict. I think that’s what’s at the heart of this ‘War on Christmas” between those who celebrate Christmas and those don’t. Two more articles will appear next week to complete my assignment. One is titled “The War on Christmas: Much Ado About Nothing” and the other is “The War on Christmas: Lessons from Dr. Seuss”.
I came across this quote when working on an exercise for a class I am taking. While it was written in 1862, the quote applies very much to today. No matter if it’s a newspaper article, newscast, radiocast, podcast or blog, there is an agenda being broadcast at you. When matters of the press are concerned, there is no true “fair and balanced” representation in the media today. So don’t be fooled. Whether from right or left wing, there is a slant to all publications, broadcasts and even in art like movies and music. Some may be ever so slight – but it’s still there.
When it comes to your major media outlets, there’s a definite agenda being pushed from those puppet masters at the top controlling the strings. Whether its Rubert Murdoch’s Fox News or the influence of liberal billionaire George Soros, money has influence and those with it wield it to get their personal agendas across. So reader, viewer, listener beware.
The influence of money in the press and politics was never so clearly displayed then in the 1939 Jimmy Stewart movie “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”. In the film, wealthy Jim Taylor (played by Edward Arnold) uses his influence in the press and with politicians, like corrupt Senator Paine (played by Claude Rains), to crush the wide-eyed freshmen Senator Jefferson Smith (played by Stewart). In the film, Jean Arthur inspires Stewart to fight on with “All the good that ever came to this world were because of fools with faith (in their cause).”
In this scene, Jim Taylor has sent thousands of phony letters to the Senate urging Smith to stop. Smith was holding a filibuster on the Senate floor until word from his constituents arrived. If you want to know how it turns out. Go & rent it!
Yesterday, this article was published on Examiner.com and some other sites that support my column. Whenever you discuss solo scriptura there is bound to be controversy. The basic principle of solo scriptura (or by scripture alone) has been the Protestant charge against the Catholic faith. Yet, Protestants including Martin Luther continued to celebrate Christmas on December 25th – a date picked by the early Roman Catholic Church which “married” it to the pagan “Feast of the Unconquered Sun” in ancient Rome. I describe it as married because its united two things together that are separate but equal. This concept of “marriage” is played out in the article. Click here to read the article about Christmas & Solo Scriptura
Whether Christian or Muslim, Hindu or Athiests, you have plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving as an American.
On friendlyatheist.com, the author references a quote by a fellow atheist about what he was thankful for this Thanksgiving. The respondent is quoted as saying, “I give thanks to the turkey that gave its life, the plants on our table, to the Earth itself for being abundant,” in his quote in the Salt Lake Tribune. Whether you believe a creator created those things may not matter during this very American holiday. While the Puritan pilgrims, who celebrated the first feast that we honor with this day of thanks, did it for religious reasons, there really is not too much religion left in a day focused on stuffing oneself full, watching football and shopping.
I used to love on television mini-series when they would say “And now the stunning conclusion of…” to promote the last of a series.
I’d like to think this last portion of the interview and series is the best. Of course, it’s where you’ll find the bulk of my commentary.
From here, you’re likely to see my article sweep through atheism for a while. Like I’ve said before I tend to run article in series (with articles on gay rights, Muslim rights, immigrant rights). Right now, I’m focused on atheism, agnosticism and skepticism. I wrote an article (scroll down) focused on skepticism earlier this month. This series on “Youth & Religion” featured an atheist and I’m looking for opportunities with Thanksgiving next week to feature a story on who are atheists thankful to – themselves? I will also be part of Examiner.com’s forthcoming series “War on Christmas”. Until then…click the link below to read the finale to the “Youth & Religion” series and interview. Thanks for reading.
It actually may surprise you how much the two have in common. At least the two Millennials I interviewed for Part 2 in my series. Atheism is the fastest growing religion in the U.S. and Catholicism is the fastest declining. I thought it’d be interesting to the get the perspective from two members of the Millennial generation. It’s actually a pretty informative interview. In fact, there’s so much content (6 pages) that the second half of the interview won’t be posted until tomorrow.
Examiner.com asked that all religion writers focus on the “War on Christmas” during this month. I’m committed to three articles. One article appears today titled “Let’s Face It People Love War”. It’s about how as humans we seem to crave this need for conflict. I think that’s what’s at the heart of this ‘War on Christmas” between those who celebrate Christmas and those don’t. Two more articles will appear next week to complete my assignment. One is titled “The War on Christmas: Much Ado About Nothing” and the other is “The War on Christmas: Lessons from Dr. Seuss”. 
B. K. Bergman 