ANOTHER QUESTION FOR JESSICA AHLQUIST

I pose yet another question for Jessica Ahlquist, the teen atheist who, unfortunately, yet successfully (with the help of the so-called Freedom from Religion Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Deprivation Union) had a half-century-old prayer banner removed from Cranston High School West:

Since you do not believe in God, do you believe in Christmas?  I don't mean the secular sense, like Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty, and pals.  I mean the true meaning, you know, the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that Godhead you denounce by being an atheist?

Do you still get presents under the tree?  The Christmas tree, that is?  Or do you have one of those "holiday trees" like Governor Gump (Lincoln Chafee) has in the State House?  Is there a holiday for atheists in December?  After all, we celebrate Christmas (read: the birth of Jesus Christ).  Our Jewish friends (yes, I did say "Jewish friends", I have absolutely nothing against Jews, I am not an anti-semite) celebrate Hanukkah.  Even the Muslims (once known as Moslems, at least back in my youth) have Ramadan.

If you're opening packages from under a tree, you are (de facto) celebrating Christmas, aren't you?  You are, whether you know it or not, celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  He can be your Savior, too, you know.  He's a very forgiving man (provided, of course, that you reform yourself in a manner prescribed by Christ himself, perhaps denounce your atheist ways).  This is not an ultimatum.  Your friendly neighborhood iSNARK! is just trying to get you to see some light, something that is lacking for those who have no belief.

If you're opening packages from under a tree while still practicing atheism, you have some generous family and or friends.  Or perhaps Christmas to you is just that "holiday" that the retailers keep talking about on TV, encouraging the viewer to do buy their "holiday gifts" at their store (or one of their umpteen hundred stores).

Something to think about.  I will take the liberty anyways to wish you a Merry Christmas (true meaning, that is).  If you convert to Judaism (and I do have Jews as personal friends), then Happy Hanukkah.  However, if you insist on being the non-believer that you are, then TRY to have a nice day.  That may be hard to do without a Savior in your life.  We Christians don't always have nice days, but at least our Savior is there to back us up and bring us back in the right direction.  Direction is something we all need at some point in time, lest we be a spoiled, obnoxious, arrogant being.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum (The peace of the Lord be with you always)
BMP