SoCal Suburbia

On Christmas and Christianity

I'm fairly undecided, religiously speaking. I like the idea of reincarnation, but aside from that, all I know is this- I'm not a Christian. I have some Christian values, certainly, but I do not believe in God as he is presented by believers in Christianity. It's certainly not a product of how I was raised; my family says grace every night. I am always uncomfortable when I'm asked to say grace. It feels like some sick version of lying, where it's hugely important- to my mother especially- and I can't tell the truth. All my relatives, both sides of the family, are devout Christians. My grandmother is Episcopalian; both of my aunts on my dad's side are Born-Again Christians, as are their immediate families.

I've simply never bought into it. If my cousins knew this, they'd consider me hellbent on going to hell. If my favorite aunt knew this, she would attempt to "save" me. Excuse me; does that mean I need saving? I have morals. I've never stolen anything; I've never pirated music; I've never cheated on a test and the only lying I do is about my religion.

Needless to say, I've never killed anyone. Anything.

Is it wrong, somehow, to celebrate Christmas and not be a Christian? Of course, I do not follow the religion of which it is a holy day; I merely appreciate that has, admittedly, been molded into what it is today by retailers and Hallmark.

Still, is this so terrible? After all, what fourteen-year-old girl with limited funds could despise two weeks off from school and free stuff from the people who know her best?

posted by Lucy @ 6:14 PM