Some Wintertime thoughts I’ll share here instead of the newspaper.

Seizing the Star: Seasons of Spiritual Superiority?

Another Winter season wraps us in wonder, with a beautiful blend of sun and snow, sleeping bears and bare branches dripping with ornaments. The great wheel of the year turns to green and gray, scattering bright birds and berries. Also, a time to sigh for a season when we are bombarded with images ranging from Santas to Nativity scenes, and the perpetual “present” of the “Christmas Conflicts.” These occur all over, but I read that yet another uproar was brewing in Iowa. Unsurprisingly, a traditional Christmas display in the State Capitol gets center stage, but this season another group has nudged its way in, courtesy of The Satanic Temple. This secular group, that doesn’t believe in a literal devil, has been allowed to place their own seasonal message on Capitol grounds. After all, December isn’t owned by Christians, right? Hanukkah, Solstice, Kwanzaa and other celebrations are also enjoyed across the nation. Do they get a spot in a public place? In many locations they could, but how many wise people seek to display their messages of goodwill when Christmas seizes the star position? These endless and predictable “Christmas Wars” are old and wearisome, yet they should stir some spiced cider of creative thinking for a potentially greater joy in our local and national celebrations.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation places ads in newspapers to present a non-theistic message of reason and human rights. The Freethought Society in Philadelphia puts up a bright “Tree of Knowledge” covered in books to encourage reading and education. And, there’s The Satanic Temple with their goat-headed statue (for dramatic shock value) and display of their Seven Tenets, commitments to empathy, justice and common sense. Each of these organizations pushes the limits of religious freedom, yet that’s the point, the real issue, since who can set limits on true religious liberty or free expression of conscience?

Yet, I wonder why most Faith and Freethought communities leave the courageous stand for diversity and inclusion to atheist organizations. We see more Hanukkah menorahs kindled in public places, but I often ask myself: Where is the colorful diversity of the religious community? Where are freethinkers who could collaborate with the faithful to creatively present alternative symbols to balance the privileges and preferences enjoyed by exclusive sectarian holydays? There are posters that display symbols from many religions—including indigenous faiths—as well as humanist symbols. What if something was designed specifically to provide a balance to one dominant religion assuming the honored place at the head of the public table?

We all know that Christianity is given exceptional position. For a great many Christians, the Christmas story is “good news” because it carries an evangelistic message: “Jesus is the Reason for the Season,” but what about those who find other reasons? Perhaps we could turn this around: “The Season is the Reason for Jesus … and other religious teachers … and other traditions … and simply appreciating the wonder and beauty of the season itself.”
In other words, Nature is the reason we choose to celebrate something, whether a walk in a snowy forest or singing “Silent Night” in a candlelit sanctuary. Though Jesus was probably not born in December, he was born from a woman’s body in a very natural process. The supernatural twist on the story doesn’t change that fact. He still had to be breastfed and have his diapers changed. This is where freethinkers can help humanize the story, not to take away the beauty of the tale, but to shine some light on an ancient myth of light entering the world in dark times.

Does the Star of Bethlehem represent a bright spotlight on one person, one religion, one story? Is the message really about highlighting one small patch of earth as the center of focus and attention for the Creator of the Universe? Or was it simply a star shimmering in the Middle Eastern night, among myriads of stars and planets shining down on all earthly creatures? The dominant Christian tradition has passed down the birth of a baby to a poor family, born in a barn, laying in a cattle trough, as a gospel of power. The strange transformation of a humble boy into a god and his adult followers into a powerful institution, presents more than a problem for Christians. The impact is universal. A meaningful response will need to point to more natural stars in the greater human story of struggle and death, life and light.

Inter-religious celebrations that have secular people in the circle can bring much more meaning to the season without taking anything from Christmas or other holydays. One religious tradition may still try to assert a central role in the Great Play of Humanity, yet, we can do better, be better. We may discover a bit more peace on earth.

Chris Highland
2023