Simon is obviously not very smart.

Because the "religion" and the "creator-god" that he and Public Christianity subscribes to and promotes is just an extension of mommy and daddy, as these two references point out.

1.http://www.aboutadidam.org/readings/parental_deity/index.html

2. http://www.adidam.org/teaching/aletheon/truth-religion.aspx
'

Plus the "religious" stories about the mythological "Jesus" may or may not provide some rudimentary "religious" teaching for children but it provides no real resources for living a truly adult life in a world in which suffering is sooner or later guaranteed, and in which death is inevitable.

This reference tells us how the author of the above references really Understood the meaning and significance of death. And how He thereby became supremely qualified to Teach others about Life altogether.

1. http://www.easydeathbook.com/adi-da.asp

This book for children of all ages provides guidance as to how to live a Spiritual Way of Life for children of all it ages. It also provides exercises whereby children can, at least for the moment, transcend their fear of death.

1. http://www.dabase.org/happytxt.htm

Plus speaking of the Bodhi Tree, this reference points out that Spiritual Life begins with a right understanding of the "tree of life"--that is the spinal column and the central nervous system which enlivens it.

1. http://www.fearnomorezoo.org/trees/tree_fundamental.php

Also re the Garden of Indestructible Light in which the tree of man appears and potentially grows.

1. http://www.dabase.org/tfrbkgil.htm

All of which means that the "religion" that Simon promotes actually binds people to a dreadfully dark mortal meat-body "vision" of how things seem to be, and ACTIVELY PREVENTS them from growing into a truly Spiritual way of life.

What in the Charles Dicken's is Ho Hum on about? A particularly finely written article, timely and compassionate. One of the problems of writer putting his or her profession or where they work, is that it provides a minority with the opportunity to go right off message.

Good on you Simon.

As most religious apologists have found, this kind of 'interpretation' can be made to work for just about anything:

"It seems a great irony that the message of Harry Potter might in fact be a bridge between these two groups. For those who believe it, the Potter narrative celebrating the incarnation of Magic in the person of Harry is a stunning drama where Magic enters into the human predicament in physical form, condescending to take a place alongside created beings. The baby born into poverty and anonymity as the connection between Magic and us, remains at the heart of the Potter message, even when so many have forgotten or discarded it. It is a story that ultimately celebrates and penetrates the human desire for Magic that was so evident at the Harry Potter Convention in Melbourne.

"And the incarnation represents a boy who embraces magic in the most profound manner imaginable. It’s an account that affirms the physicality of our lives; that says magic is good, and so is colour and texture, beauty and food; surfing and schoolwork, friendship and family - that is, what was being celebrated with such relish at the Melbourne Convention. It’s a story that still has the potential to unite the hopes, fears, tears and cheers of both of the apparently distinct and disconnected groups I encountered."

""It seems a great irony that the message of Lord of the Rings might in fact be a bridge between these two groups..."

Just fill in the gaps and repeat as necessary. It's meaningless fluff -- the equivalent of verbal Muzak.

Ahhh, that stand back inference about an imaginary man called God, as if he is real & needs to be discussed as a real part of history so we can support the religious/political principals of that discussion. Too bad he is not true & to discuss it as if he was, is nothing more than childish dribble & I give you this link to help you realize that there is more to the political aspect of the lies you inherit.
http://www.sexparty.org.au/index.php/news/feature-stories/526-the-influence-of-the-religious-right
For those that wish this Atheist a Merry Christmas, I reply, don't insult your own intelligence because some of us are more grown up & adult than others.
Oh & Posted by Cheryl, Thursday, 24 December 2009 11:39:08 AM, maybe now you can understand some of "what in the Charles Dickens" Ho Hum is on about.

Sadly NGOs engaged in charitable work IS the problem with mainstream Christianity today.

The separation of church and state has been blurred to the point where all major christian churches are dependent on government handouts for their private schools, charitable NGOs, etc. When things go wrong, the government is at arms length, instead of a public servant from a department being responsible. As such the churches are no longer in the business of confronting evil, cannot speak out against the anti family, pro child abuse policies of all modern western democracies, for fear of having their funding cut. Government and religion itself has become antisocial, unaustralian, blaming ordinary citizens for all of the policy outcomes they have so ruthlessly pursued and inflicted on us.

In a perfect world, i would be entering a seminary next year to start a degree in christian theology, but i doubt i will be able to find a church that has not been completely corrupted by the almighty dollar.

Happy crass mess everybody and hopefully a happier & more prosperous new year. Hopefully "Big Brother" will not censor the Internet & we can all continue to bear witness against stone, cold, evil, devil worshipers, like green/red/labour/coalition politicians.

Formersnag,

What you are actually saying is that the government & the Churches are both working together & that's basically what I already said. In case you didn't get the main point of my comment, it was that Kevin Rudd has supported them to concentrate their infliction of beliefs at not only the primary & secondary levels but now at the preschool level, with the take over of ABC learning center's. Church & State's not a matter of being blurred but blatant, even if it is un-Australian.

Was that also an attempt to wish a Merry Christ-myth?

Ho Hum and other aggressive atheists demonstrate again, in 2009, the point that John's gospel made nearly 2000 years ago. Of Jesus, John wrote (1:4-5):

"In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. "

Pointing to the sins of (men who made up and used) the church over history in no way vitiates what Christ actually taught. It merely underscores the natural tendency of man to pursue the line of least resistance - evil.

As for "Christ-myth", Atheistno1could consider what that good atheist George Bernard Shaw said in his preface to Androcles and the Lion:

“If it could be proved today that not one of the miracles of Jesus actually occurred, that proof would not invalidate a single one of his didactic utterances; and conversely, if it could be proved that not only did the miracles actually occur, but that he had wrought a thousand other miracles a thousand times more wonderful, not a jot of weight would be added to his doctrine.”

The world in general is full of dysfunctionality. No institution, no political movement, no religious movement, is free of the tendency in human nature to evil. Evil exists because we have free will. When we go along with Nietzsche's line that "God is dead", we are confronted by the truth recognized by Ivan in Dostoyevsky's Karamazov Brothers: "If God doesn't exist, then everything is permitted."

The limitless freedom here is the freedom of the person alone in a bog of quicksand.

If you decide just to "make it up", you might possibly arrive at utilitarian humanism, or perhaps at Nietzsche's 'Will to Power' (ie fascism), or the catastrophic bondage of Marxism, or the selfishness of Ayn Rand's Objectivism, or the endless wandering in the wilderness represented by New Age. The end of the Enlightenment project, and Postmodernism, have left the West, including Australia, in a vacuum of spiritual values.

So many people worry: How are we to live?

Speaking of the false prophets to come after him, Jesus said "By their fruit you will know them".

Following Christ yields the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22)

And Paul writes also: "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

What beef do all you atheists have with this?

The world will cease to suffer from evil and personal and social rootlessness when we surrender our human will to follow Christ. As he said to Pilate. "For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18)

Thank you for a winsome and thoughtful article, Simon.

How may times have we had to listen to the same repetitive detractors in the comments on these forums. A tiresome lot who claim to believe in tolerance and understanding, sometimes 'Reason' and sometimes a superior 'mysticism' - I can barely stifle a yawn...

I think they may be the ones with real issues with "mummy and daddy" and have yet to grow up and conduct themselves as adults in public

Christmas was the name given at a time of Christianity to a time of year that had traditional fesitivals unrelated to the birth of anyone. Yuletide, Winter Solstice, Sun Worship etc.

Now we move into globalisation and immigration I think over time we will see again a new tradition that combines the many different festivities.

Birmingham in the UK recongised this perhaps ahead of it's time with the introduction of Winterval some 10 years ago that was short lived. However makes sense that we will see the gradual change to inclusive holidays. Starting from Diwali,Halloween, Hannakah, Christmas, New year a united theme will emerge one day.

So I would ask a child to write a new story that combines all the good messages that comes from traditions that would be appropiate today. I would ask they incorporate the stories of the Rainbow Serpent and the Dreamtime.

So I would not focus too much on the story that is only highly relevant to a few but encourage our children to write their own traditions that resonate today.

Atheistno1, i am an agnostic christian of sorts. Preferring to have faith, that there is a "higher power", out there somewhere & i may as well refer to it, as "god".

Have never witnessed a "burning bush", but i have however seen stone, cold, evil, up close & personal, operating on a level that is too systematic or widespread, to be, merely coincidental greed. Following good old fashioned male, linear, logical, thought processes tells me that if evil & devil worshipers exist, then the forces of "good" also exist & i pledge myself to them (i gave my laptop the name "child protector" as the labour & green parties, together with their governments are totally corrupt morally, financially, etc, dedicated utterly to the destruction of families/abuse of children).

Sometimes i wonder that the "Fe-man" Nazi's may be correct in there assertion that "god", is in fact a female deity. Who else but a woman, would give, other women such a daggy deal, then say, "he did it"?

You, Ho Hum, other humanist, atheists may indeed be correct & i "defend to the death" your right to believe & speak your beliefs. George Lucas may also be correct, so "may the force be with you", but "beware the dark side" & their followers in the green/red, labour, femanazi, coalition, they are everywhere in politics, bureaucracy, journalism, they WANT, your wives & daughters.

Formersnag, it's obvious we have the same opinion's about the Governments corrupt means of control & to put it blatantly, they are anti-patriotic traitors. A patriotic government stands up for the right's of it's citizens & does not look for means to stifle the laws, remove a persons history & hold them hostage as a political prisoner. However, you are either religious or you are not & you are religious by your own admission & that is obvious. Don't pretend to be something your not because that just makes you a hypocrite & more so, a Jesuit.

There is no such thing as God or the devil. Angels & demons are a part of that figment of the imagination that is based on mental illness. Those little voices in ones head telling them things that really are not there & are not true. Feminazi's & their religious supporters with that mental illness have a lot to answer for & feminazi's mental illness is just a cowardly greed based fetish without any consideration for others but themselves.

Atheistno1, Touche mon ami, but please do not refer to me as religious. i consider myself to be a christian & that is quite different to "being religious". My "fear & loathing" of what i call "organised Religion" & equate with "organised crime", would no doubt match your own hatred & mistrust of these criminal thugs.

Your quite correct about the link with mental illness though, but are we talking about, the merely demented, or criminally, insane, sociopsychopaths?

The most corrupt organisation the world has ever known would have to be the unholy roman catholic church. Close second, the anglican church having been started by a crazed, syphilitic, despot, looking for "legal" excuses to be rid of bothersome wives. Close third of course would have to be the green/red ALP coalition. Google "heineraffair.info", see what you find & whether it confirms your opinion of krud, swan, etc.

As for the fe-man nazi's & my concept of good versus evil? i come back to logic. Medical science has gone ahead considerably over the last few decades. Psychology, psychiatry & neuro surgeons have discovered much about the brain. Is it scientifically possible for anybody to be that stupid or greedy? The femanists have been at it for 4 decades now, without apology to anybody for anything. Are they remorseless, recalcitrant, recidivist, criminals or, were the male chauvinist pigs correct all along & women really are a morally, weaker, dumber sex?

If you are in Brisbane and would like a verbal joust over hot coffee or cold beer anytime, let me know. I have often considered that what we need is not another new political party but an apolitical, concerned citizens lobby group. What do you think? Maybe antiseptic and some of the other "crusty demons" would be interested?

BTW, Maccas filter is probably a crude denial of rude words like sex.

Formersnag, Point taken & respect given.

I'm chatting with my mate at the same time I'm writing this & he is an agnostic but he is totally against the very same things as you & I. So sometimes I might sound abrupt but in fact I'm sincere.

If you want to find me other than here, go to http://www.facebook.com/Atheistno1?v=feed&story_fbid=227851101630#/home.php?ref=home

Regards, Matt.

Formersnag and athiestno1, if I can butt into this mutual admiration society the two of you have formed, how you manage to live in this world of conniving religious females is beyond me!

To listen to you two, one would be forgiven for believing that women are the one and only evil in this world, and are the reasons for all male problems?

Makes me feel kind of powerful really.

Suzeonline, the lesbian, feman-nazi, paedophiles don't, just abuse innocent men, they also abuse innocent women, (who would like to be real women living a normal life) & CHILDREN as well. They even abuse themselves without realising it & somehow "denialise" themselves, into thinking all their own self created misery, is still some blokes fault.

Women have the power, they have today, because men gave it to them, voluntarily. We can take it back again, just as easily, if women continue proving their incompetence at taking responsibility, when wielding that power. When the evil, feman-nazi, paedophiles sought access to men's superannuation in property settlements, some years ago, they did so by producing vast amounts of scientific data, to prove that most women are incapable of managing money, assets, etc & that's why they needed more of it.

Do you remember that old 60's folk song with the chorus line "united we stand, divided we fall & if our backs should ever be against the wall, we'll be together, together, you & i". What do you think femanism & the "battle of the sexes" is all about? If the "revolting peasants" (that's the "you & i" part) are busy hating & mistrusting each other, then the revolution is hardly likely to succeed is it? The whole thing was about the rich getting richer & the poor getting poorer.

BTW, its way out of date, have not used it for ages, as i have many names & numbers in my mobile & keep meeting new ladies everyday, but go to "rsvp.com.au", type "formersnag" into the "individual name search" box, check out my old dating profile page & see what you are missing out on.

Formersnag, are you for real?
I reckon you must be having us all on!

I have never heard of feminist paedophiles. In fact it is very rare for women to have sex with children. I guess you must run with a different crowd to me.

I think I will pass on checking out your rsvp.com page thanks.

Suzeonline, sorry for the delay in getting back to you, have been having fun with connectivity.

No i am not having you on. Women having sex with younger men & boys has always been around. Has been getting far more common over the last few decades. But it has been deliberately under investigated by child protection services in all states & territories as the responsible staff in management are nearly all female. They have a vested interest in protecting other women. Only a tiny number of the most egregious cases ever see the light of day. Besides, what red blooded teenage boy is going to complain about getting his rocks off?

Openly gay men don't touch under age boys but many lesbian/bi women do encourage girls to "see the light". I personally have witnessed this in Brisbane involving a young woman with intellectual disability & yes there was an active cover up, involving several govt departments & NGOs. Also tracked down some old catholic male friends & at 1 boarding school, 2 nuns would line all the boys up in the showers at night, the first one would move down the line digitally stimulating them until achieving erection, whereupon the second nun would hit it with a cane. Needless to say that this man became impotent.