Via Isabel...
CNN.com is running a story about the very silly placard that an atheist group has on display beside a Nativity scene out in Washington State (surprises abound there, eh?).
The former-preacher turned religion debunker, Dan Barker, is quoted as saying: "It's not that we are trying to coerce anyone; in a way our sign is a signal of protest," Barker said. "If there can be a Nativity scene saying that we are all going to hell if we don't bow down to Jesus, we should be at the table to share our views."
I can only imagine what kind of homilies this guy gave as a preacher...
Maybe I'm just in a Miltonic state of mind, but I this description of Christmas seems to fit the definition of diabolic...and that's not hyperbole. It's like Satan is writing this guy's sound bites.
Who else but someone who is at least demonically oppressed would look at a Christmas scene and say that Jesus demands submission or will cast you into Hell?
First of all, theologically speaking, the point of the Nativity is that Christ is leading us away from Hell. It is a twisted perverse mind that thinks Christianity professes that Hell is the result of not celebrating Christmas.
Secondly, the other point of the Nativity seems to be how generous God is in not requiring us to bow down to Him in the manger. The shepherds wanted to adore him out of joy and (the slightly chronologically misplaced) magi have gone out of their way to pay him homage. God didn't demand the world bow down to the baby Jesus. If He was fixated on the bowing part, Christ would have come in all of his power and glory...not in utter humility.
Thirdly, and most Miltonically, why do atheists get so freaked out about bowing? It's exactly what freaks out Satan in Milton's poem...and I think it's telling that it's the atheists worst fear that there might be a higher being that deserves homage (even if that being doesn't compel it). Actually, it's the lack of compulsion that really ticks off Satan...and I bet it's what the atheist finds most insidious about Christianity.
The article concludes with Barker saying:
"When people ask us, 'Why are you hateful? Why are you putting up something critical of people's holidays? -- we respond that we kind of feel that the Christian message is the hate message," he said. "On that Nativity scene, there is this threat of internal violence if we don't submit to that master. Hate speech goes both ways."
You know, maybe he's on to something there. Wouldn't Nativity scenes be cooler if the angel Gabriel had a legion of fiery-sword wielding Seraphim behind him? Maybe we could start adding some Dantean devils with grappling hooks waiting just behind the stable lest any of the shepherds fail to genuflect on the right knee....Better yet, maybe the ox and the ass could transform into giant killer robots and lay waste to Nazareth if the magi don't show up in time...
Oh, wait...that's right...none of that would make any sense given that the scene depicts God's intimacy, mercy, and love for man despite his disobedience.
What's particularly telling is that Barker (in that quote) does not deny that his placard is hate speech. Look at me going nuts with the italics feature.
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