David Shepherd » conspiracy http://daves.meintl.org Life at the Center Wed, 03 Nov 2010 23:28:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 2006-2007 dave@meintl.org (David Shepherd) dave@meintl.org (David Shepherd) http://daves.meintl.org/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg David Shepherd » conspiracy http://daves.meintl.org 144 144 Just another Ministry Essentials weblog David Shepherd David Shepherd dave@meintl.org no no Advent Conspiracy – from the eyes of an atheist http://daves.meintl.org/2009/12/19/advent-conspiracy-from-the-eyes-of-an-atheist/ http://daves.meintl.org/2009/12/19/advent-conspiracy-from-the-eyes-of-an-atheist/#comments Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:46:11 +0000 Dave http://daves.meintl.org/?p=372 AC_Wiseman_Logo_Thumb“I love this movement, the Advent Conspiracy movement. I’ve been trying to get my family to do this for the last two years, long before I heard about this. A few years ago, I told my family that i think we should refrain from buying gifts for each other on Christmas, and instead donate the money to charity. My family all thought it was a terrible idea, and even called me a Godless heathen. (In jest, mind you, but still I found it quite ironic).

For the record, I am a former Catholic who drifted comfortably into atheism some ten years ago, although I still celebrate Christmas out of family tradition. Over the years, I became more disgusted with the commercialization of Christmas and realized that it had become a Hallmark Card holiday, having little to do with the core values of Christianity and more to do with retail sales figures all wrapped up in marketable Pagan imagery.

The greatest thing about Christianity to a non-believer like myself is that, even after you strip away the more miraculous elements of the faith, you are left with a central figure in Jesus Christ, who preached love and forgiveness and charity and goodwill to his fellow man. At its best, Christianity is a religion about love and peace and I believe that message is all but lost among far too many of today’s Christians. Anyway, I just want to tell you I think you’re doing a great thing and I hope that more people follow this movement. I’m going to forward this video to everyone I know who celebrates Christmas (including Christians, Catholics, Protestants and even Godless heathens like myself, still bound to the holiday by tradition)”

Keep up the great work!
And Merry Christmas!

Want to know more?  Click here

NOTE:  More could be said about this person’s take on the core of Christianity at its best.  However, I think we would be fools not to listen to her cry for something more.  If our redemption does not free us to live at peace with all men and show the love of Christ, which compels us (and causes us to look more like Him in significant ways), then what is our Christianity really all about?

]]> http://daves.meintl.org/2009/12/19/advent-conspiracy-from-the-eyes-of-an-atheist/feed/ 0 0:00:01 "I love this movement, the Advent Conspiracy movement. I’ve been trying to get my family to do this for the last two years, long before ... "I love this movement, the Advent Conspiracy movement. I’ve been trying to get my family to do this for the last two years, long before I heard about this. A few years ago, I told my family that i think we should refrain from buying gifts for each other on Christmas, and instead donate the money to charity. My family all thought it was a terrible idea, and even called me a Godless heathen. (In jest, mind you, but still I found it quite ironic). For the record, I am a former Catholic who drifted comfortably into atheism some ten years ago, although I still celebrate Christmas out of family tradition. Over the years, I became more disgusted with the commercialization of Christmas and realized that it had become a Hallmark Card holiday, having little to do with the core values of Christianity and more to do with retail sales figures all wrapped up in marketable Pagan imagery. The greatest thing about Christianity to a non-believer like myself is that, even after you strip away the more miraculous elements of the faith, you are left with a central figure in Jesus Christ, who preached love and forgiveness and charity and goodwill to his fellow man. At its best, Christianity is a religion about love and peace and I believe that message is all but lost among far too many of today’s Christians. Anyway, I just want to tell you I think you’re doing a great thing and I hope that more people follow this movement. I’m going to forward this video to everyone I know who celebrates Christmas (including Christians, Catholics, Protestants and even Godless heathens like myself, still bound to the holiday by tradition)" Keep up the great work! And Merry Christmas! Want to know more?  Click here NOTE:  More could be said about this person's take on the core of Christianity at its best.  However, I think we would be fools not to listen to her cry for something more.  If our redemption does not free us to live at peace with all men and show the love of Christ, which compels us (and causes us to look more like Him in significant ways), then what is our Christianity really all about? musings dave@meintl.org no no