a sixth sense cannot make up for a complete lack of common sense
the resident
-best known as May Ching-
-09/01/1990-
-19 years 1.2 months-
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Sunday, November 25, 2007, 5:58 pm
Christmas is here again.Technically, it's still November, so don't break out the fairy lights just yet. *smirks* Then why blog about Christmas?
I blog about Christmas because this insanely early article is to go with the insanely early Christmas carols already blaring through some stores.
Yesterday, I was about to enter the Watson's outlet at Westmall when something about the place alerted me. Maybe it was the prominently placed, leering Rudolph stuffed toys or the jolly Santas.
As a fortunate few know, I loathe the horrible celebration of commercialism that Christmas has become. It's not so much a celebration of the birth of Christ as a celebration of the birth of an excuse to spend money.
Anyway, it would have been a lot more tolerable if the carolling started at least in the month of December. Then I'd have ample time to prepare for the yearly assault of cheesy tunes about a red-nosed reindeer and his adventures as well as the decorations.
I love Christmas, actually. It's a seasonal thing that you hate initially but you eventually grow to get be fond of it. The snowmen, trees, snowflakes, presents... it's practically a whole frigging culture that's sprung up around a simple religious holiday!
It's always the music that gets to me first. Initially, ooh yes, it was charming, the warbling about snow and sleigh bells and Christmas trees, when you are about 5 years old and gormless. Not so when you're a teenager, listening to infinitely preferable music such as produced by the likes of Yellowcard and My Chemical Romance. Real music by real bands with expertly applied Goth eye makeup, not recycled tunes sung again and again in different voices.
Anyway, I endured what was supposed to be a pleasant shopping trip with evergreen favourites like 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!' and 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer' crooned by a male voice this time. At least he didn't attempt to put his own personal touch on it, I've heard a truly God-awful rap version combined with a children's choir of (I kid you not!) 'Turkey In The Straw'. (!)
Later at night, the News at 9 featured series of very interesting video clips regarding the mad rush of Americans into department stores to start their Christmas shopping. Apparently, according to the newscaster, it's a yearly phenomenon that the week after Thanksgiving is the unofficial start of Christmas shopping. The camera panned out to reveal hordes of bargain-minded people, fighting to get into the store and being shepherded into queues for the escalators by burly security guards. And all this madness, observed the newscaster dryly, was despite the gloomy economic forecast projected for America. Then again, that came up against the report that Apple was offering discounts on their Macbooks, iPods and iMacs, coupled with a happy pair walking away, arms full of Apple merchandise. It was no contest which had the most impact.
It's a fact that most elements of Christianity is borrowed from other religions, most notably, sun worship. Things like Sunday being the Sabbath, saints being depicted with halos, the general idea of God (all lifted from The Da Vinci Code, I freely admit) It's just a way of making a radical new religion more acceptable to the community. Consumerism has done exactly that, stealing the religion from Christmas and turning it into a festival of money. I mean, Coca-Cola was responsible for making Santa's suit red.
Here's to Christmas, 'tis the season to be jolly.
Labels: Christianity, christmas, shopping
Sunday, November 18, 2007, 4:14 pm
Another day, another post.A wise man once said: "Two things that you should never discuss with your friends are politics and religion."
How I agree.
For those who don't know, I am a/an atheist/nihilist/skeptic/pagan/free thinker/vampire. Take your pick. Basically, I belong to neither of the main religions today like Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam.
In spite of this, I have read (most of) the Bible and assorted literature explaining the beliefs of each major religion. It is because of this I suspect I am terribly jaded. Well, actually I prefer to hold fast to the tenets laid down by science because they are proven and give a logical explanation for pretty much everything that happens in the world.
Two weeks ago, my aunt asked me to consider keeping some sort of faith, she having recently converted to Christianity.
"No need," I replied. "There's already a place in Hell with my name on it, provided it exists anyway."
Ah, the strength of my beliefs. Thankfully, my aunt thought it very funny and let the matter go.
I bought The Economist last week, the issue with a special report on religion. Apparently, religion, after having being purged from politics since the early 19th century, is making a comeback. Even as worldwide religious fervour rises, the number of youth skeptics rises as well.
I prefer to keep an open mind. Ghosts? Probably exist. No conclusive evidence, since some phenomena can be explained by science and some can't. Mysterious vanishings? Again, same thing, except there is a distinct lack of proven fakes.
It seems that a lot of people in JJ are religious. At least, the people around me are. I have a few devoutly Christian friends who fast and say grace, a rare sight in today's world of young unbelievers. As I wrote above, I never talk religion nor politics with them, though we are not above JJ politics. *smiles*
Thankfully, none are self-righteous people like my cousin, who at the tender age of 9, urged me to open my heart and let Jesus in. It wasn't her fault, though, my uncle's family is very religious. But that's what irks me: people, particularly Christians, who nobly try and save my soul from Hell, who strives to open the Kingdom of Heaven to me. Thanks guys, but Satan is expecting me.
As for politics, it's no issue since most of us are highly educated and opiniated and have the same ideas of the government.
And that is my two cents on religion and politics.
Labels: Christianity, politics, religion