The Atheist Christmas Carol

[rug]

It's the season of grace coming out of the void
Where a man is saved by a voice in the distance
It's the season of possible miracle cures
Where hope is currency and death is not the last unknown
Where time begins to fade
And age is welcome home

It's the season of eyes meeting over the noise
And holding fast with sharp realization
It's the season of cold making warmth a divine intervention
You are safe here you know now

Don't forget
Don't forget I love
I love
I love you

It's the season of scars and of wounds in the heart
Of feeling the full weight of our burdens
It's the season of bowing our heads in the wind
And knowing we are not alone in fear
Not alone in the dark

Vienna Teng

[Yorktown]

1. An atheist 'Christmas' is a contradiction in terms.

Anyway, the good old winter solstice celebration with its bonfires must have been pretty jolly.

Unencumbered as it were by some crackpot Middle East legends.

(St Nick was recycled Norse legends: Santa may have absorbed elements of the god Odin, who was associated with the Germanic pagan midwinter event of Yule and led the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky {wiki})

Happy winter solstice, rug.

[Sherman A1]

2. Wonderful

Thanks for posting.

[beam me up scottie]

3. Bleh. More like a theist's wet dream of what an atheist Xmas carol should be.

I prefer Tim:

[rug]

4. Vivian Teng is an atheist. Do you take that away from her?

Or do you consider it a competition?

[beam me up scottie]

5. I just prefer Tim Minchin because he's not a faithiest. Would you like me to post more of his work?

Since you like atheist songs so much you might enjoy this:

[Lordquinton]

8. You are a theist,

And you really have now grounds to comment.

[rug]

9. This isn't A&A.

And your premise is ludicrous.

[Lordquinton]

12. Your privilege light is on

Better pull back into your lane and check it.

[rug]

13. So are your blinders.

[Lordquinton]

15. Nope, I can see fine

But you're drifting out of your lane.

[Lordquinton]

41. Are you trying to take away BMUS's atheism?

Because BMUS as an atheist can speak for atheists, or at least comment from an atheist perspective. You are a theist, who cannot speak for atheists.

This atheist obsession you have is a long line of robbing atheists of their voice, and now you dare to turn it back on an atheist?

[rug]

48. No, she's more than welcome to it.

As is your usual shtick.

A lame stab at diversion.

[Lordquinton]

64. OK.

[immoderate]

6. Here's a good one. Santa Claus, BTW, is an atheist!

--imm

[beam me up scottie]

7. Have you heard this one?:

[immoderate]

11. Would you believe...

somehow that one slipped by me?

Have a great holiday!

--imm

[rug]

10. I am unsurprised that video has no comments.

BTW, unlike Santa Claus, Vivian Teng is real. And she writes lyrics like

It's the season of cold making warmth a divine intervention
You are safe here you know now

[immoderate]

14. Well, you don't have to be a real person to be an atheist.

Vivian may be a bit introspective for my taste. But that's just me.

Speaking of me. Here's another non-religious performance not to be missed.

--imm

[rug]

16. Murderer or no, Spector knew talent.

[immoderate]

18. And he knew how to BUILD A WALL!

--imm

[rug]

20. Lol!. If Trump is elected he'll pardon him.

[beam me up scottie]

17. Another great atheist song (so glad you started this thread):

[immoderate]

19. Do they do a heavy metal version of that?

--imm

[rug]

21. Except if there is no belief, there can be no heresy.

So it's not an atheist song at all.

It's hard to define nonbelief without clinging to the belief one does not have.

[beam me up scottie]

22. Maybe you'll like this one better then:

vimeo.com/73627501

[rug]

23. Why would an atheist speak to God?

Let alone write a song about it.

See, the difference between these and the song you dislike is that she is singing about life absent a god, in particular, when most are celebrating the birth of God. She is not not going on and on about a god she doesn't believe.

[beam me up scottie]

24. Reading is fundamental:

The background to ‘Dear God by XTC’ (1986)

Of all the Atheist anthems floating around – this is my favourite.

I guess being such a massive XTC fan, has somewhat ‘blinkered’ my opinion but there is something about this song’s lyrics, that strikes a note with me.

...

So I decided to research the song itself, dig deeper and find-out more about its origins, production etc and the video-clip you see below.

Here’s what I found-out about XTC’s ‘Dear God’.

· The song-writer Andy Partridge had first written a book by the same title, arguing against the religious brainwashing of children, in the form of letters sent to God. This formed the inspiration for the song.

· Partridge had pondered the existence of God and concluded there was none, figuring a child’s letter to God would form a poignant irony.

http://canterburyatheists.blogspot.com/2009/04/background-to-dear-god-by-xtc-1986.html?m=1

[rug]

25. We have different views on "poignant irony".

[beam me up scottie]

26. Like posting a thread about an atheist song and having atheists take advantage of the opportunity?

[rug]

27. No, you're confusing poignant irony with posting inapt videos.

[beam me up scottie]

28. I'm just trying to improve upon the op, that so called atheist Xmas carol is lame.

You're welcome!

[cleanhippie]

49. And you're confusing inapt videos with inept OPs.

[rug]

50. Any ineptitude you're experiencing is not from the OP.

Fascinating how a tender song evokes such anger from you.

[cleanhippie]

51. The only thing I'm experiencing is an inexplicable urge to vomit.

Never mind, I know what's causing it now.

Welcome back, rug. You be nice now, ya hear?

Enjoy this contribution to your OP while you prepare your oh-so-witty-but-painfully-obvious-compulsive-need-to-have-the-last-word comeback.

[rug]

52. That seems to be a recurring problem.

I see you've been able to muster a smiley. That must prove you're not angry.

[cleanhippie]

65. It seems I was partly wrong.

There was nothing witty about that at all.

But still painfully obvious.

[rug]

67. You were also wrong about whose "obsessive-compulsive-need" this is.

"your oh-so-witty-but-painfully-obvious-compulsive-need-to-have-the-last-word comeback."

[AtheistCrusader]

38. Because 'god' exists in the minds of believers.

That means it is in range, and can be targeted with other ideas. Killed, even, without harming anyone.


Personally I don't think her song is very good, as an atheist. Certainly doesn't speak to me. But there's no accounting for taste. It may simply be the musical accompaniment that I don't enjoy. Lyrics don't grab me either.

[rug]

39. No, god either exists or it doesn't. It's not subjective.

If you want to attack the idea of god, be my guest. But to address it, or denounce it, ot call it a psychopath is just plain silly. Anthropomorphizing ideas leads to little that is fruitful.

[Goblinmonger]

40. "Anthropomorphizing ideas leads to little that is fruitful."

[rug]

46. I suspect it's been broken for quite some time.

[AtheistCrusader]

42. The biblical character of god is certainly a megalomaniac and a psychopath.

Is that better?

[rug]

47. Much.

Thank you.

[Yorktown]

54. Anthropomorphizing ideas (god) leads to little that is fruitful.

Aw shucks, I'll be darned. Just as I was gittin' 'round all them nice images of god:

In the Bible:

Numbers 6:25-26 The LORD make His face shine on you
Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Isaiah 11:4 And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth

(dare I ask on what part of His anatomy god sits on His throne?)

In the Quran

Every thing is fated to perish save His Face. (28:11)
The hand of Allah is over their hands. (48:10)

then again: your Lord is Allah , who .. established Himself above the Throne. (7:54)

[opiate69]

43. I'm kinda partial to this one..

They said there'll be snow at christmas
They said there'll be peace on earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the virgin's birth
I remember one christmas morning
A winters light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that christmas tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire

They sold me a dream of christmas
They sold me a silent night
And they told me a fairy story
'till I believed in the israelite
And I believed in father christmas
And I looked at the sky with excited eyes
'till I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise

I wish you a hopeful christmas
I wish you a brave new year
All anguish pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there'll be snow at christmas
They said there'll be peace on earth
Hallelujah noel be it heaven or hell
The christmas you get you deserve

[beam me up scottie]

53. I love that one! And what Xmas would be complete without The Kinks?

Last edited Wed Dec 16, 2015, 05:47 AM - Edit history (1)

[opiate69]

55. LMAO! No bullshit, I was sooo close to posting that one right after my Greg Lake one

[beam me up scottie]

56. Of course, we have great taste in music!

[opiate69]

57. How about a toast to the original "reason for the season"?

Now is the solstice of the year.
Winter is the glad song that you hear.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Have the lads up ready in a line.
Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Join together 'neath the mistletoe,
By the holy oak whereon it grows.
Seven druids dance in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.
Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Praise be to the distant sister sun,
Joyful as the silver planets run.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.
Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Ring on, ring out.
Ring on, ring out.

[beam me up scottie]

58. Hell yeah! I posted this in A&A a little while back:

I still get chills whenever I hear it.

[opiate69]

62. I have that CD in 24 karat gold.

It's been the number one CD on my "desert island list" since the first time I heard it in it's entirety sooo many ages ago lol

[beam me up scottie]

66. Aqualung was pretty fantastic too.

Just don't call it a concept album!!!

[Goblinmonger]

29. Can't believe I'm the first to bring Mojo Nixon to the mix

[beam me up scottie]

31. That was sick, man!

[Goblinmonger]

30. Another favorite of mine from South Park

[rug]

32. Unsurprising.

Do you have a favorite Muppets video?

[Goblinmonger]

33. Are cartoons below you?

Parker and Stone are some of the best satirists going in the US right now. Did you watch the current season of South Park? It was very well done.

And what's wrong with liking the Muppets? I would argue that Labyrinth is my favorite Muppets video. I was (and still am with the show revival) partial to the Swedish Chef.

[rug]

34. Not at all, as long as they're witty.

I haven't like The Muppets for years before their 2011 movie (another musical comedy).

Either way, they're inapposite to the sentiments in the song posted win the OP. Not to mention deflective.

[Goblinmonger]

35. You brought up the Muppets. Not I.

The South Park video is in line with the concept of an atheist Christmas song and actually gets to a pretty solid point: make the most out of today and love those around you because soon it will be too late because you and/or they will be dead.

[rug]

36. You brought up Mojo Nixon and South Park, not I.

As to the body of your text, you really should look at The Atheist carol and see what it is about.

[Goblinmonger]

37. I did.

And Mojo Nixon and South Park offer alternative views on what a good atheist carol is.

[AtheistCrusader]

44. It doesn't seem to be about Atheists or Atheism at all.

Edit: It made no sense to me at all, until I realized it's not BY an atheist ABOUT atheism at all.

[rug]

45. Oh, it is indeed.

I won't write an essay about it as if this is a high school poetry class but it is very much about living atheism, the absence of god, in the midst of a religious season. One written by an atheist who has experienced it.

Her experience is doubtless not yours but there is no one who speaks for atheism, is there?

As to your edit, do share what information you've been imparted that holds she is not an atheist. Sounds very NTScottish.

[AtheistCrusader]

63. Because I know how to work the internet.

It was the working title that stuck. I sat down at the piano sometime in December or January a few years ago and started singing images that came to mind when I thought of Christmas. Most of the impromptu lyrics didn't make it into the song ("It's the season of gift wrap and tinsel and pine needles in the carpet...&quot , but the chorus came immediately: "Don't forget I love you." I knew it was a Christmas carol. But it wasn't a Christmas carol in any traditional sense, not even in the "Silver Bells" or "Let It Snow" sense. So I tagged it with the name "Atheist" because I couldn't think of anything more accurate. This is what an atheist might contemplate around the holiday season, I thought. Kinship and community, human beings' own potential to rescue each other, a little warmth in the long winter.

When we got into the studio I hadn't thought of a proper title, and other people seemed amused by what I was calling it, so it stayed. It also seemed like a way of counterbalancing Shasta and Homecoming, both of which have distinct Christian overtones, and maybe part of me wanted to startle people back into uncertainty about what my own beliefs are.

It's possible her beliefs have changed, etc. She doesn't appear to identify as an atheist. She certainly didn't say 'this is how *I* contemplate around the holiday season'.

It's Third Person.

[rug]

68. Do you have a link?

That's part of working the internet.

[Kalidurga]

59. I don't like it

but, thanks I found this site https://www.inverse.com/article/8926-atheist-christmas-carols-for-dummies that song is there among some songs I do like very much like this one:

[rug]

60. You'll probably like these:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeMZ98B_0RXAZDOaKP_NfgA

More science than atheism, though. Much different things.

"No ill! No ill!"

[Kalidurga]

61. that is much better