Why an Atheist Likes Christmas
(And no, it’s not for the presents)
The Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — is central to Christianity. With Christmas upon us, we focus on the middle member of the trio in the form of the infant Jesus. Now, despite being an atheist, I appreciate the season. There is a beautifully simple correspondence between the Trinity and my view of reality.
The Father ⟺ Universe
The Son ⟺ Life
The Holy Spirit ⟺ Truth
Those connections allow us to interpret conventional religious material humanistically.
The Father
Envisioning God as a power permeating the universe seems little different than viewing God as manifested by the universe. I understand the draw of a God that allows for prayerful communication rather than a universe viewed as cold and uncaring. Humans, however, are nothing less than children of that universe, a cosmos of intricate details and vastness that surrounds us, teaches us lessons, and answers questions when properly asked.
The Son
In the Bible passages wherein Jesus renders judgment, He says to the group being rewarded, “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink.” Their response, “Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?” In reply, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” Christian scripture implores us to imagine Jesus as standing in for others, to see the Son as symbolizing our collective lives.
Consider the phrase: Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, became man. I see that as a symbolic rendering of: Life, born from the virgin Earth, evolved to humankind.
Christians generally believe Jesus sacrificed his life for our benefit, but we all have an appointment with death. All our lives are sacrificial, and Jesus’ sacrifice is symbolic of that.
Time after time, Christianity uses Jesus to symbolize life.
The Holy Spirit
The physics of the universe governs its behavior. Just as Christians see the “Holy Spirit” as permeating all of existence, so do the universe’s physical laws.
Christmas
Asserting the paramount importance of life doesn’t require religion but is consistent with truths the biblical authors tried to convey. This atheist sees Christmas as an invitation to reflect on the preciousness of life, the fragility of new life represented by the infant in the manger, and the immense room we have for improvement in how we treat each other and the planet that is our mother.
Enjoy the holidays, and peace be with you.
This article is modified content from my book, the resonance of Life, available on Amazon.
