Merry Christmas on this special day

Today, Christmas Day, I celebrate with family the way I’ve done all my life.

I don’t believe in the divinity  of Jesus Christ. I believe he was a special, remarkable man, a courageous leader who gave his life for what he believed. But I don’t believe he was conceived as the son of God, and I don’t believe he rose from the dead and was lifted up to Heaven.

Technically, then, I have no reason to celebrate Christmas. And yet, though my parents were both atheists, and raised us as atheists, celebrating Christmas was always an important family occasion for us. We exchanged gifts, put up a tree, and had big family gatherings for turkey dinner just like “everyone else.” Just like Christians, at least. The spirit of the Christmas season, of being there for one another, of peace — those were things we felt, and still do, this time of year. 

Though Christmas has never had deep religious meaning for me, I can’t imagine not observing it and taking part in it, any more than I can figure out why some people are offended by the Merry Christmas greeting, Christmas concerts, and so on.

I tried, as I was growing up, to figure out what makes the universe tick. I ended up  smart enough to know I’m not smart enough to know. I don’t possess enough intelligence to figure out who or what is running our universe, and I’m content with that. So I guess I’m a true agnostic rather than an atheist or humanist.

While I greatly appreciate it when someone offers a secular rather than a religious grace at a public dinner, I don’t feel at all uncomfortable with Christmas for the above reasons. I regard it as a gift to me and mine from Christianity, one of the great religions of the world.

And so, with sincerity, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.