Christmas and the Religious Homeowners Association

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December 20, 2011



I have never lived in a neighborhood that required me to join a homeowner's association. The very idea of having to conform to the village voice for the sake of appearances and social solidarity runs against my nature. Moreover, it runs counter to every tenet of freedom upon which I believe this country was founded.


Still, at this joyous time of the year, in this season of giving, of reflection, and of homage to the Source of whatever hope we have for a pleasant transition into the afterlife and a comfortable homecoming there, I am struck not so much by the unfettered greed that surfs in on the tsunami of rank commercialism sometime after Halloween-- say what you will about our modern times, that is nothing new --but rather, by the willingness of people to blindly and obediently perpetuate and defend the canard that is "religious freedom." The almost complete lack of historical and archeological evidence to substantiate any of the Big Three western religious orders notwithstanding, the fact is, if you are not a dues-paying (read: tithing) member of a mainstream denomination-- or even an offshoot, a minor tributary of one of the Big Three --you are shunned. You do not belong. You are not a member of the club that does not want you as a member in the first place. 


Aside from the obvious argument that most of the world's wars have been fought, directly or indirectly, as a result of some populous’ or potentate's misguided belief that he/she/they had a heavenly mandate to grab the reigns, I weary of individuals constantly infusing their personal beliefs into the public forum in an effort to shore up their own insecurities. To make believers of us all. It's like a spiritual homeowners association: If you want to live here, you have to live the way we tell you to. Ignore the rules, and outside the gates you go.


It's not enough that we have to endure the pontificating yard decorations that proclaim loudly (and erroneously) in red, green and white Christmas lights (purchased at the Home Depot, Buy 1, Get 1 Free!) "Jesus is the reason for the season!" We are forced to listen to pandering politicians and media talking heads insisting that an elected official-- President, Senator, Congressman, mayor, dog catcher --is unqualified for office, is illegal as a candidate, is unpatriotic, or is a threat to Our Way of Life if he or she doesn't subscribe to a mainstream religious belief system, specifically Christianity. I'm no Constitutional expert, but I have read the U.S. Constitution a few times, and nowhere in that document does it say the President of the United States must be a Christian. Or a Muslim. Or a Jew. Or a Mummer. Or a Druid. It says he/she must be a natural-born citizen and at least 35 years old. That's it.


"But our country was founded on Christian principals!" I hear the plaintiff and patriot cry. No, it wasn't. It was founded upon principals of religious freedom. Freedom. The freedom to run for and be President of the United States, and worship McDonald's french fries if I want to. The freedom to worship hand soap. The freedom to worship God, or nothing at all. And by the way, almost all of the founding fathers were Masons. You want to talk about cults, mysteries, and dubious backgrounds? Check out the Masons and the Knights Templar. Talk about your radicals. Sheesh!


So, am I saying I’m an atheist or an agnostic? That’s none of your business!


(But, no, I’m not)


Anyway, as we approach the completely fabricated birth date of Christ— stolen, incidentally, from the pagans for purely political reasons (see among other authoritative books on the subject, Karen Armstrong’s The History of God) —let us pause a moment to remember that altruism and charity are not dead. That love is alive and well. We see it and feel it every day. Unlike politics and religion, love and kindness have always been with us, and they always will be. No matter which side of the gate we live on.

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