You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better. ~ Anne Lamott
My atheism is not predicated on hate, anger, or a disagreement with the Judeo-Christian version of God. He and I are not at odds. To me, he is a myth which I am not at war with. And before you suggest I am on the "dark side", please know I do not spend my free time sitting in a pentagram, channelling evil.
I searched for years and could not find any real tangible evidence for "his" existence that did not require me to suspend beliefs that I knew to be right and true in order to embrace those myths championed in the bible that extol his virtues and existence. Yes, myth. Read about Horus and Mithra, for a start, and you if you are honest with yourself, you will begin to see parallels that make that whole bible thing look like history's best work of plagiarism.
Now, if you have real, tangible proof that can be evidenced in reality and tested by empirical science, show me and I may actually change my mind. Do not point to me and say god made me. My parents having sex without using birth control made me.
Until that time, if that time ever occurs, please do not act like you are a better person than I am or that you have keys to some magical kingdom that makes you more entitled than the rest of us. I do not need a book full of what I consider to be fairy tales to be a good person. You consistently break vows and promises you make to "him". You sin. Just like the rest of us.
Whenever you elevate yourself upon your self-made pedestal remember this, you look like a fool and we all know that you have shaped your beliefs to be entirely altogether too congenial and convenient in order to absolve yourself of any real responsibility for your actions or accountability for the harm you cause.
Exactly who is the liar?
It has taken me a while to address this issue because I have been doing research. Apparently re-gifting is gaining in not only popularity but is becoming socially acceptable.
How the... ?
Am I the only one who thinks re-gifting is, well, cheap and shameful? When did this sort of thing become acceptable? When did it become something to be proud of? When did you start thinking I want your garbage? Somebody tell me this is recycling gone horribly wrong.
At least four of the gifts I received this past Christmas were re-gifted. By the same person. She was actually proud of what she had done.
P. R. O. U. D.
Here is the thing... I grew up dirt poor and came from the wrong side of the wrong side of the tracks. Just down the road from the trailer park. Literally. I appreciate the value of a dollar, I understand that the barter system is alive and well, and that if you do not need something, you should pass it on to someone who can use it.
This is not to be understood as me giving you permission to give me your used and unwanted crap.
My research has revealed to me that some people re-gift at Christmas so they can reduce the expense of this over commercialized holiday. I guess I can get behind that if the item is new, not originally from me, and something I could actually use or want. However, I really do not want to be in the same room when you gleefully say, "I re-gifted it because who wants a gift basket full of nuts and crackers?" I am still wondering what makes you think I want dirty, dusty, pop and dog hair encrusted fridge magnets. Honestly, I would rather have nothing than your garbage in a gift box. Wrapping your used and unwanted rubbish does not make it a gift. It makes it an insult.
If you really want me to have something that you have already gently used, just give the thing to me. Do not save it and make it a gift. Please do not continue to wrap your garbage and then pretend it is exactly what I wanted.
As a result of my research, here are some rules for you kids who insist on regifting:
-make sure the person receiving the gift does not know the person you originally got the gift from
-do not regift to the original gift giver
-regift brand new items only
-do not regift hand made/hand crafted or personalized gifts
-do not regift the item in the same wrapping paper/gift bag/gift box that you received the gift in
-do not tell the recipient that it is a regift
-make sure the recipient will like the gift
