I went to a Christmas Eve party last night and asked a young girl what Santa was bringing her, she looked at me and shrugged her shoulders. The girl spoke up and said kids she knew told her Santa wasn’t real, but she believed because she saw him one time. The young girls belief in Santa surmounted the rising wave of doubt, but it likely won’t last through another Christmas.
Despite years of belief and faith every child eventually realizes Santa isn’t real and in one moment that piece of childhood is washed away forever. Imagine if you will an adult who hold steadfast to the belief in Santa despite the mounting evidence and insistence of many Santa is pretend. Instead of shying away from others the adult Santa believer would likely want to find others who are equally committed to the faith in Santa.
Alone an adult Santa believer is the brunt of criticism, jokes and perhaps the recipient of strong psycho-pharmaceutical medications. In the middle of a group of adult Santa believers there is strength, resilience and support which pushes back on mounting fact, evidence and reality. How would our society deal with a group of adults who insist in the belief of Santa, want special privileges afforded to them, want public forums to hear their beliefs, recruit others to follow and hold classes to indoctrinate the youth.
If the Santa religion gains steam I’m sticking with the side of logic and reason, I’ll be Sant-Atheist.
METHUEN, Mass.—A Massachusetts woman who recently separated from her husband, had her hours at work cut, and moved into an apartment, says an image of Jesus Christ she sees on her iron has reassured her that “life is going to be good.”
Mary Jo Coady first noticed the image on Sunday when she walked into her daughter’s room.
The brownish residue on the bottom of the iron looks like the face of a man with long hair.
The 44-year-old Coady, who was raised Catholic, and her two college-age daughters agree that the image looks like Jesus and is proof that “he’s listening.”
Coady tells The Eagle-Tribune she hopes her story will inspire others during the holidays. She says she plans to keep the iron in a closet and buy a new one. Source: Eagle Tribune
BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
My side hurts!
BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Nice one Mary Jo Coady, you are some kind of kidder. You are kidding right? Oh boy.
Seven-year-old killed by stray bullet in River Ridge
RIVER RIDGE, La – A seven-year-old girl was killed when a stray bullet pierced the apartment walls and struck the girl in the neck, while she slept, according to police.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating an early morning shooting Sunday in River Ridge, which left the girl dead in her own home. It happened at an apartment complex along Jefferson Highway, near South Upland Avenue.
“This child was lying in the living room on an air mattress, with a cousin, and it wasn’t until the child began crying, that alerted the mother and the other child,” said Col. John Fortunato of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. “That’s when she discovered her daughter had a gunshot wound in her neck.”
Source: Associated Press
I hope God has a good reason for snatching away this little girls life. It seems unfair, but if it’s Gods plan then so be it. Right?
It is my understanding religious people would counter by saying God didn’t inflict the harm, another human did and that is correct, but why then does God get credit when ‘good’ things happen to people and not when ‘bad’ things happen?
You pray more fervently for God to give you direction and strength, and for Him to be involved in resolving your situation. You depend on your family and other Christians to help. You seek counsel from wiser and more experienced people around you. And you act with principle and ethics, and you don’t try to steel, cheat or lie your way out of the situation. If you respond to your adversity in some way similar to this, then the situation and your response to it will serve to bring your closer to God, deepen your character, and make you a stronger person. In addition, we have God’s promise that he will work out this difficulty for you in some way that turns to good.
Dave Kahle
It appears the parents of this girl who was murdered should turn to God, friends, family, etc. to learn from this tragedy and grow stronger from it. This girl received the short end of the stick, an innocent victim and now a lesson from God. I’m sure this will give her family lots of comfort.
My hope is Steven Seagal seeks and destroys the culprits of this henious crime because Mr. Seagal is in fact a law enforcement agent for Jefferson Parish. Oh Yes! You heard me right. Who are you going to turn to when God sets you an unpleasant set back?
Steven Seagal Lawman – Steven Seagal has never sought publicity for his work with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. However, over a span of almost two decades, he has regularly gone out on patrol and worked major cases. The series will allow fans to ride shotgun with Seagal as he and his hand-selected elite team of deputies respond to crimes-in-progress. Then, when Seagal goes off-duty, the cameras will continue following him as he pursues his many ventures – including musical performances and philanthropic efforts – in Jefferson Parish and New Orleans.
Michigan Man Sues for Right to Put Back Family’s Nativity Scene on Public Median
A Michigan man has filed a federal lawsuit claiming his constitutional rights were violated when he was ordered to remove a Nativity scene from the median of a public road — a creche that his family has displayed at the location for 63 years.
John Satawa, of Warren, Mich., filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Friday in an attempt to be allowed to put back the 8- by 8-foot Nativity scene his late father built in 1945.
“The Nativity display has been a tradition not just for my family, but for the whole community for 63 years,” Satawa told Foxnews.com in a statement. “I am disappointed the Road Commission would not stand up for our community and our Constitution and that is why I was compelled to file this lawsuit.”
According to Satawa’s lawsuit, St. Anne’s Parish received a donation of Christmas statues in March 1945 that were too large to house inside the church — so they were moved to the public median outside. Jack Eckstein, president of the village of Warren at the time, granted permission for the move.
As a result, a Christmas tradition was born the lawsuit reads.
Source: Fox News
I love Christmas, but it doesn’t belong on a public road. I’m sorry to hurt the feelings of folks who enjoy the Nativity scene, but it is a public road, so the nativity scene should be removed. No matter how much ‘Christians’ believe they are being singled out, just move the scene off of public property and there will be no issue.
Just because this has been a tradition doesn’t mean the law doesn’t apply and it doesn’t mean the rest of the ‘community’ believes a Nativity scene is the best use of public roads. Religious folks don’t understand this because their feelings are hurt and when it comes to religion and feelings, logic need not apply.
Community is a great word to get behind, since it implies everyone agrees, it’s just that the last time I checked Community didn’t mean only Christians. When it comes to public infringement on religious rights Christians won’t back down as was the case in Hamtramck, Michigan where many opponents to a daily Muslim prayer call voiced their displeasure. Most people, Christians, were upset because they had to listen since it was broadcast and could be heard outside of the mosque.
Joanne Golen, a lifelong Hamtramck resident, said she finds the content of the call to prayer offensive.
It says Allah is the one and only God. I am Christian. My God is Jesus Christ. That is my only objection — that I have to listen to a God other than the one I believe in praised five times a day
I wonder if Joanne has a problem with the public Nativity scene all non-Christians have to drive by and be subject to everyday?
I would like to know how Mr. Satawa and the St. Anne’s Parish would feel if the community decided a new tradition should be formed, since the Christian tradition did have a 63 year monopoly on the public space. Instead of having a Nativity scene, a Hannukah display could be erected, or a Kwanzaa display, but my guess is Mr. Satawa, or the Parish at large wouldn’t be too keen on that idea.
