What happens when an atheistic science fiction writer becomes a Christian? You get Christian blog posts with attitude, such as John C. Wright's response to the rationale behind an anti-Christian ad campaign planned for the Christmas season. As an atheist-turned-Christian science fiction fan, I find the fantasy-style metamorphosis both delightful and amusing. An excerpt:
I realize that, now that I am on the opposing side, I have no more right to feel contempt for weakness in the ranks, but, by Jupiter's holy lightning-flinging scrotum, this kind of whiny talk used to really bug me, and I still suffer flashbacks to my old self. How can you feel lonely during Christs' Mass when YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN CHRIST??!! The crowd of lemmings is rushing off after the Pied Piper to worship the Unseen Flying Spaghetti Monster, and you are feeling all lonesome because you are not in the crowd? Who wants to be in any crowd when the crowd is mad?
(more, simlar ranting, followed by)
As a Xtian, I have to be nice and kind, and invite in to our cheerful feasts and celebrations the poor, the tired, and the unbelieving. All are welcome to partake of the spirit of Peace on Earth and Goodwill toward Man, even if you don't believe in spirits. A lamp is lifted for you by the open door: within, the feast is spread. Come, and be fed.
Americans are so uptight! Europe is full of those who don't believe in Christ and they still like to take their Pentecost and Ascension as well as Christmas days off. Japan, too doesn't know much about Christianity, but they love 'Christmas.' On the one hand, Christians in the US should appreciate the fact that those around them know that Christmas means something and are affected by it. Here, you could wish someone a merry Christmas, or a happy Flying Spaghetti-monster day and they wouldn't care (though they might ask you the meaning of the latter and not think about the former). They know how to make a buck from the tourists. Here the real trees along the streets are already going up and a lot more is to come. It used to disturb me that people didn't know and didn't care about the meaning of the season but now I just enjoy it. In many ways, Europe does live and let live better than we do, but when is that just apathy and is a country full of the apathetic a good thing? Better stop as I'm hijacking your post for no real reason.
Hijack away! That's part of what posts are for. :)
As you know, I believe symbols are very powerful—especially in God's hands. There's a passage in the book God's Smuggler where Brother Andrew, who smuggled Bibles into Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, describes his astonishment at the revival that took place in an old, dead, state-sponsored church in Bulgaria while he was there. Night after night the priest encouraged Andrew to preach the clearest, most vibrant Gospel-centered sermons anyone could want. They carried on that way for many days before the government finally stopped them—the priest had been such a reliable puppet they couldn't believe he didn't have some "good" motive for what he was doing. Brother Andrew's humble comment was that he had learned never to call a church dead. It is God's church, called by his name, and at any moment his Spirit may blow through and ignite fires of faith that will never be extinguished.
So too, I believe, with countries. No matter how confused the meaning of the symbols of Christianity has become, they still have power, and God may blow away the chaff at any time to reveal the truth. Perhaps American atheists understand this, and shudder.
