acid xmas
In a research hole on the comparative mythologies of Jesus, Mithra and Osiris, I forgot why it felt important to understand the cult of comparison around these figures. Swirling in videos and readings that pull primary sources to nullify the claims that these stories are similar, and well-researched papers on the correlation, it seems to me like neither side is really important. Some suggest “Jesus” is a Christian appropriation of other deities, while critics of this comparison suggest that the details are not all the same and it’s all a bunch of baloney.
I don’t think it’s impossible for important archetypes to repeat across history. Both sides of the argument can be true. That there are similarities amongst these figures, and that they all existed in their own ways in accordance to the societal and cosmic conditions that gave way to their rise feels plausible. I guess it feels important because it’s possible it could happen again.
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The winter solstice is a significant time of year for sun worshipping societies, and it is debated whether early Christian architects subsumed these traditions (Norse Yule, Roman Saturnalia, Sol Invictus) as a political strategy to spread the gospel of son-worshipping. If I take the politics out of it, there’s something in the celebrations of today that feels immortal and transcends religion.
At dinner today, my aunt shared, “we respect all the prophets,” as a way of encouraging participation in other religious holiday events if it feels aligned with our values around love, peace and respect. I’ve always been the rabble rouser, so in the past I’d come back with, “even Joan of Arc?” But today, I just nodded in agreement. Today feels different than past Christmases I felt no connection to.
If laser light shows projection mapped onto homes, 12 foot tall skeleton claus drunk in the front yard, Minions on sleds, giant lollipops on lawns, 15 hour fireplace television broadcasts and Will Ferrell’s Buddy the Elf character propped up against dub-step LED angels is xmas, then I am kinda excited about how the mythology is morphing.
If we are due for another prophet to correct the course of our society, I wonder what that’ll look like?
I don’t know how this looks in your neighborhood, but in mine, Christmas is starting to feel a bit more like a futuristic Saturnalia. And in our home, it’s an excuse to be extreeeeemely low key. So low key, we wrap things we’ve already gifted each other or own, only to unwrap them together in a cinematic performance learned through Home Alone and 90s Folger’s commercials.