my reads: ‘The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas’ edited by Ariane Sherine

Remember that ad campaign from a few years back that ran on the sides of buses in the U.K. and outraged a lot of people with this notion:

There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.

A whole bunch of British writers, comedians, artists, thinkers, scientists, and other heathens who weren’t outraged by that campaign -- including some of those who were behind it -- got together to further annoy the very very pious with The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas, which helpfully features the motto “There’s probably no God” right on the cover. Or at least the British edition does. The American edition is too chickenshit to scare off people who will subsequently go on to be furious the moment they open the book.

No, honestly, this is a nice atheist book, full of pleasant memories of childhood Christmases -- even some from those who were raised atheist instead of coming to it in response to a religious upbringing, and still managed to have joyful midwinter holidays -- and plenty of grownup explanations of how and why atheists celebrate Christmas... and even enjoy it. Much of it is very amusing, and some of it is outrageously funny -- I think my favorite of the 42 essays is “How to Understand Christmas: A Scientific Overview,” by Nick Doody, one of the most hilarious things I’ve ever read -- and probably even anybody inclined to be furious at atheists parading their lack of faith around on buses might find it sweet and gentle and not worth making a fuss over.