As president of the American Humanist Association, I am SO jealous of Bill O’Reilly.  Because I am a secular humanist, I am unable to experience the true meaning of the holiday season, unable to share the Christmas spirit with O’Reilly and the vast majority of Americans.

O’Reilly recently explained my shortcomings by pointing out that my organization is running advertisements during this holiday season only because we are “jealous” of believers.  With ads that say, “No God? No Problem!” the AHA is “denigrating” Christmas, O’Reilly says.  We do this, he explains, in an attempt to ruin the holiday, because for us Christmas is “just a day off.”

It’s difficult to debate O’Reilly on this subject, because he comes to the issue with such authority and credibility, as such an excellent example of Christian values in action.  When one thinks of peace, goodwill toward others, and the gentle demeanor of one who embraces the teachings of Jesus, the image of O’Reilly instantly comes to mind.  How can an infidel such as myself possibly deflect his allegations?

Knowing that O’Reilly speaks with such moral authority, I take his statements seriously, and therefore I must honestly consider whether the AHA is indeed being “disingenuous,” as O’Reilly alleges, when we claim that our ads are not an attack on Christianity or believers.  Having done so, I must conclude that O’Reilly, despite his unimpeachable stature as an exemplary Christian and moral voice of America, has in this case erred in his analysis.

There can be no doubt that Christmas is a religious holiday, but the flaw in O’Reilly’s thinking is his apparent assumption that the holiday season is ONLY about religion.   What O’Reilly doesn’t realize is that, as he is mingling at holiday parties over the next month, he will be mingling among many atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists who are sharing the joy of the holiday season with him.   Peace on earth and goodwill toward men might be notions that are consistent with Christianity, but they are also entirely consistent with humanist values, with the values of millions upon millions of atheists, agnostics, and humanists who celebrate the holiday season each year.

Nobody is saying that the holiday season is not about religion, but believers should realize that the holidays are also about secular values.  Nonbelievers disagree with believers about supernatural and theological claims, but when it comes to most of the ethical ideals of the holidays we are all aboard the same ship.  If believers actually think that nonbelievers are incapable of embracing the ideas of peace and goodwill, then they need an education.  Indeed, if religious Americans actually think secular Americans can’t appreciate the holiday spirit, we need more atheist advertising, not less.

In fact, most atheists and humanists I know wish this time of year reflected more of the underlying spirit of the holidays, not less.   The irony of America embarking on an orgy of consumption and commercialization, in the name of a humble Nazarene who preached against materialism, should not go unnoticed.  If anything is stealing the true meaning of O’Reilly’s Christmas, if anything is denigrating his holy day, it is the commercial culture in which he himself thrives. 

O’Reilly no doubt begrudgingly circulates in America’s commercial culture only because he has little choice, because he feels that, by acquiring great wealth and experiencing the misfortune of attaining celebrity status, he can best promote the deep Christian values that are so obviously at the core of his true persona.  This is simply more evidence of his incredible selflessness, and we can only admire him for his sacrifice.