Atheists who celebrate X-mas

[Crazycat690]

Haha tell me about it^^ Living in Finland, where almost no one is religious anymore, we still celebrate christmas, but it's not because of the birth of Jesus anyway, and besides, they're pretty sure Jesus wasn't born the 24th at year zero, but that he was perhaps 5 or 10 years old by then^^ If you believe in those stories anyway Being an atheist, I celebrate it because it's fun, Santa and all that, it's that bright happy stuff in our darkest time of the year^^

 

[Retal19]

I practice Atheism (long story, don't ask, I won't tell.) and the only real reason I celebrate Christmas is because it gives me a reason to act Hyperactive and Immature (Which I am, but hide because more is expected of me), and it gets me free stuff. What's not to like?

Oh, and there's the free booze that I can steal. That's always good.

 

[Lieju]

I'm an atheist, and celebrate Christmas, of Joulu, as it's known here in Finland.
My family was never religious, and Christmas for us (even those few family members who are religious) was never about Jesus and God and whatnot.

It's about family and good food and presents.

I'm Catholic (kind of) and I got no problem with Atheists celebrating Christmas...but please don't call it "X-Mas", that just sounds so...blergh. Something that Bogans (rednecks) would call it.

I always think it sounds like a mutant holiday, with professor Xavier flying around with Wolwerine bringing gifts to good little mutants everywhere.

It's an old thing, though, putting X instead of Christ. Some christians I've talked with prefer it since they take the "Thou shall not take your lord's name in vain" meaning they shouldn't say "God" or "Christ" at all.
While some Christians like to complain it's all part of atheist war on Christmas or something, despite the whole word being hundreds of years old.

 

[Gardenia]

I don't celebrate Christmas, I celebrate Yule.
I don't give out presents to anyone over the age of 12, though.

Spoiler: oh, and

I think Christmas is no longer just a religious holiday I believe in god but I know several atheists who celebrate X-mas and some of my other Christian friends do not think they should be celebrating if they do not believe in Christ but I believe it has gone past that to just a holiday to come together and show each other we care.

Sorry to be a grammar nazi, but some punctuation wouldn't hurt

 

[ThatLankyBastard]

I'm an Atheist with a very Christian family...

... does that make me special?

...I hope not...

 

[thePyro_13]

Christmas has nothing to do with Christianity, never did. The pagans made it an the Christans stole and renamed it. Now it's a commercial holiday celebrated by most people regardless of religion. People like getting gifts and spending money, why not celebrate it?

This and then some. You cannot refuse a gift, it's bad voodoo. So may as well enjoy it.

Though maybe we should start a thread titled: "Christians who celebrate the solstice"?

 

[The Cheezy One]

I think Christmas is no longer just a religious holiday I believe in god but I know several atheists who celebrate X-mas and some of my other Christian friends do not think they should be celebrating if they do not believe in Christ but I believe it has gone past that to just a holiday to come together and show each other we care.

I personally don't mind them them celebrating it - let them have a bit of God in their lives. One thing I don't like is shops very subtley cutting any religious aspect out of their "spend money" period of the year, in case they alienate any customers.

Spoiler: I had this discussion elsewhere,

For me, I sort of enjoy the religious aspect, being Protestant, and the presents, but overall I don't think it's worth the commercialisation and hype.
Tone it back a bit, get God back on the scene, and it will be all good. Except supermarkets are worried about losing non-Christian customers, so phase out any religious aspect.

Spoiler: and this is the reply I got

As well they should be. There are few things that make me more uncomfortable than such imagery.

I hate the religion that some people try to force-feed me. I hate seeing the part of the family that my parents have always asked me to hide my own beliefs from...despite the fact that these are the people who most casually assume, "yes, this guy shares our beliefs," and put me most ill at ease.

Spoiler: And this is what I fired back

Sooo... you are complaining about the religious content of a religious holiday? Whats next, complaining that Chinese New Year is too communist? If you are going to celebrate it, at least accept that it has religious origins, rather than saying it would be better without them. I am not saying that atheists and non-Christians should not celebrate Christmas, but you can't just pretend that the whole thing is just a present-giving party.

Please don't split hairs over how relevant Chinese new year is to Christmas

Thoughts?

 

[The Cheezy One]

I'm an Atheist with a very Christian family...

... does that make me special?

...I hope not...

Personally, I like people like you. You find people at my church who assume they are Christian because their family is. Find God your own way!

 

[silasbufu]

I think Christmas is no longer just a religious holiday I believe in god but I know several atheists who celebrate X-mas and some of my other Christian friends do not think they should be celebrating if they do not believe in Christ but I believe it has gone past that to just a holiday to come together and show each other we care.

It's no longer about Christianity. I don't want to argue whether this is wrong or not, being an atheist myself, but do remember that the whole image of Santa Claus , with his white beard, jolly red suit etc. , was created by Coca Cola in 1931.

 

[Merkavar]

christmas is now a family holiday not a religions one

its a time for mafilyies to get to gether and spend time togethrrt abnd have fun. maybe go to the beasch.

ps i have been drinking so igniore my spelling mistakes.

 

[Wutaiflea]

I have to admit that I have a problem with atheists who are hypocritical in celebrating Christmas.

I think the general Christmas messages of generosity and togetherness can be enjoyed by anyone, and Christmas is as good a time of the year as any to remind yourself of that, but it really grates on me when atheists spend the whole year complaining about how awful religion is, only to send Nativity-based Christmas cards around work (yes, I did know someone who did this). I also dislike similarly aggressive atheists who still choose to turn up to church just because its Christmas.

It also grates on me when people say things along the lines of "fuck Christ and Christians, its a Pagan holiday anyway so I can celebrate it", because Paganism describes a number of polytheist religions- so it's still a religious event.

I think people should feel free to celebrate the holiday regardless of their religion, but I do think some people (not all- plenty of atheists are cool) should really reassess their views and behaviour rather than incongruously signing up to the religious aspect of the holiday.

 

[thePyro_13]

I personally let them celebrate it - let them have a bit of God in their lives. One thing I don't like is shops very subtley cutting any religious aspect out of their "spend money" period of the year, in case they alienate any customers.

--snip--

Thoughts?

I don't think I need your permission to celebrate Christmas. And I don't really want any god in my life, I have enough irrationality in my life as it is.

The whole thing IS just a present giving party to me, and to most of the people I know. I don't know many people in Australia who care about god.

If you want to get god back in the scene, then maybe you should go a bit further and get pagan beliefs back in the scene as well. I just see it as the holiday naturally evolving based on the needs of those who celebrate it. It dropped its real pagan meaning when christianity rose to power, and now its dropping its christian themes because we are living in a multicultural society who all want to celebrate together rather than apart with seperate holidays.

 

[A Modest Gent]

Christmas was never a Christian holiday. It was a Pagan event that the Romans celebrated, long before anyone had even heard of Jeysoos.

Christians, being the unoriginal and unimaginative people that they are, simply decided to claim it as their own.

 

[ZephrC]

I have to admit that I have a problem with atheists who are hypocritical in celebrating Christmas.

I think the general Christmas messages of generosity and togetherness can be enjoyed by anyone, and Christmas is as good a time of the year as any to remind yourself of that, but it really grates on me when atheists spend the whole year complaining about how awful religion is, only to send Nativity-based Christmas cards around work (yes, I did know someone who did this). I also dislike similarly aggressive atheists who still choose to turn up to church just because its Christmas.

It also grates on me when people say things along the lines of "fuck Christ and Christians, its a Pagan holiday anyway so I can celebrate it", because Paganism describes a number of polytheist religions- so it's still a religious event.

I think people should feel free to celebrate the holiday regardless of their religion, but I do think some people (not all- plenty of atheists are cool) should really reassess their views and behaviour rather than incongruously signing up to the religious aspect of the holiday.

I have to say that as a person who celebrates Christmas while not believing in any god (I refuse to define myself by my lack of belief, and find the term Rational insulting of every rational religious person I've ever met.) I totally agree with you. Hypocrites are seriously annoying.

 

[CleverCover]

Agnostic, but I love it for the presents, the gathering of the family around the Christmas tree, the love and warmth and laughter as we all open presents, the look of joy as that person opens something you put a lot of thought and energy into making sure you get something they love, the food, the EGGNOG (you must all love and honor the freaking EGGNOG), the excuse to enjoy life with people you care about, the excuse to get off of work and party, wrapping the presents, putting up the Christmas tree, the candy canes, the songs, the damned Yule log that I hate watching but I love bitching about. Helping Mom in the kitchen and gossiping. Seeing Grandma again as she pulls you in from the snow with a cup of cocoa already ready and waiting. Her Macaroni and cheese.

There's so much about the holiday that makes me actually happy to pull off the calendar and find December looking back at me. It's cold as hell, there's a crack in the window that let's in a gust of air, and I have finals that made me breakdown from crying, but that one day just sort of makes you feel better and reaffirms why you're here. Gives me back my breathe for another year.

Wow, that was sappy.

Jesus may be a small fixture of the day. I see a manger every now and then, but that is why I love and Celebrate Christmas.

 

[Gigano]

It's a time and "ritual" that's become secularized to a large degree, enough that you certainly celebrate a full Christmas without ever running into the whole "Jesus" thing. The Christians can keep their 2000 year old baby, but Yuletide is for everyone.

It's cozy, with good food, presents, and company. Why wouldn't I jump on it?

 

[ultimateownage]

I don't, I celebrate Holidays day. So now even Happy Holidays is 'politically incorrect'.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

It's a Christian holiday. Regardless of what it was in the past, it currently is a Christian holiday (over-commercialized, definitely!) The thing that I don't get is why Atheists celebrate "Christ's mass" instead of say, the solstice or some other secular reason around the same time. Even Santa Claus is based off of the patron saint of Charity.

Likewise, regardless of what it was in the past, it is no longer a strictly Christian holiday either.

then they really shouldn't call it Christmas.

Call the marketing department, we need to re-brand Christmas...it's gonna be an all nighter.

I think it's fairly evident that Christmas doesn't belong solely to the Christians, it's very much a part of wider society. But, seriously...what's in a name?...a rose by any other...