Atheists who celebrate X-mas

[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...

 

[ezeroast]

the one guaranteed day off of the year and the day after is the Boxing day test.

Boxing day>Christmas

 

[The Cheezy One]

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.

Sorry, when I said "I let them", I really should have said, "I have no problem with them", I'll go change that. Regarding the rest of your arguement, I reckon I'm not going to be able to change your beliefs over the internet, if at all, and you aren't going to change mine, so I think we'll leave that here.
Burn in hell, heathen!

[sub][small][sub]kidding![/sub][/small][/sub]

 

[Weslebear]

I celebrate it in as much as I enjoy getting money from it. I could not care less about the message or the apparent magic at this time of year.

 

[Bill_Stanbrook]

I'm not religious, and I basically celebrate Christmas as an excuse to drink alcohol during the day.

 

[Amphoteric]

Take the secular parts out of Chritmas and you have Passover... Really would anyone care

NO

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

It's mainly about family and materialism, neither of which are strictly religious things.

 

[Popadoo]

I'm Atheist, and being so I'm quite, let's say, cold. If you get free stuff, it's worth celebrating if I get free stuff too. Yes it's mean, but fuck it, If everyone was selfless the world would suck.

 

[Halceon]

Merry, merry solstice! What is this Kree-smass you speak of?

 

[Neonit]

yep, x-mas (as you might have noticed it is no longer Christmas) has nothing to do with church, despite its best efforts to prove otherwise. thats why i always laugh when somebody feels discriminated by a bunch of colored lights.

 

[Calico93]

I just find it funny that some people still believe Jesus was born on 25th of December, along with all the other sons of gods and what not.
Christmas is a pagan thing if im right, and anyway I see it as a celebration we have every year where we give presents, love one another and get very VERY drunk. ^^

 

[Mr.Squishy]

Eh, I like hanging out with my family, unwinding and getting free stuff. Besides, originally pagan etc. etc.

 

[Demonicdan]

By "celebrate christmas" I assume you mean giving presents and eating christmas lunch, rather than going to masss which is "traditional christmas."

 

[PorkChopXpress]

I am an atheist, and I still have christmas. It brings the family together for a day, where we can all laugh, have fun, and eat good food. And presents. I love presents.

Exactly!

 

[Crazie_Guy]

You don't have to be christian to embrace the values celebrated at christmas. Idealism aside though, the holiday is functionally a cultural, rather than religious, event. It has been for a long time. This is why I'm so annoyed at the idiots who try to make it more politically correct. Everyone should be able to celebrate and enjoy christmas, regardless of religion.

 

[Neonit]

yep, x-mas (as you might have noticed it is no longer Christmas) has nothing to do with church, despite its best efforts to prove otherwise. thats why i always laugh when somebody feels discriminated by a bunch of colored lights.

Again.. X-Mas is actually said as Cris-mas, Greek lettering for Christ's Mass.

The X isn't without the Christ. It's just another way to sign it and say it.

Really? i always though that this only counts with a P (big P and an x in the middle) sorry, it has been years since i had to learn that....

still, x-mas is just a bunch of pagan etc holidays bundled together by church.... seriously look it up, no part of x-mas is Christian only.