Atheists who celebrate X-mas

[BlueGlowstick]

I have never bought presents for anyone, yet I still attend Christmas services.

what about conspiracy theorists?! what about their Christmas? "CHRISTMAS IS JUST A CONSPIRACY BY THE *insert names here* TO GET MORE MONEY!!"

Edit: Everyone in the world over-commercializes it. But it's like "I made it another year!"

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

Man, Solstice Festivals were going on LONG before Christianity came around, as far as celebrating in December goes, Christianity is downright LATE to the party, one could almost accuse them of jumping on the bandwagon >.>

Regardless as Western Society is founded on Christian Principles, Christmas is thus our societies Solstice Festival, and who doesn't like a good excuse to celebrate eh?

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Well like nearly every single Christian Festival it has been just placed on or adapted another Pagan Festival. Personally if it makes them happy and gets them closer to their family or whatever no harm is done then go for it.

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?

Well said, too many Christians fail to realise that their most important holiday has nothing to do with their religion.

OT: I get presents. That's what Christmas is about, now anyway.

Actually Easter is regarded as the most important holiday to Christians. So no Christmas is not the most important. Not everyone thinks of Christmas as just getting as well too.

Well, considering the Christians I know, they all seem to regard Christmas as the most important. You can't have the death of Christ without his birth.

Em regardless Easter is the most important. Yes with no birth no Christ but Easter is considered the most important in the Liturgical Calender.

 

[ExaltedK9]

The Bibles integrity has been proven many times over by bibliographers,

Wait, wait... so, those guys whose job hinges on the very unproven possibility that the Bible is true tout the fact that the Bible is true? Say it ain't so! The Bible proves nothing. That road leads to circular logic unless you have some tactile evidence, and not just, "It's God's word!"
As... as a... whatever... (I call myself a Luminist, not sure if there are any others out there...) I celebrate Xmas because the rest of the family does. Personal preference will put my tradition in the middle of SUMMER when it's my decision.

Nobody's job hinges on how authentic the bible is. They confirm how legitimate documents are, and if they believe the bible's legitimate, it's from an emotionless neutral third party stance.

But its not my job to educate. If you want your tactile evidence, watch a documentary.

Just for context, you might want to mention what a luminist is? (I'm guessing its a minority belief, just based on your post).

So... luminist as in the band? The snowglobe?

 

[bz316]

I love my family and friends, I love good food and booze, and I love to occasionally exchange gifts. I don't need a religion to appreciate that for a day.

 

[ilspooner]

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.

I think that sums up just about why every atheist celebrates christmas.

This may be a little off subject but i love your avatar. Waruvial is awesome.

Why thank you kind sir. Looking forward to Christmas tomorrow.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

Because Christmas allows the viewing of something as simple and beautiful as the below, without irony or cynicism.

Uh really?

What the beauty of the original must somehow be tarnished cos some marketing hack decided to turn it into a beer advert?

Stay classy mate.

 

[Zaverexus]

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.

I think that sums up just about why every atheist celebrates christmas.

This may be a little off subject but i love your avatar. Waruvial is awesome.

Amen, I've always wondered why people feel that they need a God to be friendly and kind to other people. i and most of my friends are atheist and none of us are bad people because we don't believe.

 

[Kukakkau]

Because Christmas allows the viewing of something as simple and beautiful as the below, without irony or cynicism.

Uh really?

What the beauty of the original must somehow be tarnished cos some marketing hack decided to turn it into a beer advert?

Stay classy mate.

I'm just saying that is the christmas advert for irn-bru which really changes peoples look at the snowman after seeing it.

And um irn-bru isn't a beer - it's a fizzy drink/soda

 

[KiKiweaky]

Not religous at all but i love christmas.

Whats not to love about far flung family members coming home and sitting around the house watching tv, drinking beer and eating turkey and stuffing sandwiches =D

 

[Deacon Cole]

Christmas was originally a pagan holiday to celebrate the winter solstice that the church first tried to stop and then they usurped it, saying jesus was born in December when we really have no idea when he was born (or if he was born at all.) Many of the traditions in the christmas celebration come from the pagan traditions. So I don't understand the question.

 

[Rorschach II]

It really is selfish how people want to spend time with family, give gifts and just be pleasant while not believing in supernatural beings.

*Slow Clap*

OT: I have a very buddhist approach to life and people always ask me 'If your buddhist, then why do you celebrate christmas?'

Before I punch them in the face for being so hypocritical I point out that most of the people who ask me aren't christian and still celebrate christmas. Even before I became buddhist my family celebrated christmas as a time for giving and bringing the family together. And presents. Never forget the presents.

 

[Scout Tactical]

Ya'll posting in a troll thread. Paper thin disguise to make both atheists and Christians alike rant about how Christmas was never about Christ or how a holiday with Christ in it is obviously about Christ.

I can't believe 13 pages of Escapists got suckered into it, and they're all saying the same things! I thought you guys were better than this.

 

[Gahars]

More like agnostic, but I celebrate it, not out of any religious devotion, but more because it's a great opportunity to spend time with my family.

 

[Terminal Blue]

Before I punch them in the face for being so hypocritical I point out that most of the people who ask me aren't christian and still celebrate christmas. Even before I became buddhist my family celebrated christmas as a time for giving and bringing the family together. And presents. Never forget the presents.

Remember, family and presents are impermanent. The desire for presents will only lead you to suffering!

 

[pejhmon]

Saint Nicholas is a Christian Saint, of East European (german?) origin, coloured by Coca Cola and dumped in the North Pole.

If I remember correctly it originated in one of the Scandinavian countries (Norway methinks) where a rich guy felt sorry for some of the poorer people and decided to give them some coins in secret but the snow meant that the only way into peoples' houses was via the chimney (standard thing to do back then). It just so happened to occur around the time of the Pagan holiday. At least that's what I've heard.

But yeah, it's not about the religous side of things any more it's just a bank holiday where everyone stuffs themselves silly, gets drunk and argues of the shitty presents sent around . That could just be my house though ....

 

[Daffy F]

I think Christmas is no longer just a religious holiday.

This just might revolutionise society as we know it.....
Sarcasm aside, nobody, Christian or not, should tell people who can or can't celebrate Christmas. If you're going to celebrate, celebrate, but it's a bit much for any Christian to tell atheists not to celebrate it - especially since most Christians celebrate it in the same way as everyone else: Very materialistically. (Just to clarify I am a Christian, I think your friends are wrong)

 

[Daffy F]

Ya'll posting in a troll thread. Paper thin disguise to make both atheists and Christians alike rant about how Christmas was never about Christ or how a holiday with Christ in it is obviously about Christ.

I can't believe 13 pages of Escapists got suckered into it, and they're all saying the same things! I thought you guys were better than this.

If anything's a troll post, THAT was.

 

[Daffy F]

Maybe there is a God/higher power, maybe there isn't. I really don't care what people believe in, as long as everyone is nice to each other, because that's kinda the point really.

Besides, most religions say you're going to hell (or equivalent of) if you don't belong to their religion, and since you can only belong to one religion, we're all stuffed anyway

I reckon enjoy good food, good wine and good company, don't get too immersed in the whole materialistic side of things, go to church if you want to or don't go if you don't want to, and see the whole thing as a time of togetherness instead of theorizing who should and shouldn't be allowed to celebrate Christmas

That's quite a succinct way of putting it. I'm Christian, and I agree with what this person here said.

No one know when Jesus was born, but it was basically allotted that period of time because it seemed a good place to say it occurred.

My knowledge of Christian fiction is somewhat lacking, but I think it's theorized that Jesus was born in the summer. Mary and Joseph were on their way to the city to pay their taxes when Jesus was born. Though no dates were given, historically, people paid their taxes in the summer months.

It was a census, wasn't it? The king called a census, so every man had to go with his family back to his home town (In this case, Bethlehem) to be counted.

 

[fordneagles]

That's quite a succinct way of putting it. I'm Christian, and I agree with what this person here said.

This person here says thanks and good on ya