If you are not Christian, do you resent holidays like Christmas and Easter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if you are atheist, or something, you celebrate in a more secular way--on Christmas Santa brings toys, you get together with family for a big dinner, etc.

Or if you are a different religion, and do not feel it is appropriate to do things like Santa, big family dinner, etc. what do you do? If you work in an industry that still needs to operate on Christmas (hospital, police/fire department, etc.) do you volunteer to work on those days? Does your job pay a premium holiday rate for those shifts?

The hell is this nonsense? Either you believe or you don't. If you're doing some "secular" version of a religious holiday, you are a confused individual and you are passing along your weak constitution to your children.

Secular versions of holidays are the BEST!

Really? They strike me as a hollow acknowledgement that the rejection of faith isn't exactly confident... I mean, I love a good party, don't get me wrong. But, maybe these people are just followers in general and lacking in their convictions? I don't know how else to explain it.

It's part of the culture and doesn't have to be religious at all. In any event, truly religious people, strong in their religious convictions, don't celebrate any of the secular aspects of Christmas like Santa or Rudolph. If they do, I guess they are just followers. I don't know how else to explain it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if you are atheist, or something, you celebrate in a more secular way--on Christmas Santa brings toys, you get together with family for a big dinner, etc.

Or if you are a different religion, and do not feel it is appropriate to do things like Santa, big family dinner, etc. what do you do? If you work in an industry that still needs to operate on Christmas (hospital, police/fire department, etc.) do you volunteer to work on those days? Does your job pay a premium holiday rate for those shifts?

The hell is this nonsense? Either you believe or you don't. If you're doing some "secular" version of a religious holiday, you are a confused individual and you are passing along your weak constitution to your children.

Secular versions of holidays are the BEST!

Really? They strike me as a hollow acknowledgement that the rejection of faith isn't exactly confident... I mean, I love a good party, don't get me wrong. But, maybe these people are just followers in general and lacking in their convictions? I don't know how else to explain it.

Really? Are you normally a moron or do you just play one on DCUM? If it's not your holiday, you shouldn't celebrate it, period. Cultural or secular don't qualify. Those who are religious can observe it anyway they like, and you don't get to criticize or pass judgment since, you know, you wouldn't care if you missed it, right?
It's part of the culture and doesn't have to be religious at all. In any event, truly religious people, strong in their religious convictions, don't celebrate any of the secular aspects of Christmas like Santa or Rudolph. If they do, I guess they are just followers. I don't know how else to explain it.

[Anonymous]

I'm Jewish. I wouldn't say I resent the Christian holidays, but I do resent feeling like Christmas is shoved down my throat. I only want to be wished a Merry Christmas ON Christmas itself. Christmas Eve day would be fine too. But all through the month of December? No. Happy holidays.

I dislike going to the store for happy hanukah cards and being directed to the "holiday" section where it's an entire aisle for Christmas cards and then one tiny row for Hanukah. It bums me out.

This isk kind of my fault because of course we all choose where we live but I hate going into a store to ask for something related to my religion and being met with blank stares. It makes my heart sink.

[Anonymous]

No, it doesn't bother me. I enjoy the family togetherness that comes along with these holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm Jewish. I wouldn't say I resent the Christian holidays, but I do resent feeling like Christmas is shoved down my throat. I only want to be wished a Merry Christmas ON Christmas itself. Christmas Eve day would be fine too. But all through the month of December? No. Happy holidays.

I dislike going to the store for happy hanukah cards and being directed to the "holiday" section where it's an entire aisle for Christmas cards and then one tiny row for Hanukah. It bums me out.

This isk kind of my fault because of course we all choose where we live but I hate going into a store to ask for something related to my religion and being met with blank stares. It makes my heart sink.

I grew up feeling like this because of the area I lived in, and now when people are so inclusive and wish me Happy Hannukah, I feel all twitchy like it's strange that they know. Not that it was a secret that we were Jewish, of course, but it was a private thing when I was growing up. Silly, I know. And it is lovely when people care enough to find out what I celebrate and try to accommodate that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if you are atheist, or something, you celebrate in a more secular way--on Christmas Santa brings toys, you get together with family for a big dinner, etc.

Or if you are a different religion, and do not feel it is appropriate to do things like Santa, big family dinner, etc. what do you do? If you work in an industry that still needs to operate on Christmas (hospital, police/fire department, etc.) do you volunteer to work on those days? Does your job pay a premium holiday rate for those shifts?

The hell is this nonsense? Either you believe or you don't. If you're doing some "secular" version of a religious holiday, you are a confused individual and you are passing along your weak constitution to your children.

Secular versions of holidays are the BEST!

Really? They strike me as a hollow acknowledgement that the rejection of faith isn't exactly confident... I mean, I love a good party, don't get me wrong. But, maybe these people are just followers in general and lacking in their convictions? I don't know how else to explain it.

Really? Are you normally a moron or do you just play one on DCUM? If it's not your holiday, you shouldn't celebrate it, period. Cultural or secular don't qualify. Those who are religious can observe it anyway they like, and you don't get to criticize or pass judgment since, you know, you wouldn't care if you missed it, right?
It's part of the culture and doesn't have to be religious at all. In any event, truly religious people, strong in their religious convictions, don't celebrate any of the secular aspects of Christmas like Santa or Rudolph. If they do, I guess they are just followers. I don't know how else to explain it.

Lol! Funniest thing I've heard in a long time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if you are atheist, or something, you celebrate in a more secular way--on Christmas Santa brings toys, you get together with family for a big dinner, etc.

Or if you are a different religion, and do not feel it is appropriate to do things like Santa, big family dinner, etc. what do you do? If you work in an industry that still needs to operate on Christmas (hospital, police/fire department, etc.) do you volunteer to work on those days? Does your job pay a premium holiday rate for those shifts?

The hell is this nonsense? Either you believe or you don't. If you're doing some "secular" version of a religious holiday, you are a confused individual and you are passing along your weak constitution to your children.

Secular versions of holidays are the BEST!

Really? They strike me as a hollow acknowledgement that the rejection of faith isn't exactly confident... I mean, I love a good party, don't get me wrong. But, maybe these people are just followers in general and lacking in their convictions? I don't know how else to explain it.

it's just a way to spend time with family. the rest of it is a meaningless ritual to me so i dont feel the need to avoid it. it's harmless.

[Anonymous]

Considering that school is out for a week during christmas for "winter break" and a week during easter for "spring break", then yes we will celebrate these holidays as secular, "American" culture holidays.

We will drink egg nog, go to our company "holiday" party, give and receive gifts that we get great deals on since they are on "holday" sale, color eggs, and pass out bunny shaped chocolate as much as we non-xtians want to because all those things have nothing to do with your Jesus!!!!! (Whose birthday has been historically proven to NOT be in Dec anyway )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Considering that school is out for a week during christmas for "winter break" and a week during easter for "spring break", then yes we will celebrate these holidays as secular, "American" culture holidays.

We will drink egg nog, go to our company "holiday" party, give and receive gifts that we get great deals on since they are on "holday" sale, color eggs, and pass out bunny shaped chocolate as much as we non-xtians want to because all those things have nothing to do with your Jesus!!!!! (Whose birthday has been historically proven to NOT be in Dec anyway )

If OP was asking about resentment, I think this poster has answered "hell, yes!" Because all the insults are the mark of an angry, bitter person.

[Anonymous]

To the pp, no I don't have resentment towards xtian holidays. I am responding to the below poster who thinks that xtians have a monopoly on all things "holiday" related and that these cultural traditions should only be practiced by their religious faith and that no one else has a right to celebrate them secularly.

The "holiday season" is open to everyone regardless of faith, which is why schools are out for break, why stores don't say only certain faiths can shop their "holiday" sales, why the "holiday" music is played EVERYWHERE rather than just in churches or the homes of only those of a certain faith, why the publicly funded parks that hold egg rolls and egg hunts don't check your faith card before letting your child in with their basket.

I don't resent christmas or easter, but I do resent xtians who think that no one else should participate in the clearly non-religious aspects of those times of the year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The hell is this nonsense? Either you believe or you don't. If you're doing some "secular" version of a religious holiday, you are a confused individual and you are passing along your weak constitution to your children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if you are atheist, or something, you celebrate in a more secular way--on Christmas Santa brings toys, you get together with family for a big dinner, etc.

Or if you are a different religion, and do not feel it is appropriate to do things like Santa, big family dinner, etc. what do you do? If you work in an industry that still needs to operate on Christmas (hospital, police/fire department, etc.) do you volunteer to work on those days? Does your job pay a premium holiday rate for those shifts?

The hell is this nonsense? Either you believe or you don't. If you're doing some "secular" version of a religious holiday, you are a confused individual and you are passing along your weak constitution to your children.

Wow, you are a stone bitch. My kids like toys and candy. My atheist family buys toys and candy for them for Christmas and we put up a tree. They do an egg hunt and get an Easter basket for Easter. We enjoy a few days off. That's about it. We are very clear with them that we don't believe in the birth of Jesus or the resurrection. There's no confusion here.

[Anonymous]

I am secular and I absolutely LOVE christmas and easter. I grew up celebrating them and they mean the world to me. I love tradition around the holidays and I love the food. I love getting together with family. I love Christmas trees, lights, etc.

[Anonymous]

Totally resent them. It disturbs billable hours. Talk of cheer. Giving gifts to my children. Parties with wgg nog. Shiny lights disturb the early darkness at that time of year. Talk of a Christ child being born in a manger. Repeats of its a wonderful life and that insufferable boy who will shoot his eye out with his red rider BB gun. Ugh. Can't stand it. Resent it.

[Anonymous]

My family is agnostic/atheist, and we really enjoy the decorating and cooking aspects of Christmas. At Easter, we really only enjoy the candy. I think the fact that people like us embrace some observances of Christian holidays while passing on the religious content is not surprising considering that many of these observances are things that Christians also adopted and re-purposed from other religions/traditions (Christmas trees, Easter eggs, a winter solstice holiday, a spring/passover season holiday). That said, I don't begrudge Christians their religious understanding of observances in any way -- if they bring folks closer to their God, then more power to them.

I will second the idea that what probably sometimes comes across as resentment is really just a certain level of discomfort at what we (maybe wrongly) perceive as a slightly too insistent wish that we (non-Christians) participate in Christian religious observances. For example, it might seem resentful or rude to Christians when non-Christians don't want to bow their heads during prayers and say "amen" afterward. Christians probably consider those things just good manners. To non-Christians, they seem like religious acts, and the perceived pressure to bow and say "amen" can seem kind of rude, even though it is not meant that way. In the same way, it would definitely have been perceived as rude and unacceptable for a guest to refuse to cover his head in the very traditional synagogue I went to as a kid, so this is by no means an exclusively Christian issue.

[Anonymous]

Atheist here. I don't resent the Christian holidays. I celebrate them. It's a nice thing to bring the family together, and fun for my son. Heck, Christmas and Easter are just PAGAN holdays anyway that Christians took over and slapped their own meanings onto them.