Atheists who celebrate Christmas: why?

[Anonymous]

It's an American holiday and cultural tradition. I know Christians, atheists, Jews, and others who celebrate some aspect of it.

But then, OP knew that.

Merry Christmas!

[Anonymous]

This discussion seems to pop up every year.

Like the gays getting married does not threaten your marriage, your neighbors celebrating a Christmas without believing in Christ does not endanger your Christmas traditions.

Live and let live!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't. Its movies and Chinese food for us!

My MIL must be on this thread. I love you. I agree Islam is a fascinating religion but, I am gonna stick to the one I have gotten used to. Please consider it to the comfortable feeling you get from a visit with your hairdresser. Same thing. Sort of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but I am just wondering how you justify celebrating Christmas when you spend the rest of the year making fun of Christians and all of our rituals and beliefs. i know that many of you avoid saying Christmas and call it the holidays. But when you do all the same stuff we do (aside from attending Christmas church services), then you are celebrating Christmas.

I celebrate Christmas for atavistic reasons. I don't feel any need to justify it. Do you feel the need to justify your childish belief in an imaginary friend in the sky?

Jesus is all around, silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. If you celebrate for the reasons you've mentioned, such as "it's fun" and "not really a religious holiday" then why don't people of other faiths celebrate it too? I know they've got their own holidays around that time, but they actually go out of their way to avoid the festivities. I know that Christmas has become too commercial, but perhaps that's because too many people are not celebrating it for the right reasons.

How do you explain it to your kids? When they find out that their friends celebrate it because of Jesus' birth, but that you don't believe. Do you just tell them because it's fun.

Hey, know what OP? If you are criticizing atheists for celebrating Christmas because they aren't worthy...then you aren't either.

I am a Christian and I say the more the merrier! Peace on earth, good will toward men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but I am just wondering how you justify celebrating Christmas when you spend the rest of the year making fun of Christians and all of our rituals and beliefs. i know that many of you avoid saying Christmas and call it the holidays. But when you do all the same stuff we do (aside from attending Christmas church services), then you are celebrating Christmas.

I celebrate Christmas for atavistic reasons. I don't feel any need to justify it. Do you feel the need to justify your childish belief in an imaginary friend in the sky?

Jesus is all around, silly.

PP and atheist here and I disagree. I think Jesus had a lot of wonderful lessons to teach. The transition from 'an eye for an eye' to 'turn the other cheek' is radical and powerful. As are many of the other ideals espoused in the New Testament - for example the parable of the good Samaritan is a wonderful story, regardless of religion.

Unlike many here I posted that I do in fact celebrate Jesus' life at Christmas. I do not believe in God, or Jesus' divinity, but I do believe that there are valuable lessons to be found in the teachings of Christ on how to better live in *this* world. And part of what I love about the Christmas season is the yearly reminder to try harder for a life of peace and love.

[Anonymous]

More of an agnostic here. Grew up with a tree and all the trimmings. It's fun, like the Easter bunny or Tooth Fairy, for my kids.

Besides, I prefer to think of the symbols of what you call "Christmas" more in their true historical context. Santa and Trees don't really have anything to do with Christ, do they? .

In fact, please give me back the Winter Solstice and leave my symbols alone. While we're at it, I would like the Easter Bunny and colored eggs back, too. They are not Biblical.

[Anonymous]

How do you explain it to your kids?
>>>>>>>>>>

OMG how am I going to explain Christmas to my five year old???

Me: It's Christmas! Santa is coming!!!

Child: YAY SANTA

end of explanation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another example to me of how "un-Christian" many "Christians" are.

Your Aruba-vacationing friend has just as much rights to her views as you do. Why are you so affected by her speaking her own truth? Why does it bother you? Because you have a seed of doubt? Because she makes complete sense?

I'm an atheist. I respect everybody's choice to believe what they like. But I don't like feeling that I have to tiptoe around others because somehow I am offensive.

Another example of how some atheists "believe" all Christians are perfect? No one has every told me this growing up. Cut the Christian vs. un-Christian attempt to stereotype.

What are Atheists' goals? Will you please organize some good Atheist Holiday Sales so I can get more cheap crap? Will you please organize a give your cheap crap to others drive to share your energy? What is your organized purpose? I don't care if you celebrate the seeds of doubt day or learn how to debate effectively seminars to believers, just do something other than bitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're off in some of your assumptions. I'm an atheist, I celebrate Christmas, and I spend no time making fun of Christians, or people with any other religious beliefs. None of the atheists I know avoid calling Christmas Day Christmas. But I don't wish people "merry Christmas" this time of year unless I know they celebrate Christmas. I send holiday cards rather than Christmas cards because I have friends and family with varying belief systems, but I don't know of anyone who doesn't celebrate one of the several holidays this time of year. I celebrate Christmas because it is a cherished family tradition; the tree, the gifts, music, baking, parties, family gatherings. With all due respect, no one needs to justify to you what holidays they celebrate.

Could not have said it any better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you explain it to your kids?
>>>>>>>>>>

OMG how am I going to explain Christmas to my five year old???

Me: It's Christmas! Santa is coming!!!

Child: YAY SANTA

end of explanation.

I am am atheist raising my children in the Christian tradition. I tell them about Mary, the birth of Jesus, etc. They can have faith or not as adults. It's their call.

Oh, wait, OP, am I supposed to be on the street with some atheist agenda ranting against God? I must have lost that page in my Handbook for Atheists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you explain it to your kids?
>>>>>>>>>>

OMG how am I going to explain Christmas to my five year old???

Me: It's Christmas! Santa is coming!!!

Child: YAY SANTA

end of explanation.

I am am atheist raising my children in the Christian tradition. I tell them about Mary, the birth of Jesus, etc. They can have faith or not as adults. It's their call.

Oh, wait, OP, am I supposed to be on the street with some atheist agenda ranting against God? I must have lost that page in my Handbook for Atheists.

I think there was a printing problem with some handbook batches. So many of us seem to have missed the foamy-mouthed, believer-taunting chapter. Good thing there wasn't a test.

[Anonymous]

I love that 14:10 thinks atheists should organize and have an agenda. How bizarre. I'm too busy with my no-scrapbookers club and not-fitness-fanatics meetings to make time for an athiest organization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're off in some of your assumptions. I'm an atheist, I celebrate Christmas, and I spend no time making fun of Christians, or people with any other religious beliefs. None of the atheists I know avoid calling Christmas Day Christmas. But I don't wish people "merry Christmas" this time of year unless I know they celebrate Christmas. I send holiday cards rather than Christmas cards because I have friends and family with varying belief systems, but I don't know of anyone who doesn't celebrate one of the several holidays this time of year. I celebrate Christmas because it is a cherished family tradition; the tree, the gifts, music, baking, parties, family gatherings. With all due respect, no one needs to justify to you what holidays they celebrate.

Could not have said it any better!

Would either of you feel it was an imposition for someone new to your family wanted to pray or go to church on Christmas if they were celebrating at your house. You both would be welcomed to not join in or not go to church, of course. Or do you think I should take religion out of my holiday in my house for you, my guest?

[Anonymous]

14:28 I'm not sure I understand the question but I don't know any atheists who would ask someone to skip church, whether celebrating in their home or another's. You've got atheists all wrong.