Atheists who celebrate Christmas: why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I am 14:10. I'd happily join your no-scrapbookers club and not-fitness-fanatics meetings! I was joking about organizing and was pointing out some of the benefits frequently associated with Hanukkah and Christmas: the spread of good will and a great sale.

[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 am the poster you are responding to. Actually, I take my kids to a Unitarian church (I find it to be a system of ethics, not a faith) and my older child and I discuss mythology and world religions quite a bit. I just find it amusing that the Op thinks it's somehow difficult or an obstacle to be overcome that we have to "explain" Christmas to kids. We CAN, but we don't have to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I am 14:10. I'd happily join your no-scrapbookers club and not-fitness-fanatics meetings! I was joking about organizing and was pointing out some of the benefits frequently associated with Hanukkah and Christmas: the spread of good will and a great sale.

I'm so glad you were joking!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

HUH? Movies and Chinese food are a Jewish tradition. It is not my normal to have a tree or do presents. I don't know any Jews who have trees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

HUH? Movies and Chinese food are a Jewish tradition. It is not my normal to have a tree or do presents. I don't know any Jews who have trees.

I know cultural Jews who have trees and not all are married to people raised Christian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Why would it? I'm a different PP from either of the ones that you're referring to. My very active Methodist MIL (she is just stepping down from a 2-term stint as regional president of her Chapter of the UMW) knows the way to get to our local Methodist church and whenever she comes to visit, she borrows one of our cars to go to church on many Sunday mornings and definitely at Christmas. We've given a polite pause for several friends who join us for our secular Christmas Eve dinner to say grace. I'm spiritual, but atheistic. My spouse is a non-practicing Methodist. And we're very respectful in our house of visitors practicing their religions as long as they don't proselytize or try to change our opinions. Respect us and we'll respect you.

Likewise, if I were staying with a Catholic family, I would prefer if I could stay home and not join the trip out for Christmas Mass, but if there was no polite way out of it, I would sit politely through another Christmas Mass (I've been to a few when I couldn't get out of them). It's about respect. I'll be glad to treat you respectfully in the observance of your religion if you'll do the same for my lack of one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

NP. No. It's your house. You could do all that at my house, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I am the first pp quoted, and I take my mother to mass at a Catholic Church in Arlington every time she visits. I don't just drop her off and head to Starbucks; it means something to her to have me sitting beside her, so I attend mass with her. And my hair doesn't catch on fire or anything...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Wow, I did not intend to seem as snarky as I apparently did. Sorry! Let me be clear. I am not necessarily opposed to non-Christians celebrating Christmas. I remember asking my parents about this when I was a kid. They said that they are fine with it because it's their hope that in the festivities of the season, they will somehow get that mustard seed of faith. I try to keep that mindset, but I have a hard time with it when it comes to people who make fun of us the rest of the year. I wrote this post after receiving a "Warm Wishes" card from a friend who speaks out against Christianity every single chance she gets. It seemed very hypocritical. The only purpose of her card was to show off pictures of her Aruba vacation. these are the people I have issues with. If you are a non-Christian who would like to participate in the season, I simply ask that you respect our religion during the "off-season" as well. Please don't try to convince yourself that it's not a religious holiday. Of course it is.

Yes, I do try to minimize the commercialism and focus on Christ during the season.

I know the pagan history of trees, but don't believe the theory that that's where the Christmas tree originated. The tree, wreath, holly, etc is a symbol of eternal life.

The mistletoe is a fertility symbol that grew on the sacred oaks of Celtic druids. Romans associated holly with Saturn and brought holly into their homes as decorations for Saturnalia, which was celebrated on December 25.

All kinds of religions use circles/wreaths as symbols of eternity.

Christians don't get their own set of facts. You can use mistleoe and holly as Christian symbols, but you borrowed them. It's okay. We don't mind sharing our holiday with you.

[Anonymous]

Someone posted that Santa is for the atheists.....um, you know that Santa is based on St. Nicholas, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Wow, I did not intend to seem as snarky as I apparently did. Sorry! Let me be clear. I am not necessarily opposed to non-Christians celebrating Christmas. I remember asking my parents about this when I was a kid. They said that they are fine with it because it's their hope that in the festivities of the season, they will somehow get that mustard seed of faith. I try to keep that mindset, but I have a hard time with it when it comes to people who make fun of us the rest of the year. I wrote this post after receiving a "Warm Wishes" card from a friend who speaks out against Christianity every single chance she gets. It seemed very hypocritical. The only purpose of her card was to show off pictures of her Aruba vacation. these are the people I have issues with. If you are a non-Christian who would like to participate in the season, I simply ask that you respect our religion during the "off-season" as well. Please don't try to convince yourself that it's not a religious holiday. Of course it is.

Yes, I do try to minimize the commercialism and focus on Christ during the season.

I know the pagan history of trees, but don't believe the theory that that's where the Christmas tree originated. The tree, wreath, holly, etc is a symbol of eternal life.

You're not Christ, Sweetie. Christ wouldn't troll a website with a fight like this and then suggest that people aren't welcome at His table. Christ welcomed everone to the table, even sinners and non-believers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP. nope. A scene from the bible. You know the book on which Jesus Christ Suoerstar was based

Oh, you mean the New Testimate, the sequel to the bible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband is Athiest yet insists on celebrating Christmas. I grew up Jewish and my parents always told me that it was the celebration of the birth of Christ- errrrm the name does mention him, right? My husband looks me in the eye and says that isn't true. Ummm? What is that manger scene and all the songs about, then? I agree with OP that I think it's kind of hypocritical... This having been said most of the reform Jews I knew growing up had massive trees, lights, etc. I just go along with it all...

maybe where you lived. But I'm reform Jewish and none of our friends had trees. Just creeps me out. A Christmas tree is just that. For Christmas.

[Anonymous]

DCUM, I love you. But I'm signing off until after the holidays. I hate these threads but I can't resist opening them either. I'm going to save myself from me. Happy Holidays.

[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?

Ok, I celebrate Christmas secularly and as a time to spend time with family and friends. This is pretty disrespectful though, PP. You can have your own beliefs without making other people feel bad about theirs.

I have an obligation to tolerate people's beliefs. I have no obligation to respect them.