Atheists who celebrate Christmas: why?

[Anonymous]

My friends, none of this is important. None of it matters. It doesn't matter what you believe, or what beliefs you make fun of. All that matters is what is true.

It is possible Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Savior, hallelujah, hallelujah.

It is possible Christmas is ultimately meaningless, because there was no Jesus, or he was not who he claimed to be.

If the former is true, everything matters.

If the latter is true, nothing matters.

That's the conversation we should be having this time of year--not about who gets to celebrate what, but whether there is actually something to celebrate at all.

Peace to all, goodwill to mankind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friends, none of this is important. None of it matters. It doesn't matter what you believe, or what beliefs you make fun of. All that matters is what is true.

It is possible Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Savior, hallelujah, hallelujah.

It is possible Christmas is ultimately meaningless, because there was no Jesus, or he was not who he claimed to be.

If the former is true, everything matters.

If the latter is true, nothing matters.

That's the conversation we should be having this time of year--not about who gets to celebrate what, but whether there is actually something to celebrate at all.

Peace to all, goodwill to mankind.

Since the meaning of Christmas (to me) is family and giving, whether Jesus does or doesn't exist isn't a factor. There are plenty of holidays around the world that do not involve your god or religion.

[Anonymous]

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

And St. Nicholas is based on an actual person.

What's the point, exactly? A religion appoints someone as a saint and then no one else can recognize that person?

[Anonymous]

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.
>>>>>>>>>>

That's so cute! You'd rather persist in your ignorance and say that just because you refuse to acknowledge the pagan history behind the Christmas tree, that makes it true!

I stand corrected, you ARE a perfect Christian!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Yes. Pretty simple, really.

It's people like you who are high-jacking our holiday and taking the meaning out of it. get your own holiday.

New poster here. My response is, get your own religion. Jesus was a Jew, for God sake... (pun intended)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friends, none of this is important. None of it matters. It doesn't matter what you believe, or what beliefs you make fun of. All that matters is what is true.

It is possible Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Savior, hallelujah, hallelujah.

It is possible Christmas is ultimately meaningless, because there was no Jesus, or he was not who he claimed to be.

If the former is true, everything matters.

If the latter is true, nothing matters.

That's the conversation we should be having this time of year--not about who gets to celebrate what, but whether there is actually something to celebrate at all.

Peace to all, goodwill to mankind.

I think Jesus was who he claimed to be... I don't think he was who various authors writing years/centuries later claimed him to be. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea for one example of what I'm referring to.)

OP, if you're surrounded by people who make fun of you for your religious belief, maybe you need new friends, or think about how you're presenting yourself. Seriously. I've veered around from Christian to agnostic and back and forth my entire life, and no one has ever made fun of me (or, no one has to the point that I feel all pouty and oppressed about it). Time for an attitude adjustment, sister.

Merry Christmas!

[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.

This!

I also want to add that though my DH and I are atheists, our families are not, so we view Christmas as a time to spend with family and continue the traditions we grew up with. Besides, all the Christmasy things we do have Pagan/non christian roots anyway You won't see any nativity scenes at my house!

[Anonymous]

I'm sure this thread has already gone off the rails after 7 pages, but I'll bite. I celebrate Christmas because DH is Episcopalian and the holiday is part of my family and cultural heritage (European Catholic). I would be happy to exchange gifts on the Solstice instead, but it is important to DH that it be Christmas.

[Anonymous]

The reason I say happy holidays and would rather put that on my cards is because I have a good number of Jewish friends and other friends that I'm not sure of their religion. I don't want to insult people by saying merry Christmas to a bunch of people who don't celebrate Christmas so I think it's more thoughtful to say happy holidays.

I am not religious so Christmas is about presents, decorating, lights, cookies, a tree, vacation, red and green clothes, Santa, cards, helping the needy and kids. In large part I do all this for my kids, but mostly I enjoy the traditions also.

[Anonymous]

This song sums up my views of Christmas perfectly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q

[Anonymous]

When the majority shoves Xmas down our throats, we get to appropriate it, water it down and do what we want with it. That's the flip side of your overbearing ways.

[Anonymous]

Here is a good article on Christmas and a good video on Christmas. The article is short. The video ia about 40 minutes long. It starts out kind of slow but it quickly gathers steam and by the end it is awesome and inspiring.

http://williamedelen.org/archives/3552

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjHk9nKUNNs

[Anonymous]

I should have linked the article below instead of the one above. The one below has common ground that the atheist and believer can share I think. It's written by the minister of a Congregational church and I hope that atheists don't let that turn them off. I'm an atheist.

http://williamedelen.org/archives/3528#more-3528

[Anonymous]

I am secular. I adore Christmas b/c it's a joyful holiday and family gets together, great food, love, happiness all around, kids get to open presents, it's a magical time. It's very much engrained in American culture and I am an American!

[Anonymous]

I dont understand this thread. I am an American through and through and I grew up celerating Christmas. I am not religious but this is my culture.