Atheists Celebrating Christmas

[Phoenix84]

Things have been a bit slow recently, so I figured I'd stir the pot a little.

I always thought it was a little strange to see many people who identify themselves as atheists or agnostic still celebrating Christmas, or at least do the things with the gift giving, Christmas trees, Christmas parties, stockings, ect.  You would think if you were "truly" atheist or agnostic, you would not celebrate Christmas in any way, shape or form, even preferring to work that day.

Don't get me wrong though, it's a free country, people can do what they want.  It just seems a bit disingenuous to me for an atheist or agnostic to celebrate Christmas.  How do they reconcile their celebratory activities with their religious beliefs (or lack there of in this case)?

[billisonboard]

Dec 9, 2014 18:55:43 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

... How do they reconcile their celebratory activities with their religious beliefs (or lack there of in this case)?

Personally I make no attempt to "reconcile" anything. I just celebrate Xmas.

[Deleted]

Jesus wasn't born in December. The date was a Pagen Holiday. 

Its quite easy to celebrate Christmas without religion. Good will towards man. Capitalism. There are other tenants at play. 

[Bonny]

Why? The Christmas tree and "Winter festivals" actually pre-date Christianity. They are actually pagan.

Being the good conquerors that they were, once the Romans converted to Christianity they incorporated the local pagan customs. Kept the locals happy.

[Deleted]

Dec 9, 2014 18:59:44 GMT -5 oped said:

Jesus wasn't born in December. The date was a Pagen Holiday. 

Its quite easy to celebrate Christmas without religion. Good will towards man. Capitalism. There are other tenants at play. 

you beat me to it.....the Christians stole it from the Pagans.

[hoops902]

Dec 9, 2014 18:55:43 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Things have been a bit slow recently, so I figured I'd stir the pot a little.

I always thought it was a little strange to see many people who identify themselves as atheists or agnostic still celebrating Christmas, or at least do the things with the gift giving, Christmas trees, Christmas parties, stockings, ect.  You would think if you were "truly" atheist or agnostic, you would not celebrate Christmas in any way, shape or form, even preferring to work that day.

Don't get me wrong though, it's a free country, people can do what they want.  It just seems a bit disingenuous to me for an atheist or agnostic to celebrate Christmas.  How do they reconcile their celebratory activities with their religious beliefs (or lack there of in this case)?

The same way that Halloween has basically become a holiday completely devoid of religious meaning probably.  Just because a holiday once had a religious meaning doesn't mean that it still does, or that it does to all people.

Not sure why you think they'd prefer to work that day?  If you gave me Ramadan off I'd take it, I wouldn't "prefer to work".

[chiver78]

just a note....if this continues into a history lesson on the origins of the Christian holiday, it's going to get moved into religious discussion.

that said, carry on.

-chiver mod

[Phoenix84]

But what do you tell your kids when they inevitably ask "why do we celebrate Christmas?" Surely you don't say you're kind of celebrating a Christian holiday, but we're not Christians.

[quince]

"Blah blah blah, history of the holiday..."

"And our family celebrates because everyone loves a good party."

My kids may also dye eggs at Easter.  I personally did not know that Easter was a religious holiday until I was well into my teens.  Eggs, chicks, and baskets with shredded plastic do not radiate holiness.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Dec 9, 2014 19:31:36 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

But what do you tell your kids when they inevitably ask "why do we celebrate Christmas?" Surely you don't say you're kind of celebrating a Christian holiday, but we're not Christians.

Other religions, including Muslim, celebrate a holiday around Christmas.  Why does there have to be a reason?  Why can't you just celebrate goodwill towards man?

[Deleted]

I celebrate trees, stockings, Santa, Scrooge, movies, cookies, lights, and the almighty sale...

And throw in some gratitude, spreading the cheer, feellng happy and passing it on...

[kittensaver]

Let's see . . . I come from an Italian Catholic family, but married a Jew. One brother married a Mexican-American, and another an Armenian-American. So we celebrate everything - - year around: Christmas, St. Nicolas Day, Hanukkah, Passover, Easter, Cinco de Mayo, Dia De Los Muertos, Halloween, etc etc etc.

It doesn't matter, if it's a party - - we're there.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Dec 9, 2014 18:55:43 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Things have been a bit slow recently, so I figured I'd stir the pot a little.

I always thought it was a little strange to see many people who identify themselves as atheists or agnostic still celebrating Christmas, or at least do the things with the gift giving, Christmas trees, Christmas parties, stockings, ect.  You would think if you were "truly" atheist or agnostic, you would not celebrate Christmas in any way, shape or form, even preferring to work that day.

Don't get me wrong though, it's a free country, people can do what they want.  It just seems a bit disingenuous to me for an atheist or agnostic to celebrate Christmas.  How do they reconcile their celebratory activities with their religious beliefs (or lack there of in this case)?

I for one don't have a problem with them having a celebration.

They could call it the "Celebration of Winter", or "Festivus for the Rest of Us", for all I care. It's a season of celebration.

I also don't know why them having Stockings, and Christmas Tree, or gift exchanges would bother you. I don't recall any Stockings, Christmas Trees or Santa Claus having anything do do with the birth of Christ or the Nativity. The gift-giving might be a spin-off of the Gifts of the Magi, but that's even a stretch.

A Christmas card also doesn't necessarily have to be called a Christmas Card. If the message is "Season's Greetings", it's a celebration of the season.

And Agnostics aren't the same thing as Atheists. They're basically "undecideds".

ag·nos·tic

noun: agnostic; plural noun: agnostics

a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God.

[Deleted]

I don't know.  We celebrate Halloween and don't worship Satan...or whatever that came from.  LOL  I'm in the camp of taking whatever holiday I can get. 

My family is mostly Christian, my kids were baptized Catholic, and can decide on their own, but I don't see anything wrong with the message of Christmas to say "no, kids, we're sitting this one out". 

[dannylion]

For a lot of people Christmas is more of a family and social ritual and not really religious at all.   Besides, there's presents and cookies and candy.  Sometimes there's cake. Even atheists like cake.

It is very likely that the Christmas holiday was just a usurpation of a pagan winter holiday, anyway, so there's really no point in getting tied up in knots worrying about the religious versus secular nature of the holiday.  If there wasn't any Christmas, there would be some other winter holiday, so it might as well be Christmas. 

[weltschmerz]

ag·nos·tic

noun: agnostic; plural noun: agnostics

a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God.

an Atheist who can't commit.

[Deleted]

It's actually stranger for Christians to have Christmas trees and Santa Claus than it is for non Christians. Those things compete with Christ for attention. It could even be called idolatry.

[Tennesseer]

Christmas is all about family being together and what ever you want to make of it.

[Jaguar]

My Buddhist friends celebrate at Christmas time. It's all about the celebration.

[dannylion]

Dec 9, 2014 20:34:01 GMT -5 Jaguar said:

My Buddhist friends celebrate at Christmas time. It's all about the celebration.

And the cake.

[Tennesseer]

By the way-the opening post is a wee bit judgmental.

[chiver78]

Dec 9, 2014 20:40:06 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

By the way-the opening post is a wee bit judgmental.

that tends to happen when it also includes a comment of "it's been slow, so I'm going to "

just saying...

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

An Atheist who can't commit

Or a closet Christian who can't commit.

I call myself an agnostic, because nobody's been able to prove to me the existence of a God, and nobody's been able to prove that there is no God.

I'm an equal-opportunity fence-sitter and go about my life as I see fit for me.

[Tennesseer]

Dec 9, 2014 20:41:23 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 9, 2014 20:40:06 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

By the way-the opening post is a wee bit judgmental.

that tends to happen when it also includes a comment of "it's been slow, so I'm going to "

just saying...

Ayuh.

[Deleted]

Well, I'm agnostic, but waffle more between nothing and deism, not Christianity  

[Formerly SK]

Dec 9, 2014 18:55:43 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Things have been a bit slow recently, so I figured I'd stir the pot a little.

I always thought it was a little strange to see many people who identify themselves as atheists or agnostic still celebrating Christmas, or at least do the things with the gift giving, Christmas trees, Christmas parties, stockings, ect.  You would think if you were "truly" atheist or agnostic, you would not celebrate Christmas in any way, shape or form, even preferring to work that day.

Don't get me wrong though, it's a free country, people can do what they want.  It just seems a bit disingenuous to me for an atheist or agnostic to celebrate Christmas.  How do they reconcile their celebratory activities with their religious beliefs (or lack there of in this case)?

None of the bolded things have to do with Christianity.  They have to do with a commercialized American holiday called Christmas.

The Christians I know (and myself back when I was one) somewhat resented Santa etc on Christmas.  They detracted from the meaning of Christmas, not enhanced it.

[Bonny]

Dec 9, 2014 20:48:36 GMT -5 Formerly SK said:

Dec 9, 2014 18:55:43 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Things have been a bit slow recently, so I figured I'd stir the pot a little.

I always thought it was a little strange to see many people who identify themselves as atheists or agnostic still celebrating Christmas, or at least do the things with the gift giving, Christmas trees, Christmas parties, stockings, ect.  You would think if you were "truly" atheist or agnostic, you would not celebrate Christmas in any way, shape or form, even preferring to work that day.

Don't get me wrong though, it's a free country, people can do what they want.  It just seems a bit disingenuous to me for an atheist or agnostic to celebrate Christmas.  How do they reconcile their celebratory activities with their religious beliefs (or lack there of in this case)?

None of the bolded things have to do with Christianity.  They have to do with a commercialized American holiday called Christmas.

The Christians I know (and myself back when I was one) somewhat resented Santa etc on Christmas.  They detracted from the meaning of Christmas, not enhanced it.

The gift giving goes back to pagan times.

No surprise that we Americans take it to a new level.

[swamp]

Why do I have to believe in god to get presents? 

[Phoenix84]

Dec 9, 2014 20:40:06 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

By the way-the opening post is a wee bit judgmental.

That was intentional, hence the

[Deleted]

Well, it did seem apropos that the concept of hedonism came up in our studies this week. Somehow the 1920s and Christmas are melding well...