Should atheists observe Christmas?

[DavidDvorkin]

Or any other religious holidays.

[Modem Butterfly]

1. Everyone should make up their minds for themselves

But my partner and I don't observe xmas. That is to say, we observe it as little as possible- there are some facts of the holiday that are inescapable, such as having the day off from work, most businesses being closed, etc.

[MelanieArt]

2. "Other".

Atheists should do whatever they want, and celebrate whatever they feel comfortable with. Being an atheist means having the freedom not only to not be tied down to observing religious sanctions and rules, but to live our lives however we feel comfortable. An atheist should celebrate whatever holiday they want, and not celebrate what they don't want to.

By shunning Xmas based on what Christians have tied to it, even though we may want to celebrate it otherwise, we give the religious aspects of the holiday more power than it deserves. Anyways, when non believers embrace and celebrate what Christians percieve to be "their" holiday, it really pisses them off. :) Oh, and they hate the word "Xmas" too. ;)

[phantom power]

3. What Melanie said.

[DavidDvorkin]

6. Christianity isn't the only religion

Pre-Christian paganism was a religion, too.

Surely an atheist should reject paganism just as thoroughly and vigorously as Christianity.

I'm often struck by how often atheists don't see this. Presumably, most atheists in America were formerly Christians (I'm an ex-Jew), and this causes this -- as I see it -- blindness.

[Modem Butterfly]

7. Excellent point

And one I got flamed for over the weekend. Paganism = theism, plain and simple. Just because it's not a common religion at this point in time doesn't make it not a religion. It's like "vegetarians" who eat chicken and fish.

[MelanieArt]

8. In my opinion, an Atheist can reject or accept anything

in any capacity that they'd like, seeing that there are no real rules on how to not believe in a god.

One of the great things about being a non believer is that we never have to compromise our feelings and ideas to fit any sort of preconceived code of rules for behavior and thought if we don't want to. If an Atheist feels a kinship with those who worship nature, then by all means they should feel and express that if they'd like. Being an Atheist means being free in thought.

I know that we're mostly talking about Paganism before Christianity, but for the record I am much more accepting of modern Paganism than Christianity for the following reasons:

I think the reason some Atheists feel a kinship of sorts with modern Pagans/Wiccans because we share some similar issues and concerns that come with not worshiping a patriarch god. We have in common that we place our focus on the natural world, and we just want to be left in peace.

In the vast majority of cases, Pagans don't persecute anyone. They don't want to convert anyone. They don't tell you that you are going to hell. They don't care that you don't believe in a god.

Pagans usually don't worship actual "gods", and are closer to our thinking than other religions.

Another reason I am much more friendly towards Pagans than Christians is because they may be in a later portion of a journey towards free thought. Today's Pagan may be tomorrow's Atheist, and I don't want them to think that Atheists are cold, uncaring and not friendly. Actually, I used to be a "New Ager" before I became an Atheist. That's how I know this. :)

[YankeyMCC]

4. Yes

In whatever way they wish, but presumably an atheist celebration would be very secular, the more secular we make it the better.

[Modem Butterfly]

5. That's why I prefer New Year's Eve/Day

New Year's Eve/Day is totally secular, it's a mid-winter holiday free of religious baggage and works for either all-out party mode or sober reflection (as in "Why did I drink so much?"). Fuck xmas. I like New Year's.

[fshrink]

9. Atheist shouldn't observe anything because

there's nothing to observe. Xmas is a capitalistic rite but I will take any occasion to have a good time. I would like as many days off as there are religious holidays in every religion. Wouldn't work much!

[immoderate]

10. I have a friend who...

...throws a party for nearly every holiday on the calendar. He's an atheist, born Jewish. His Wife's born a Jehovah's Witness, and doesn't reveal her religious leanings, though she certainly doesn't follow the JW traditions of her family.

I go there for Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah, Passover, whatever.

--IMM

[trotsky]

11. I celebrate Solstice because for me it captures humanity's essence.

Early Pagans celebrated Solstice because it was the longest night. In other words, in a way it marks what makes us quintessentially human: the ability to observe patterns and predict behavior. We KNEW that longer days were coming - thus the celebration, knowing that the cycle would continue. We were no longer afraid of the unknown.

I love that.

[0rganism]

12. Sure, atheists should observe Christmas....

...FROM A SAFE DISTANCE! :evilgrin:

(yeah, yeah, cheap shot, I know)

[Biased Liberal Media]

13. Christians don't own xmas like they don't OWN marriage

IMHO. I'm sorry but I hate when people say "oh because you're an atheist why are you celebrating xmas" Well maybe because I like to give my daughter a fun holiday to celebrate ya moron f*ck?

Sorry, I'm a bit defensive. I hate those who assume they know it all because of my beliefs (or lack thereof).

We celebrate the fun of it all. I'm trying to consume less but at the same time I want a fun holiday with the tree, gingerbread house, rudolph, grinch, silly things like that. Why not??

[BeeBee]

14. I don't celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday..

but as a family tradition.

[gottaB]

15. Yes

There are many nonreligious aspects to the Christmas holiday, like getting time off from work, and being able to visit family. The tough question for us is how to take advantage of holiday sales. As athiests, should we pay full price for any merchandise purchased between Thanksgiving and Christmas? The rational thing to do would be to not exchange presents amongst ourselves until after New Years, or just to allocate some money for after Christmas shopping, and not bother trying to pick out gifts for each other. But that can feel too cold. I like to give presents.

[Gothic Sponge]

16. I celebrate for the whole "peace on earth, goodwill towards man" concept

[Phentex]

17. That's how we feel....and...

it has become our family tradition.

[Pithlet]

21. Me, too.

I watched the Charlie Brown Christmas special tonight, and the part where Linus gives his speech about the true meaning of Christmas chokes me up every time, and I'm not a Christian. I don't see why atheists and agnostics should be expected to ignore the holidays if they don't want to.

[kdmorris]

24. You wouldn't believe

how many stores I had to actually go to to find non-religious "Peace on Earth" cards. Because that was the only way I was sending out cards this year.

And I hope that everyone I sent it to gets the message.

[BlueHandDuo]

18. I don't celebrate Christmas...

...but that doesn't stop me from drinking eggnog and making cookies and so forth.

I enjoy foods from a lot of cultures I didn't grow up in.

Art and music, too. So one of these years I might decorate a tree if I feel like it. Or sing the old carols I learned in school. It's not like I worry that God's gonna smite me for it.

[Hamlette]

19. other

we have to put up with all the crap that comes from religion, we should take advantage of the few good things too. Christmas is one of them.

You gotta admit, its a wonderful story. Part of our myth structure. I love the story of the baby Jesus and all the good works he did.

I don't do much at Easter. I see that as where the myth went wrong.

[DavidDvorkin]

20. I wasn't brought up Christian

To me, the whole story is absurd.

[Hamlette]

22. absurd?

it's a great story, bastard child so poor he's born in the barn, spends his life as a hippy preaching about love and peace.

Great story.

I wasn't raised Christian either. I was raised an atheist. 3rd generation.

It's a great myth.

[DavidDvorkin]

23. Boring and silly

would have been a better choice than "absurd", I suppose.

It's an inferior copy or amalgam of older myths. It contradicts known history in various places. I've found it tedious and childish the few times I've tried to read it.

[Endangered Specie]

25. Wouldnt that be a little bit like Jews observing January 30?

[leftofthedial]

26. yes. through a sniper scope

"Christmas" has become a family of winter celebrations, many religious, but not all.

I celebrate the solstice, but I do it on the traditional 12/25 date just to be sociable.

[SiouxJ]

27. Yes, because for the most part, it's the one time of year

we let people know we love them and how important they are to us and we go out of our way to practice benevolence in general. I see it more as a celebration of peace and goodwill than a religious holiday. I get pissed off at the Christian fanatics with their, "put the Christ back in Christmas" and "reason for the season" crap. It's like they only want you to be benevolent this time of year if you do it with Jesus in mind. What's wrong with being generous just for the sake of being generous? Some of them get so pissy about "remembering what we are supposed to be celebrating." Once again, they want to control everything.

[curse10]

28. I celebrate being with my family

and it just so happens that the American government gives me days off from school and work to do so :-)

My parents are religious, but my boyfriend's family are hardcore atheists. But even at his family's house we sing carols and decorate the tree. But not because we believe in god, but because it's fun! I'm not gonna let some crappy religion take away Christmas! :evilgrin:

[really annoyed]

29. I Celebrate For Family

Christmas is basically a time to be with family. And I get one day off work, so that is always nice. And it's funny, because my employers don't celebrate the holiday either! But they observe the holiday for all the employees. I was the only person who offered to work half a day on Christmas Eve last year when they asked!

I don't celebrate any of the religious aspect. My parents aren't that religious anymore - my sisters are Pagan and nontheist - my niece and nephew are being raised Muslim by their father - so you see, we have a variety of sorts in my family! :D

[RaleighNCDUer]

30. I celebrate on Xmas day, which does not mean I celebrate

Xmas.

It's a family gathering, sharing a meal and exchanging gifts. For my family, it's a pretty low-key thing. My dad was an agnostic, or maybe an atheist, we never talked about it. My mom & sisters attend church regularly, but they're Unitarians, so I'm not sure that counts. I'm the only avowed atheist in the bunch. Essentially, it is a non-religious holiday for us.

Not into the commercial Xmas, either. Recycled, homemade, or thrift store gifts only.

Both my daughters, however, are religious. They were more or less raised by their not quite sane mother, so for them I think it was a refuge.

Personally, I'd gladly swap Good Friday for Arbor Day.

[Ediacara]

31. It's a paid day off where everyone gives you stuff

Why WOULDN'T you celebrate!?

[Killarney]

32. Hell yeah. It's about Santa, man!

Seriously, I don't think there's any hypocrasy in athiests celebrating Xmas. In my mind, there are two Christmases. One is a religious holiday to celebrate Jesus' birthday. The other is just a fun holiday about Santa, family, presents, food, music, and fun.

[robbedvoter]

33. I saw a TV evangelist shooting Santa on stage as part of the act

It had an effect on me - decided it's A-Ok for my kid to believe in Santa.