for other Atheists out there

[sasvermont]

Happy Holidays to you all - or NOT. It is your choice, yes? Unless you live in a country where there is no freedom of religion... I think it is about choice...not about condeming others.

[neko1]

I too celebrate Christmas, but I am not Christian. I celebrate it for the same reasons the other atheists do- for friends and family, to be merry, and give gifts from the heart. It is totally a choice of whether or not you want to celebrate. I have no problems with that.

[COCatMama]

I said...Christmas is about spending time with family and friends for me, and about good food, exchanging gifts and watching xmas movies. and I never 'left' any religion, I was never really a christian in my whole life. Also I was raised in a family that does Xmas with Santa and the whole nine yards, My mom is a christian but not the in-your-face type, and she pretty much let me make up my own mind. I have only been forced to go to church a couple of times for weddings.

Originally posted by popcornbird
I always thought of Christmas to be a Christian "religious" holiday. Its supposed to be Christ's birthday right? That makes we wonder.................why do you atheists celebrate it? I mean, if you don't believe in God,you don't believe in Jesus, why do you celebrate Christmas? I just don't get it. Doesn't make sense to me. You leave the religion,yet when you want to have fun on the holidays, you come back to celebrate. Non-Muslims don't celebrate Eid, and Non-Jews, from my knowledge, don't celebrate Haunakkah. So why do Atheists celebrate Christmas? Makes me wonder. I have wondered this for years and would love to hear an answer.

[COCatMama]

Those JW's are starting to drive me crazy, I can't even take my dog for a walk on a Sunday without those weiners pestering me. I just put a hand in their face and say "I'm an Atheist, don't bother me" They try to argue but I just walk away, I revel in the fact they think I am going to burn in hell, I hate being cold anyway!

[jackiesdaisy1935]

I don't see why there is so much worry about Christmas, as many of you said you can celebrate or not, I don't care if you do or not, but I don't want you to tell me whether I should or not. I'm fine with the Jewish traditions, the Muslim traditions, Kwanza etc. etc.
What difference should it make to anyone whether a person celebrates any holiday or they don't? Why not let everyone celebrate any way they want whether it's Christmas or any other holiday. Are we heading for a time, when there are no traditions,
no holidays, and soon no family gatherings etc. etc?
One thing I have wondered, and a question to the Atheists, when you die if there is no heaven and no hell what happens are you reincarnated or just gone?
Jackie, Miss Daisy and Perry

[Cataholic]

I want to CELEBRATE all holidays, as many as possible, in whatever way possible. If it means people get together, in good will, to share/exchange/worship/whatever..it means they aren't fighting/hating/being alone/whatever. I never get why "someone has to feel bad in order for me to feel good"???

If you don't celebrate- simply smile, and say, "thank you". and walk on by..if you do celebrate, do so with love, and have a grand time.

It isn't any different than walking by a group having a family reunion, celebrating their family's love/history/traditions, and they welcome you to the celebration. You don't mystically 'become' a member of the family, you are just partaking in the celebration. Big whoop- look at it as doing your part for the human kind. You feel you have to make a stand? Why? In your heart you know what you believe/disbelieve, don't you? You know you have to answer or not answer to your maker or non-maker, right? So, hush up, get in the spirit...or non-spirit, smile, and go on with your life.

I think I am safe in saying have a Happy New Year...cause, factually, it is a 'new' year, and I mean nothing religious by it...

[Edwina's Secretary]

Popcornbird.....you have been so generous in explaining your faith to us...we should return the favor!

Christmas is not the highest or holiest of the Christian holidays -- that would be Easter which celebrates the mystery and meaning of Christianity -- Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Christ was crucified so his people can be saved.

Christmas gets mixed in with lots of secular celebrations, traditions, and customs that have been described by others.

Interesting to note that Chanukah is a relatively minor Jewish holiday which has taken on more significance as the secular "fun" of the season has become more widespread.

[NoahsMommy]

Christmas has gone "main stream"....it still is a religous holiday for those that choose to celebrate that way.

Last night, I got home from my mom's Christmas Cookie Party and was still thinking how she and my stepdad had arranged their new nativity scene. He is an athiest and she is somewhat Christian (intreprets it her way and can't get over the hypocritical Christians she knows...not me!). Anyway, they had the wise men, Mary and Joseph all turned in wierd positions. Like, Mary was leaning over two sheep. Joseph was facing away from everyone. I think the closest thing to baby Jesus was a camel. It was truely funny. I got home and turned on a religous Christmas CD and all the sudden really got centered. I've been going on and on about how materialistic, rude, annoying and utterly mean family is acting and am losing site of WHAT Christmas is all about. To me, its not about the tree, stockings, candles, parties. It's about the birth of my Savior and I don't want to lose sight of that for anything.

I am more than tolerant of other people's beliefs....and I am because I try to understand them, not judge them. (See the EID thread, its VERY informative) I know that Johova Witnesses and Mormans aren't always fun to have at your front door, and yes, it does get annoying when they are that persistant. But if you understood WHY...you may not be as annoyed. When they come to my door, I say "Jesus is my Lord and Savior"....and they leave!

Anyway, I'm happy to see this thread is civil....

Take care!

[Soledad]

JackieDaisy -

I have no idea what happens to us when we die and make no claims to have insider knowledge to that one. We will all find out someday.

If there is a heaven and hell (which, to me, sounds about as plausible and realistic as Narnia) then all I can say is that I lived my life the way I chose, not out of fear of the afterlife, but as a moral, good but flawed person trying to figure out the big questions on my own.

My guess is that we simply die. We do not live on, but in other people's hearts and memories. So, I'd like to focus on the present and giving as much to my loved ones to remember me by fondly.

And, yes, I agree with the others that Christmas is indeed a cultural holiday at this point. I don't understand why people have a problem with non-Christians, atheists and agnostics celebrating it.

[Logan]

Our Christmas is Christ centered, just for the record. And it helps us that we attend church regularly and try to instill in our children that gifts and family gatherings are wonderful, but that Christ is the reason for the season, at all. It is so easy to get side tracked and caught up in decortions and presents, isn't it? We do our best to keep that part at a minimum and remember the reason for the celebration.

Logan

[Kfamr]

I think i'm either "Atheist" or in my own type of religion. I beleive in got to a certain point, but not to where i'm going to go to church and pray to some man whom i've never seen or spoken to, it's just not real to me. But, if that's what fires up your day, to live each and everyday to it's fullest, that's great for you. I just don't see the point in it. Maybe i'm "Nellyismic"

[Cataholic]

Originally posted by Kfamr
I think i'm either "Atheist" or in my own type of religion. I beleive in got to a certain point, but not to where i'm going to go to church and pray to some man whom i've never seen or spoken to, it's just not real to me. But, if that's what fires up your day, to live each and everyday to it's fullest, that's great for you. I just don't see the point in it. Maybe i'm "Nellyismic"

I was thinking more along the lines of Nelliaholic!!!!! LOL

[ramanth]

I think Soledad put it nicely. Atheists feel that when they die, they do just that. Die. Expire.

Not sure if it's on topic, but I just had to get this off my chest.

My Grandpa died this past April. He never went to church and we never said Grace at family meals. As far as I know he may of or may not of believed in God or a God.

I'm not about to ask my Grandma if he did. She just visited his grave for the first time yesterday since he passed. They knew each other since they were 11 years old and were childhood sweethearts and were married for over 70 years.

I'm just saying, my grandpa was a wonderful man and I miss him SOOOO much. He was a veteren of WWII and a retired police officer. An animal lover and like I said before, a wonderful and caring man.

I refuse to believe that God would punish him if he didn't believe in a God.

And now I must go off to cry because I miss him... I want my Grandpa back..

[Nomilynn]

Kimmy I felt that way when my grandpa died, and he wasn't even all that nice of a man He was kind of a sour old grump. I wondered where he would go, but I thint that it all works out when the time comes for everyone.

[mugsy]

I guess my philosophy is still, live and let live as long as it doesn't hurt someone else. I do NOT like to be told that I HAVE to believe one way or the other. I agree that organizations such as the ACLU are trying to make sure that happens, but in doing so have infringed on the rights of others, like people enjoying the sight of the kresh on a church lawn that they can no longer so because the ACLU has stepped in and said no. Please understand that I do NOT think that the ACLU is totally useless...they definitely serve a purpose, but when they basically say that I can't view something or have this that or the other on a calendar, that, in my humble opinion is infringing on MY rights (hmmm......I wonder if they would take my case?? lol) j/k.

As for Atheists, Agnostics, Pagans....whatever belief (or like I said before, or lack thereof), their views should be respected even if they don't mesh with your beliefs. One of my best friends on our faculty and the absolute best teacher on our staff is an atheist and knows that I am not, but yet we have a very close relationship because we respect the other's point of view. I, personally, would feel very lost if the blind faith of believing in an afterlife, and take great comfort in believing so, so that I don't have to feel that when a loved one dies that I will never see that person again. However, many people DO believe that there is no afterlife and that when you die you die and that's it. Will I try and change their minds? No...it's not my place, nor is it my business. I find interesting aspects of all world religions, yet feel most comfortable in my own "skin" being Catholic.