Christmas and atheism.

Do you celebrate Christmas? Do you feel that there is a contradiction between calling yourself an atheist and celebrating Christmas?

Some atheists suggest to simply celebrate the winter solistice.

Not really 'celebrated' here, except for perhaps some good food that gets consumed. No decorations/tree. However, people can do as they see fit w.r.t. Xmas.

Though I grew up in a non-religious household, the trees, etc. were always there, and they are part of tradition I suppose. However, to me, it got sort of old this Xmas business. ;-)

D2Dlivesinme said:
Anisoptero said:
Some atheists suggest to simply celebrate the winter solistice.

Doesn't really work south of the equator though...

Well, they may call it "summer solstice" in the south hemisphere, then the northern hemisphere folk will call the former "dumb southern monkeys" for that and everybody will continue spilling blood for the terminological differences (theists will gladly teach us how it is done best). When the Big North/South War will end, the small group of survivors will find a politically correct term for the aforementioned day like "The Festive Day With the Syllable "Sol" In It", will sign a convention in Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu, call it "The Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu Convention" which shall state that both hemi oblate spheroids agree to celebrate The Festive Day With the Syllable "Sol" In It on the YYYY-W16-6 (equinoxes be damned).

Or we may just call it whatever we want it, celebrate it in the way we love, and then celebrate the other one six months later. And celebrate the equinoxes as well.

For me, christmas is all about presents, mood and being together. Decorations and athmosphere are just great. No religion included.

Hi! im kind of new here... I celebrate christmas as in spending time with family, good eating, and of course gifts! but obvioulsy nothing to do with the birth of the so called christ.

well chrismas nowdays is definetly not what it used to be. Now i'ts all about presents and in most cases just a family reunion.As much as I try to dodge religion am forced to celebrate both christian and protestant holidays X_X

so it's sort of contradictional but since it's just presents a don't think it's a big deal

I don't celebrate xMas either.

I think that, anyway, most adult people that spend money giving other people stuff they "guess" the other person would want, and then get crappy presents themselves, would be much better off buying their own stuff whenever they need it, than hoping for the end of the year to receive things they might not even like.

Perhaps the only barely acceptable reason for prize-giving holidays would be giving presents to your children, however, I still think it would be better to make a yearly estimate on what you expect to spend on your kids, and then spend it according to their needs and wants.

So all in all, christmas to me is completely worthless. Even on the material side of things.

And even for religious people it shouldn't be celebrated when it is, Jeabus wasn't born on December, anyway. And he only got presents once, from some strangers, not from his parents every year, and certainly not from some fat Scandinavian.

Spacerake8 said:
but why the hell do you need a holiday such as celebrating the birth of Jesus as an excuse to buy a waffle-machine?
The answer to this, is pancakes.

Well, I dislike such arguments as well, I mean, the people I would have to gather with in order to argue such matters are the kind of people who would rather pray to the Jeeluz than put on their seatbelts in order to prevent an accident.

They believe going to church on Sundays is more important than pretty much anything else, and seriously, they're morons and I despise them.

Haha. I'm not that bad though. Seriously! I love sandwiches.

You can't have any until you swear Jesus as your one and only master.

I don't celebrate christmas, or any anniversary for that matter. I don't see any reason to be cheerful because of the orientation of the Earth with respect to the Sun.

There was also a roman festival around that time of year that involved the giving of presents and feasting, or so I am lead to belive. So I just celebrate the true spirit of christmas, the roman spirit of christmas - having a fun time and getting awesome things and eating awesomethings and spending time well with your families! =)

Heh, Russian atheists feel really good ;) Main winter holiday in Russia is New Year, so presents and other exist. Orthodox Christmas is celebrated later and much people just ignore it.