2006-07-15 13:12:35 · 42 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm sure many atheists take part in the Christmas tree, gift giving part of Christmas, but they don't recognize or accept this time of year as Christians do in celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Chirst Jesus. And yes, Christ Jesus was NOT born in the winter. It's not really important WHEN we celebrate His birth but the fact is HE WAS born, and we celebrate THAT.
2006-07-15 13:15:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, they cannot celebrate Christmas. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ, the Son of God - hence, 'Christ'-mas. It is not a pagan celebration, nor a commercial celebration.
How people choose to act as if it's just a commercial endeavour during this time does not mean they are celebrating Christmas. It just means that they're buying gifts for people they love and showing they care about them. Which is a nice sentiment, but still, not celebrating Christmas.
Those that state that it's a pagan holiday are confusing Christmas with the Winter Solstice that happens earlier in December. Also, putting up a Christmas tree doesn't mean that you're celebrating in the birth of Christ (Christmas).
So, can an atheist celebrate Christmas? No.
Can a Pagan celebrate Christmas? No.
Can others who are not Christian celebrate Christman? No.
Again, just because you buy prezzies and put up a tree does not mean you're celebrating Christmas - you're just buying gifts and putting up a decorated tree.
Celebrating Christmas, means you are partaking in the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that Christmas is HIS birthday - the day that the Living Word came to this earth.
2006-07-15 13:35:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Same old arguments.
For centuries, the Christian world has celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25. Christmas trees, gifts, Santa Claus, family dinners, all of these are things Christians have done for ages upon ages.
Suddenly, Christmas is a "secular holiday". Gone, the Baby in the manger from in front of the court house. Gone, the sound of children's voices singing "Away in a Manger" in the school play. Gone, the carolers. Gone, that special time when the family gathered to hear Dad or Mom read the Christmas Story from the family Bible. Gone, the prayers. Gone, the Christmas angels. All gone. Peace on Earth, Good Will toward Men.
Atheists may celebrate Christmas if they like. They can even take Christ out of it, it won't matter.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
2006-07-15 13:28:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a hindu. We celebrate christmas but we don't go to church. We don't just celebrate because of the presents, we celebrate to honor Jesus who was a good man regardless of your religion. However, we go to our local temple and we pray because our religion teaches that all religions are the same concept but with different methods. So I guess non christians do but im not sure about atheists
2006-07-17 09:45:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they do and I think that is so stupid. Christmas is about the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and they celebrate the birth of someone they do not believe in. They try to change the whole meaning of what Christmas is about by trying to take Jesus out of it. I do not think that this will ever work. The sheer stupidity of an Atheist celebrating Jesus' birth puzzle me at times. But I know what Christmas is about so I give praise and thanks to God for sending his son for my sins.
2006-07-15 13:18:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know atheists who celebrate Christmas. In today's society a lot of the religious significance has been taken out of the holiday, so they apparently have no trouble celebrating it.
2006-07-15 13:15:44 · answer #6 · answered by jschultz_vti 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure, other pagans do also. It's a big blowout to celebrate Christmas in Japan. They love it.
You have to keep in mind, Christmas is a pagan based festival. The athiest know that. That's one of the reasons for being an athiest. They know the origin of most festivals and see their misleading falsities.
2006-07-15 13:24:30 · answer #7 · answered by rangedog 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist, my family isn't. We all believe different things, but not one of us is Christian. We enjoy Santa Claus, the commercial aspect, the family aspect, and the winter solstice aspect. "Christmas" was around as a Pagan holiday long before Christianity came along. The Christians took it over because the people refused to stop celebrating it, so they changed a few things and decided the holiday was their own. Same thing happened with marriage, originally marriage was looked down upon by the Christian elders. Also, most of the atheists and pagans I know say "I don't believe in A god," "I don't believe in ANY KIND OF god," "I don't believe in THE CHRISTIAN god," or "I don't believe in YOUR god." However, saying "I don't believe in God" (most likely meaning 'I don't believe in your god, but I will call him by the same name as the Christians do to get my point across to them') is the same as a Christian saying, "I don't believe in Zeus." It does not mean this Christian ever believed that Zeus was real, but was just using his name.
2006-07-15 13:53:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I celebrate Christmas as a time for family, goodwill toward men, and whatnot. I seldom have extra money to buy expensive presents at that time of year, but my family (both Christians and not) still manage to have a good holiday without heavily religious overtones and without trashing each other's beliefs.
2006-07-15 13:26:42 · answer #9 · answered by Nobody 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, some of my family members are atheist and we still get together each year to open presents under the tree and eat a big Christmas ham.
2006-07-15 13:15:35 · answer #10 · answered by Johnny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋