Why do some Atheist celebrate Christmas with their religious parents?

Question

I see this all the time, they put out christmas decorations just because they don't want their child to be left out. If you are Atheist you should't celebrate christmas this is the brith of christ.. not santa claus

NOTE: I said CHRIST + MAS not gift giving day the birth of JESUS

Answer 1

My kids are not left out, we decorate, but we don't use Jesus or a cross. What else is considered Christian too you?

Christians does not have patent on celebrating in December. Not all of us celebrate Jesus, but we still have traditions around that time of year, traditions that were there long before Christianity decided to use the time of year to celebrate Jesus. Jesus is born during the fall, not in December. They had no reason to put his birthday in December, still they did. Isn't that strange?

Answer 2

Actually a lot suggests that Jesus was not born at Christmas time. Celebrating at this time of the year wasn't originally a Christian tradition. Christianity adopted the tradition from others and changed it into a Christian holiday - Christmas, by claiming Jesus was born then so that they could have a reason to celebrate at this time and attract converts. There are still other religions which celebrate in late December and some people celebrate for non-religious reasons.

Maybe your question should be why Christians are celebrating the winter festival.

But to answer your question... I'm an atheist and I grew up in a partly Christian family. To me Christmas has never been about religion. Sure, half the family celebrates baby Jesus quietly in their hearts, but the Christmas traditions my family has are actually a lot more similar to the traditions of the winter festival people celebrated in my country before Christianity than any religious event. They don't include any religious rituals in their celebration. To me Christmas has always been the time of the year when the family tries to be civilized and to keep the peace. Christmas is a family holiday to me, a chance for the whole family to come together and spend quality time together and set aside disagreements for a while.

So I participate in my family's Christmas celebration for the sake of family spirit. That's why. Other atheists may have other reasons, but frankly, it's none of your business who celebrates which holidays, we're all free to celebrate what we want, when we want.

Answer 3

"If you are Atheist you shouldn't celebrate Christmas this is the birth of Christ"

I am sorry but your comment is very ignorant and vile. With comments like that, no wonder there is so much Christian bashing out in the world right now.

A true Christian would show love and compassion rather than ire. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord God with all your heart and soul. He said the next greatest commandment is to love your neighbor like yourself. Are you following Jesus with comments like this?

Christ was not born on Christmas-- it is an expansion of a Pagan holiday that early Christians wanted to make religious. Two of the four Gospels don't even mention Christ's birth. Too many people are getting way too wound up about Christmas and religion when the focus should be to live a life with Christ EVERY day, and love and accept everyone for what they are.

Christmas is a very human event - and Jesus would hate all of the money blown each year on presents and wild over spending of people for "gifts" in the name of Jesus? I don't think so. Imagine if every Christian gave up Christmas presents for one year and donated all the money to charity -- it would end world hunger, cure cancer, provide everyone with health care and a home. What would Jesus want us to do? Think about it.

So don't bash the Atheist --- pray for him/her and act like a follower of Christ -spread the Gospel don't judge others -- leave that to God!

Answer 4

Christmas has Pagan origins. It was stolen by the Catholic Church and a new holiday created to gain converts because the pagans and athiests during the Middle Ages and prior had their own winter celebrations that did not agree with Christianity.

Christmas is and always has been about spending time with family. It has nothing to do with religion. Why does it matter to you what someone you will never meet in your lifetime does in the privacy of their own homes?

Answer 5

Actually xmas is a borrowed holiday for christians. It has pagan beginnings and your church overtook it as a way of trying to bring pagans into their fold easier.

And if an atheist decides to celebrate xmas with their christian parents then really what business is it of yours. Xmas has become a dual holiday with both religion and the commercial myth of Santa Claus so one can choose one over the other.

I am an Agnostic. I put up a tree, I have images of Santa but I never put up anything religious. Come to think of it, my christian parents put up decorations and they never put up religious ones either at the holiday.

If you want to celebrate xmas as the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that is your business to do so. However, it is not your business to question how others may or may not spend their holiday.

Answer 6

Anyone should feel free to celebrate whatever holiday they choose. It's part of freedom of religion, and with the commerical nature of the holiday, there's hardly even left to the public showing of it. And who's to say that they're celebrating Christmas anyways? Maybe they're just celebrating Santa Day.

And if you're worried about the perversion of your holy day, why target us? Clean up the mess of it made by the people who claim to believe in Jesus first.

Answer 7

News Flash: Christmas, no matter the name, is also a family oriented tradition to many. Not all people do the religion thing. And big deal about the name, you stole it from Pagans in the first place.

Answer 8

**** you. Not your call, is it? They get the day off, and they can share it with their family and exchange gifts and have a grand old time.

And frankly, Christmas is Yule. It was stolen from the Celtic Pagans' festival of the Winter Solstice, where they praise the King of Winter, the Holly King (who looks suspiciously like Santa Claus) and the Sun god.

Answer 9

I celebrate Dionysus birthday on December 25 th.

Answer 10

I celebrate the winter solstice, and happen to like Santa Claus... what's wrong with that?