My sister in law is an athiest and she puts up a nativity scene with all her Christmas decorations every year!!!
Thats like a lutheran celebrating rammadan in my book.
2006-10-20 04:50:17 · 28 answers · asked by buffman316 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
perhaps one day she will see through the nativity what it really is about...
2006-10-20 04:56:39 · answer #1 · answered by phyllis_neel 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
To me Christmas has become rather secular and commercialized to the point that it is the generic name for the winter holiday season. My family never had Christ included in the family celebration of family. As a non-christian, my religious holiday is celebrated on a different date, with a different purpose. Look beyond the holiday to the traditions a person is raised in.
What I find strange is how holy Christians want to insist one day is because of a birth. The day of the celebrations is not the day history claims as the date of birth. It just got moved to help convert more to the cause.
2006-10-20 12:09:01 · answer #2 · answered by Moonsilk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, we've got a selfish little christian in here, don't we? I refer to the second person who answered, lol.
Christmas is what you want it to be. Perhaps your sisinlaw is just doing what she grew up seeing. Is using decorations that were passed down to her. Who knows? If I were to decorate for xmas, I would definitely use more of the santa-type stuff than anything Jesus related, so I think the nativity thing is a little odd, but I wouldn't sweat it.
Anyway, it's a national holiday, so it's a natural choice for anyone regardless of faith to at least exchange gifts or get together with family at that time.
I have heard rumors that a group of atheists are lobbying or making plans to completely take over xmas and make it an atheist holiday, so #2's wishes may soon be granted.
2006-10-20 12:08:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I could care less what anyone's beliefs are - however.....
My company used to have their yearly Christmas party in December. Well - to many people complained that we were celebrating a "Christian" holiday. So now we have an "employee appreciation" party in February. Now - those are the same people that expect Christmas, oh excuse me, I mean employee bonuses & expect a paid holiday off from work like everyone else. I say make them work on Christmas & we can give them, say, Halloween off instead.
2006-10-20 15:50:52 · answer #4 · answered by dmnyco 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She probably does because it's tradition. It may not hold any deep meaning for her.
Celebrating around Christmastime is great fun for different religions. It's a celebration of light during the darkest days of the year; we give gifts to symbolize the gifts we give each other on a personal level all year; people celebrate togetherness in the coldest, hardest time of the year.
Psychologically it's very healthy, even if you don't assign religious significance to it.
2006-10-20 12:16:47 · answer #5 · answered by KC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I see it as a time for peace and spending with friends and family. You don't have to be Christian to appreciate that aspect of it.
As far as your Ramadan comment goes, I spent last Christmas in Malaysia which is a Muslim country. The malls there were are all decorated for the holiday complete with fake snow and Santa Clause. They appreciate the season for the same reasons I stated above.
2006-10-20 11:55:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no Biblical support for celebrating the birth of Jesus. In fact, Jesus initiated an observance for his death, not his birth because at his death he became the redeemer for sinful mankind. This is according to the Greek Scriptures. Most of the traditions associated with Christmas were borrowed from pagan practices, which can be proven by researching in any encyclopedia. In fact, by carefully reading the account of the night Jesus was born as recorded by several different Bible writers, we learn he could not have even been born in December as that would be the rainy season and shepherds would not have had their flocks out in the fields, but would have been closer to shelter.
A more relevant question is why those claiming to be Christians, or followers of Christ, would celebrate a holiday riddled with so many practices Jesus would find offensive?
JLH
2006-10-20 11:56:52 · answer #7 · answered by booksofstars 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Christmas brings a spirit of good will and cheer. I don't care who celebrates it. As long as they get in to the spirit of the season what can be more wonderful than sharing good will? Yes it is about Christ. But the good cheer comes from the heart.
2006-10-20 15:39:46 · answer #8 · answered by Catie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What does Christmas decorations have to do with God anyway? So we are not allowed to participate in any social traditional American festivities because we don't believe God exists? That is pretty unfair. Should we forbid Christians from participating in Halloween festivities because they are Pagan?
2006-10-20 11:56:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, or a Muslim celebrating Yom Kipor. Hey, it's a free country. If your sister-in-law wants to do so, what does it hurt? She may even get the message eventually and begin to believe.
2006-10-20 15:36:21 · answer #10 · answered by Spirit Walker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are we related? I am doing the same thing. I am not sure there is a god or not. I am leaning more towards no, but guess what? I am doing it also.Seems like the way Christmas looks, the nativityset. Hell, "Away in the Manger" gets stuck my head.
2006-10-20 13:30:24 · answer #11 · answered by Evey 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋