Why do people who don't belive in God celebrate Christmas?
2006-10-30 13:49:07 · 42 answers · asked by nina 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's tradition. Personally, I'd just as soon skip the whole holiday season. It's stressful and expensive.
Do you go to Church on Christmas and spend the day worshiping Jesus? Or do you mainly celebrate by buying a bunch of junk for the kids that will be shoved under the bed by Jan1?
2006-10-30 13:50:37 · answer #1 · answered by Kathryn™ 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The 7th son has it right. Christianity morphed Christ's birthday onto an already existing pagan holiday to make it more palatable for people to convert. Most scholars agree Jesus's birthday probably couldn't have occured in December based on things in the Bible. All are current traditions are rolling cultural mythology morphs. The Christmas tree and decorating with greens was done by the original pagas as a sign of bringing evergreen things, a symbol of life, indoors when all other plants seemed to be dying. We have chosen to go back to recognizing the naturalist roots of the holiday being about the astronomy and the relationship between humans and nature. We celebrate our family holiday now on the 21st but in order to be respectful of our extended family we celebrate with them as well on the 25th. I also think that in today's society Christmas has evolved to have both secular and religious components. Many people may chose to just take the secular components but that makes them no more hypocritical than Christians who hang wreaths or decorate Christmas trees in my mind.
2006-10-30 14:00:25 · answer #2 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas was chosen as a political expediency to move the population (pagan) of the Roman Empire to the Christian faith. Ideally, Constantine hoped to end the excesses and build the loyalty of the population.
The pagans were celebrating the winter solstice when the "light" begins to return. It seemed a natural for Christmas. Many of the traditions from the pagans, gift giving and green hanging, were carried over.
The pagans today simply are following in the same old pattern.
More's the pity.
2006-10-30 13:52:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Gift giving and religion aside, I think peace on earth and good will towards mankind are fine and dandy concepts, and perfectly valid arguments for an atheist to celebrate the holiday season.
(PS - why do people who don't believe in Santa Claus celebrate Christmas? He's certainly a more recognizable Christmas icon.)
2006-11-02 10:05:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do people who believe in God celebrate Christmas? First. Christmas is about Jesus. And Jesus was born in April or March. NOT December. Therefore you shouldn't celebrate it if you believe in god.
I celebrate because I always have, though its always been about the shiny decorations, I'm a sucker for sparkly things.
2006-10-30 13:53:55 · answer #5 · answered by spirenteh 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people who don't believe in Santa Claus celebrate Christmas and others who lack belief in the Easter Bunny Celebrate Easter. Do you find this surprising as well.
Heck, I even know people who don't believe Ground Hogs can predict the weather.
2006-10-30 13:57:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Many people celebrate the season Christmas coincides with, and did for centuries prior to the introduction of Christianity. Historically speaking, in many pagan countries, when Christianity was introduced (and compelled at times) it was easier to overlap holidays than try to abolish the pagan ones altogether.
Short answer: They're celebrating the season.
2006-10-30 13:54:54 · answer #7 · answered by Hurricane77 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They are not celbrating the fact that Jesus was born in from a virgin, etc etc.
They are only celcbrating "The Commercialized"aspect of Christmas!!
The gift giving, and all that comes with the commercialized part of christmas, which is not to be celebrated by true christians (since Jesus' death until today).
It is either celebrate one or the other!!
Don't ride the fence!!!
2006-10-30 13:54:12 · answer #8 · answered by Thomas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is a pagan holiday, not a Christian holiday. It is based on the rebirth of the 'sun god' (as in days start getting longer) rather than the birth of the 'son of god'.
I have no problem with Christians adopting the holiday as their own and celebrating it as the birth of Christ, and you should have no problem with other people celebrating it for secular or pagan reasons.
btw.. .did you know that Easter has a helluva lot more to do with eggs and bunnies than with Jesus?
2006-10-30 13:52:45 · answer #9 · answered by sueflower 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The meaning of Christmas has changed over time in my opinion. People don't necessarly celebrate it for god reasons anymore. Plus, you have to consider that some may be respectful to their family and put aside their beliefs for a day or two.
2006-10-30 13:51:30 · answer #10 · answered by Dink 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋