Why do SOME atheists get upset about someone saying Merry Christmas to them?

Question

I would not be offended if anyone said Happy Kwanzaa or Happy Hannukkah, Happy Yule or any other holiday to me. So, why try to restrict any Christian from being happy with Merry Christmas. The vast majority of people in the U.S. celebrate Christmas, so why should we have to restrict saying Merry Christmas as a nice thought?

Answer 1

While I'd personally rather be wished a Happy Holiday, I don't get all bent out of shape if someone says Merry Christmas, let alone boycott a store that doesn't greet me "properly" and acknowledge I'm not religious. I managed to survive last year getting wished Merry Christmas every time I went to the local Wal Mart, so even though I don't really celebrate Christmas myself, I don't have a breakdown over it.

I personally celebrate the winter solstice. Not so much in the pagan tradition, just celebrating winter and the year's end. However, my family celebrates Christmas, so, I'm sort of stuck celebrating it a little. Regardless, I still don't tweak out about it. It's not worth getting bent out of shape and spending thousands in legal fees over.

Some people might get upset because they don't celebrate Christmas and don't want to be wished a happy holiday they don't celebrate, but I'm not one of them.

I prefer Happy Holidays myself because Christmas isn't the only holiday celebrated this time of year. Not everyone is Christian, not everyone celebrates Christmas. We've got Hannukah, Yule, Kwanzaa...probably others I'm missing. Christmas might be the biggest or most-celebrated holiday, but it's not the only one. Saying "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" is a good way for stores and business to wish people a happy holiday without being presumptuous and wishing them to have a happy holiday they don't celebrate.

It's sort of an example of political correctness gone awry. It's a good idea to be fair and recognize that not everyone is celebrating Christmas, but suing people for saying Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays is over the top. Let clerks wish whatever they want and if people don't like it, well, tough. It's no reason to start boycotting a store because they wished you the wrong holiday. Presumptuous, but sheesh, it's not going to hurt you or cause you such emotional trauma that you need to sue 'em for it.

You don't have to like it, but there's not reason to go on a legal bender for it. I'll admit I'm not fond of being wished Merry Christmas when I'm an atheist who would rather celebrate the spirit of giving and family, but I definitly don't start calling local lawyers the minute a clerk at Kmart or something says it. At least they're wishing me a happy holiday, whatever I happen to celebrate.

I'd rather smile and wish them a happy holiday and be giving this time of year, rather than turning around and slapping people with a lawsuit because they wished me the wrong holiday. Season for spreading joy and happiness, not overblown, unnecessary lawsuits, y'know?

Answer 2

Well I'll let you in on a little "secret," I don't know of any atheists that get offended over that. Why? Because many of us come from families that have always celebrated Christmas, still do and still call it the same. If someone said it to me, I really don't think anything of it.

I always understood this issue as being not about removing the Christmas word, but about people who can't stand the words "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings," which are the more inclusive terms for public places like stores where we all go and multiple people are having holidays this time of year. The issue isn't about "removing" the Christmas word, it's about being more inclusive and using greetings that fit that model, and not acting like the popular kids in school that only want things our way.

Answer 3

Merry Christmas!

Answer 4

Because most people appreciate it when we respect their ideas and private beliefs. Just because it does not bother you if someone wishes you a Happy Kwanzaa or a Happy Hanukkah doesn't mean it doesn't bother someone else. I consider it both kind and thoughtful when people remember the days that I hold sacred. Just because the vast majority holds a holiday does not mean that the rest of America has to join in.
What is a nice thought to you, may not be to someone else. I think it is common courtesy to respect other people's beliefs and wishes.

Answer 5

Christians do love their fairy stories. No atheist could care less about being told Merry Christmas. Not. One.

But there's no use for facts when it comes to pressing home a valueless point, so lets play "let's pretend" instead. Let's pretend we live in a world where everyone else gets offended at the slightest thing Christians want to do so that they can claim that the prophesy of Revelation that they will be despised at the End of Times is coming true! Because they are desperate to be the persecuted ones and they're sick of the Jews getting all the attention for that!

Grow up.

Answer 6

I don't know a single atheist who's ever gotten upset when someone said Merry Christmas to them. The department stores changed their signs from Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays because there's more than one holiday in December and they wanted to cover them all -- and all of a sudden the Religious Right had a fit and said "They're taking Jesus out of everything!! They're pushing their evil secular agenda!!" No one cares if you say Merry Christmas -- atheists have better things to worry about.

Answer 7

They should not. It is a pagan holiday. Jesus was born in late september-early october between the Jewsih feast of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah.

Bible is clear on this.

Catholics brought it (and alot of other pagan things) to Christianity when they jumped on the bandwagon from Roman Paganism. Christians decided to use it as a day to celebrate the birth of Christ, even though it is not on that day. Since God cares more about the heart than the flesh, they figured why not?

Research it

David, a Christian brother

Answer 8

I'm not offended, but I'm careful to teach my children about the truth of Christmas, and thus we say happy year end, or merry solstice.

Still, the lights and souds of Xmas are nice, so I don't stop them from doing Xmas stuff, as long as they know the true meaning of Xmas is Santa, not Jesus.


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Answer 9

I don't know maybe because people are saying Merry Christmas and not Merry atheists-mas its the whole Christ thing that probably offends them

Answer 10

I would pay these people no mind, their most likely related to Mr Scrooge or the Grinch. You have a Merry Chrisrtmas, and may God bless you and yours.