I'm an atheist, but when I was telling my friends about what I was doing for Christmas, she turned around and said all snottily, "Atheists SHOULDN'T celebrate Christmas!"
Do you think that's true?
2006-12-01 06:03:37 · 18 answers · asked by BassGirl 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Tell your friend that almost all the traditions associated with Christmas were appropriated from pagan rituals and holidays, in an attempt to make Christianity more appealing.
Explain to her that obviously everyone enjoys a feast day, especially with the tradition of gift-giving.
2006-12-01 06:06:41 · answer #1 · answered by Michael 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, considering that "Christmas" has basically turned into a commercial, non-religious holiday, I say go for it. I am not christian, but I put up a tree and decorate and give gifts, as it is a very old winter holiday that precedes christianity anyway, so why not? Tell your friend you are celebrating the idea that it is good to have a special time of year to acknowledge friends and family with gifts and good thoughts but that you are NOT celebrating the birth of a baby that some people consider god...
2006-12-01 14:08:32 · answer #2 · answered by harpertara 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't see any problem with atheists celebrating Christmas. It is more of a tradition than anything else. For most people, Christmas isn't even about Christ any more. It's about presents and food and families. You just actually have a reason for not puting Christ in Christmas, others do the same thing. They just don't have a reason for it.
2006-12-01 14:07:51 · answer #3 · answered by Amy_S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The issue is do you think it is true? There are many ways to celebrate Christmas. But understand, since it is a religious holiday, some religious people will have strong opinions about it. This is just another example of how we need to tolerate each other a little better.
2006-12-01 14:10:43 · answer #4 · answered by Boilerfan 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
well, Christmas is short for Christ's Mass, that is, the celebration on Sunday that Catholics and Orthodox celebrate.
In fact, Holiday is actually Holy Day.
But hey, like everything else of any real substance, people going away from God have trashed Christmas just like they did with Mariage and everything else. Go ahead, spend money and get drunk.
2006-12-01 14:41:27 · answer #5 · answered by Everything you know is wrong 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You shouldn't celebrate Jesus' birth. As an atheist, I enjoy Christmas as a time to spend with family. In fact, I grew up Jewish and I used to hate Christmas. But since becoming an atheist, I love Christmas because it isn't about the birth of Christ, for me, (and most Americans because of how commercialized it is), its just a great time that I can spend with family.
2006-12-01 14:08:21 · answer #6 · answered by Existence 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Christmas is a legal holiday [in the USA it's a national holiday, too] as well as a religious one, and as such, anyone at all who wants to can celebreate it. I know several atheists who celebrate it.
2006-12-01 14:22:41 · answer #7 · answered by Indigo 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christmas was a pagan holiday that the Christians incorporated into their beliefs. Most true Christians don't even celebrate the whole tree, wreath, and gift-giving side of it.
You're certainly entitled to, though.
2006-12-01 14:06:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ha, christmas is about family, friends, and presents. Forget her. Ask her where the xmas tree is in the bible, ask her when Jesus was actually born and then ask her why we celebrate xmas when we do.
2006-12-04 20:45:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's most certainly not.
In fact, if she read what Jesus said in the Bible, it's Christians who shouldn't be celebrating Christmas--but no-one begrudges them their holiday.
Your friend is the kind of ignorant, immature person who gives Christians in general a bad name.
2006-12-01 15:47:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋