Please show respect to all peoples. Explain why you partake when you don't believe. Taking part is to include but not limit the vacation period, time off from work with pay, exchanging gifts, and singing Christmas carols.
2006-12-12 04:40:56 · 41 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, I know this is a pagan holiday, however it was deemed to be Christmas to celebrate the birth of Christ.
I also know that Christ was probably born some time in the fall.. when snow fell.
Just curious why many take it off if they don't believe in Jesus.
Like Easter is NOT Easter to me but the Resurrection Day of my Lord when He rose from the grave.
2006-12-12 04:47:37 · update #1
two2fly you have my vote on this one when the time expires. Way to go! You were honest with your reply...
Most showed the hatred in their own heart when answering this question... no respect to all peoples.
wtg two2fly... as you said I may not agree with you, but I do respect your answer and you. thank you!
2006-12-12 04:52:02 · update #2
Good question. My wife and I are Agnostic, meaning we believe in God, but we do not subscribe to a specific religion. We celebrate Christmas mainly for the commercial aspect of it. You might think this is wrong, but we do so for the children, while explaining what Christmas is really about. We don't want them to feel marginalized among their friends and this allows us to teach them something from which they can make their own decision when they are older. We also explain other religions but leave the concept of belief up to them. My daughter, who is 9, believes in Jesus despite our agnosticism, probably because of encouragment from her grandmother. This is not a problem for us; she has the right to believe what she wishes.
2006-12-12 04:45:08 · answer #1 · answered by CPT Jack 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Okay...One last time. Christmas is not a christian holiday. It's an astronimcal observance, called the Winter Solstice. It was a pagan holiday observed by every farmer in the ancient world until the RC church co-opted it in order to convert the pagans. The tree, mistletoe, holly all of the trappings have to do with pagan tradition.
I'm an atheist. During the holidays, I don't go to church, I don't sing carols, I only get one day off and I give gifts because it's part of tradition and is expected, and I eat turkey because I like turkey! I don't let my mom say grace when she has dinner in my house because that's how I do 'Christmas'. I call it Christmas because I've called it Christmas since I was a little kid. I work in retail and if a customer says, "Merry Christmas" I say it right back. If they say, "Happy Holidays" I say 'Happy Holidays' right back. Why? Because it's a fekkin' holiday not a political issue! It doesn't belong to christians alone so shut the fekk up about it already!
2006-12-12 04:55:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight."
This would be the winter solstice, and guess what, all the decor is pagan in origin too! The history channel did a feature on this, intersting to note that the solstice falls about the 25th near the holy lands, so stipulated in the documentry. I would like to point out that Jesus was born in the springtime.
I am a heathen and celebrate Yule, the rebirth of the sun god.
2006-12-12 04:47:32 · answer #3 · answered by Armywife 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As many have already said -- it's originally a Pagan holiday. It's also a good break in the middle of winter. Nobody wants to be at work when it's so dreary and cold out (why do you think Kwanzaa is celebrated between Dec 26 and Jan 1?). Also, many offices close because the majority of the nation is Christian. If your office is closed and they're giving you the day off with pay, why would you go to work? I don't believe god exists, so it's not like I'm afraid of being punished for blaspheming.
Winter holidays are as much a cultural phenomena as anything else anyway. It would be like asking you why you use the names of Greek and Norse gods in your week when you don't believe in them. (monday = day of the Moon god, Tuesday = Tyr, the Norse God of combat, etc...). You do it because it's convenient and culturally acceptable.
2006-12-12 05:03:50 · answer #4 · answered by Michael 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Firstly, I'm not entirely certain that everyone's idea of celebrating the Christmas holiday is actually linked to the notion of Jesus Christ - a LOT of people simply don't concern themselves with the religious aspect of it - it's just a holiday to them!
Secondly, in many countries it is recognised as a National vacation due to the predominant religion of that country (Christianity) - EVERYONE is allowed to enjoy the festivities during this time on a National level, not a religious one.
Finally, where is it written that Christians must not share their joy with people of other faiths? Does the bible teach you to hate? I don't think so - if anything it's an opportunity for Christians to share their happiness with everyone. There is nothing wrong with people joining in!
2006-12-12 04:46:49 · answer #5 · answered by captainspinmore 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've no problem stating my position, but please inform us in turn why that should be an issue of any sort. They have nothing to do with each other for us. After all, you go to start your week on "Moon" day (Monday) and end it with the Goddess "Freda's" day (Friday). To top it off you ignore the real Sabbath (which falls on what you call Saturday - Saturn's Day) and pretend it's on the "Sun's" day. (Pretty damn pagan if you ask me.)
Anyway, I am forced to take "time off" on Christmas, I never take vacations at that time of year, in our family we only exchange gifts on birthdays and anniversaries, and we don't sing Christmas carols. And if we did do any of those things it would be as a goof, and there's nothing wrong with being goofy once in a while.
2006-12-12 04:55:07 · answer #6 · answered by JAT 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you live in this country, you don't have much choice. Plus, I have a young son, and I want him to make his own decisions about religion, spirituality, and the church.
Also, I suspect that many atheists, agnostics, or converted non-christians have families that ARE christian, and the holiday season is a time for family to get together and appreciate each other. Even though I do not believe/have faith in Jesus Christ as a savior, I do agree with his teachings and the moral code he lived by (in fact, I believe his claim to be the son of God was not exclusive, we are all son's and daughters of God, reread the new testament and look for any claims by him that he is the ONLY son of God).
So in short, I show my respect to Jesus the man this time of year, and I celebrate with my family, most of whom are Christians.
Peace and tolerance to you all.
2006-12-12 04:51:33 · answer #7 · answered by john k 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that a person called Jesus existed...I participate in the 'Christmas" holidays because it is a tradition. I live in a country whose fundamental precepts were molded from the tenets of Christianity; a moral code is always better for the whole than a lack of morals (free-wheeling self-indulgence). I don't really care what each individual believes so long as their beliefs make them try to be a beneficial presence...All the religions contain commonalities and the celebrations are merely the adaptations of customs...you sound like you are resentful and perhaps on your way to an extremist, exclusionary practice of your Christianity...Christianity represents numerous sets of beliefs, all based on Christ...My understanding of Christ is that he seemed like a person trying to do the right thing and to encourage others to do the right thing...what is wrong with celebrating that?...Actually, my problem is that I tend to subscribe more to the modern concepts of morality, which is based on the outcome of one's actions rather than on a set of dos and don'ts handed down from on high...
2006-12-12 04:58:43 · answer #8 · answered by ... 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian myself, but alot of other people from other religions can't work etc over the Christmas period because most of the western working world shuts down, if we lived in a muslim country we would probably find the opposite, for exanple when Ramadan is being celebrated. Christianity is the dominant religion here in the Uk so holidays etc are dictated by that. Can you imagine if we had to close work or get temporary cover in and incorporate all religious holidays in our Christian calendar! It is in essence a case of when in Rome....
2006-12-12 04:47:24 · answer #9 · answered by jo jo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, the birth of Christ didn't even happen on December 25th. We use a different calendar these days. The date is not accurate. So, you are celebrating a fake birthday. Christmas is a nice break from the dreariness of winter....a way to perk up, share some love and joy with family and friends. And excuse to get out of our houses, and have some fun depite the weather and cold. I celebrate Christmas to give gifts and show my friends how much they mean to me. My appreciation for a year of good times and good friends.
2006-12-12 04:44:28 · answer #10 · answered by nottashygirl 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋