Perhaps I am not completely sure what Atheists beliefs are, but my understanding is that they do not believe in the existence of God. If so, considering that Christmas is a holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus, do they celebrate it? And if they do celebrate the holidays but just not Christmas,what are they actually celebrating? Do they give gifts, do they have a Christmas tree?
2006-12-23 03:22:05 · 17 answers · asked by LittleMermaid 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
How did this question deserve thumbs downs? I did not in any way put down or insult anyone who didn't believe. I asked a simple question. If you voted it a thumbs down, perhaps it is your own deep seeded guilt over your beliefs. But it was a simple question, not a judgement of your beliefs.
2006-12-23 03:39:46 · update #1
And I am so sorry to post a repeated question. I don't cruise this section much, so I didn't realize it had been asked before and I didn't want to take the time to check and see.
2006-12-23 03:41:57 · update #2
Some atheists celebrate on Christmas, some don't. Personally I share gifts and spend time with friends and family. And yes, I have a tree. If you want to think of it as celebrating something, then I guess I'd say I celebrate family and giving.
2006-12-23 03:26:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Christmas is actually a Pagan festival adopted by the Roman Catholic Church (just like Easter from the Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess Eostre, & Hallowe'en which was originally a Gaelic, Anglo-Saxon & Scandinavian celebration of dead ancestors). Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25 in 350 AD in an attempt to make Christianity more acceptable to pagans. The common Western concept of Christmas, even including national variances, is essentially a fusion of Roman, Indo-European, Nordic and Celtic Pagan festivals and symbolism. Not all of these festivals were strictly religious. Jeremiah 10:2-4 condemns what today are called Christmas or Yule trees as 'heathen'; Kissing under mistletoe is a pagan fertility rite (the white berries represent the sperm of Woden); Gift giving is a pagan tradition from the Roman Mithras festival which ultimately originated in Sumeria; the Yule log is a pagan Scandinavian tradition marking the lengthening of days. In short I suspect atheists celebrate the Winter festival without considering the Christ, much like many other religious & non-religious cultures do & have done. I wonder why Christians celebrate these Pagan festivals.
2016-05-23 01:48:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why is it that so many people believe that the only holiday this time of year is the birth of JESUS?
Jesus being born in December is truly the Johnny come lately holiday. Solstice has been celebrated for MANY CENTURUES... long before Christ was ever predicted. Christ wasn't even born anywhere near December 25th.
So, the idea that the "reason for the Season" is Christ is simply untrue. There are a number of reasons for the season. Christ is one. Solstice is another. The secularization of Christmas and the popularity of a holiday of gift-giving is another.
Atheists who celebrate X-mas are celebrating a secular holiday of gift-giving. Which, by the way is not described in the Bible as such.
2006-12-23 03:27:32 · answer #3 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
You got thumbs downed because you are asking such a tired old question. Others above me have told you that it's a pagan festival (you DO realize that the trees, mistletoe, holly, a big fat man distributing gifts, yule logs, a feast, spiced wine, etc etc ect - have NOTHING to do with Christianity but are all pagan in origin?). For my part, as an atheist, I DON'T celebrate Christmas. We have a tree, the family round, a good meal, give presents, play games, have fun - but we don't celebrate Christmas.
Enjoy whatever festival you're having in the next couple of days. And show a little Christian respect.
2006-12-23 03:45:23 · answer #4 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Giving gifts and decorating a Christmas tree were originally Pagan traditions, taken by the Christians.
I celebrate Christmas and all other religious holidays because I get free stuff and I don't have to go to school.
2006-12-23 03:46:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually, there are many holidays that have been celebrated at this time of year--winter solstice which predates Jesus by quite a bit. Besides Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus if you're not a Christian. For non-Christians, it's a time to have fun, see people, eat food, and generally be merry.
2006-12-23 03:25:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
You do realize that most of the traditions associated with Christmas were appropriated from pagan rituals in an attempt to make Christianity more mass-appealing, right?
2006-12-23 03:25:40 · answer #7 · answered by Michael 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
They can celebrate the non-religious version of Santa Claus, and so forth. Christmas has become so materialistic and commercialized that anyone can really celebrate the non-religious aspects.
2006-12-23 03:46:03 · answer #8 · answered by vinslave 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is not a holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Your problem is the false assumption in your question. I'm surprised that you didn't notice this already.
2006-12-23 03:35:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
This is also a Pagan holiday. I never see Pagans asking this question though. I wonder why?
They like Santa. Is Santa just for Christians?
2006-12-23 03:26:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋