Christians?

Question

Do you realise how much of "gods green earth" you destroy every year at christmas time? with wrapping and cards and stuff, also how many hungry people could you feed with the excess food you throw away? these questions don't apply to all but they do to most.

Suzi B - i'm sure some do, but i'm atheist and i don't, i'm also sure i'm not the only one.

to all answerers who are trying to pass the blame to non christians, YES you are absolutly right, it's not just christians who celabrate xmas, but it IS a christian celebration, thats why i was asking you guys.

Answer 1

Good question ste B. Can't tell you much about Christianity, but maybe I can help with the consumption issue you bring up. As humans, we're going to use the materials on this earth. It's what we do. This includes trees. I'm a logger in northern Minnesota. No one cuts down trees for paper. Trees are cut for lumber because it's a material we need to have. Paper is made from the parts of downed trees that have no value as lumber, i.e. small branches, middle-rot, etc.. So no part of the tree goes to waste. Minnesota plants more trees every year than are cut. That's my summer job, planting. And I don't know of anyone, in my circle of friends, that likes to throw away food. And I haven't seen it done very often, although I know other people do. That bothers me too. What is the alternative? We, as Americans, are the most generous and giving society in the world presently. Just can't help everyone I guess.

Answer 2

Unless you have never sent a Christmas card, wrapped a present, or pitched left-over food in the trash, I'd say your attitude is pretty hypocritical. And instead of putting us down for our holy day, why don't you try looking at your own wasteful habits?

If there's a light on in a room that you're not occupying, you're wasting electricity. That dripping faucet in the bathroom or kitchen is sending gallons of water down the pipes for no good reason. How about that thermostat -- is it set so high or low that it's wasting energy? A sweater or a fan takes up a lot less of our resources than a furnace or air conditioner does.

Is your car tuned up and running at the peak of its performance to avoid wasting gas? When was the last time you had the exhaust system checked to make sure that it meets EPA emission standards?

The odds are good that you're not quite the steward of this earth's non-renewable resources that you'd like us to believe you are. So rather than pointing fingers at Christians, maybe you should take a little closer look at how you've wasted food, energy, etc. We are *all* in this together.

Answer 3

Paper is recylable
Some people favor living trees, some artifcial ones, the cut ones are grown for the purpose and make nice mulch afterwords

At Christmas time the soup kitches serve fully decked meals to the homeless, not just a vat of stew. The serve a Christmas dinner with all trimmings.

Now, as for your personal sins, how many pizza boxes do you throw out each year, how many wrappers for Big Macs and Whoppers end up in your trash, how about all the NON-BIODEGRAABLE styro containers meat comes in, do you drive a hybride or a gas car and put SMOG into the air for all to breath

When you have a Super Bowl party do you order beer and pizza for all the little kids in Africa!

Do you think about them when you order up dessert or ask for seconds.

Answer 4

Tsk, tsk, Christmas has become more of a cultural holiday than a religious holiday, and decorating trees, giving out gifts & cards aren't just done by Christians.

Our family uses a fake tree, one year we bought a live tree and planted it in the back yard. It is still there 8 years later, and has been home to many birds.

I buy re-usable gift bags. I used them year after year. Also, I wrap smaller gifts in items such as a handkerchiefs, bandanas, tea towels, and secure them with a hair scrunchy, broach or something of that nature, so that the wrapping becomes part of the gift.

I usually buy my cards from a charitable organization, such as cards that were designed by children with cancer, and the proceeds go to cancer research. Often times these cards are made on recycled paper. I also cut up the cards I have rec'd and make them into to/from tags. Also, if there is no writing on the picture portion of the card, you can cut off that part of the card, and mail it out next year as a Christmas post card.

Oh yes, and I donate to food banks at Christmas and year round.

I am not a Christian, but I I would say your question is silly and inaccurate.

Answer 5

On the contrary to your added information .....Christmas is a hijacked pagan festival. Jesus birth was not in December in reality but nearer the middle of the year. Christians decided to hold Christ Mass on that day to counter satanic practice..... Therefore you cannot blame Christians for it being their celebration...the reason for having the celebration is good as opposed to the original evil one.
I would also point out that the large percentage of people in this country are not Christian....including those who call themselves Christian but have never been 'born again' in accordance with the Bible. So a large majority of the people who celebrate Christmas are NOT Christian also.
Best wishes, Mike.

Answer 6

Atheists and others who are not Christian celebrate Christmas too, I know because I asked that question and most who responded said they did, indeed, celebrate Christmas.

We all eat and throw away food. Some more than others. I, personally recycle food w/ leftovers etc. make banana bread out of ripe bananas etc.

What is your point? That just Christians are responsible for the Eco system's demise and that we should feel personally ashamed for the world's frivolous disposing of food?

Answer 7

Do atheists not celebrate Christmas?
From what I see in R&S, most do.
And, since the atheists are aware of the fact that this life is all one gets--shouldn't they be more willing to help others? Shouldn't they be the ones concerned with the excess food that is thrown away, and the wrappings and cards since they feel this is a "one time shot?"

Answer 8

I totally agrre with you & I think about that all the time not just Xmas...did you know people waste at least a bag of groceries every week? I think becos there's all this cheap prices,buy 1 get 1 free etc...people just buy things becos it's on offer & is cheap & don't appreciate it...I totally agree, there's so much waste..I was born as a Moslem (although I am now following Jesus Christ) & used to read my religious studies books at school, & in Islam they say don't waste, it's a sin & that is very true...

Answer 9

Please do not confuse the commercial event focused around 25th december as a Christian festival. Those Christians I know who have an active faith despair of the gross consumption and commercialism of it all. Easter day is a much more celebrated day to true believers (oh and the chocolate egg thing was not a Christian introduction either, rather a pagan one). I appreciate your concern about waste etc but you may be interested to know that over 80% of hospitals and schools in the developing world are funded solely by Christian charities. The vast majority of food aid and emergency aid that is sent to disaster areas is not sent or administered by government agencies but by Christian missions, usually refered to as NGO's in the press.

Answer 10

I personally have never gotten into the trees, lights, and presents thing. Christmas is about celebrating one man and His wondrous birth, Jesus Christ. All the other stuff is just details. I'm not this way because I'm a presevation freak. I am given so much through the year with His love and blessings that the least that He deseves is a holiday designed just for Him.