I see Christians are concerned with non-Christians celebrating Christmas. But, Santa Claus, gift giving, tree trimming, mistletoe are clearly non-religious activities.
I for one do not mind. It never even entered my mind, until today.
Maybe we should pick a different date so that Christians can celebrate the birth of Christ without all of the Christmas activities? Maybe August. Nothing happens in August, anyway.
That way, there would be no problem.
2007-12-03 08:24:38 · 9 answers · asked by Steve B 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
To me (atheist) Christmas is about the fellowship of man. I'm happy to celebrate it with anyone. Cheesy, but true.
2007-12-03 08:36:16 · answer #1 · answered by john_in_dc 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Atheists and Pagans have every right to celebrate Christmas if they choose. Many Pagans celebrate Yule though.
Every aspect of Christmas that we have today, even Jesus being born of a virgin (unmarried young woman) on Dec 25, comes from Pagan rituals of Yule and Saturnalia. The Zoroastrian (Persian) god Mithras was born of a young woman on Dec 25 as well. The only reason that Christians claim them as their own today is because the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages needed some way of converting the masses while keeping the peace, and stealing Pagan holidays and giving them a Christian spin was how they went about it. That's also where the word Christmas originated.
Pagan Yule is celebrated on Winter Solstice (Dec 21 or 22, depending on the calendar).
Celebrate whatever you want whenever you want and don't waste your time worrying about what other people do since they aren't hurting you at all in their own homes.
2007-12-03 08:54:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You forgot Pagans along with athiests & wiccans. You reminded me of a song called The Christians & The Pagans by Dar Williams, you should really listen to that.
I don't pay attention much to the news, but when I hear people say that if you're not religious you can't celebrate, or things of the sort, I always just ignore them. Let people think what they want and still do what you want unless it is immoral to do so.
And considering the Birth Of Christ is a religious thing that is to be celebrated in a traditional manner, they're not going to move the date for that. And it shouldn't be. If anything, the holiday should be moved for the non-religious. Also, in other countries I believe that they celebrate the birth of Jesus in January or a bit later in the beginning of the year because thats when they're taught/when they believe Jesus was born.
2007-12-03 08:34:19 · answer #3 · answered by Dove 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually Christians need to pick a different date. Christians took over the winter Pagan holiday to get more Pagans to revert to Christianity (same goes for Easter). Scholars have said that Jesus's birthday wasn't even near 12/25, so I think Christians should move Christmas closer to his real birthday, if they insist on celebrating it.
2007-12-03 08:33:42 · answer #4 · answered by kaliluna 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Actually it's a well known fact that Jesus wasn't born in December at all. The Christian's chose December 25 to celebrate his birth because it's when the Pagan's were celebrating Winter Solstice and knew that they would have more acceptance of their religion if they celebrated during an already ongoing tradition.
2007-12-03 08:33:35 · answer #5 · answered by RanaBanana 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't see why the anyone cares if other religions have Christmas... It's not like God created Santa, Christmas trees and presents! AND Christmas wasn't even created to honor the birth of Christ. It was a ploy to convert pagans.
2007-12-03 08:38:05 · answer #6 · answered by ladyluck 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I tend to agree. But Christians should try to celebrate christmas with others.
2007-12-03 08:33:16 · answer #7 · answered by The Naturalist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey bud why don't you do you research and know that
Santa Claus, gift giving, tree trimming, mistletoe are clearly non-religious activities have everything to do with a Christian holiday.
lol
2007-12-03 08:32:20 · answer #8 · answered by Violet 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I personally think it would be fine to celebrate with like the decorations but if jesus wasnt born then we wouldnt have everything we celebrate with...idk.
2007-12-03 08:33:44 · answer #9 · answered by MickeyChikey:) 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋