I have a friend, which claims to be an athiest, yet he still celebrates Christmas. How can you celebrate a religous holiday, and claim to be an athiest?
2007-12-04 15:05:18 · 8 answers · asked by beachbum 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Christmas is actually a national holiday. Anyone can celebrate it. It's better if you know Christ. Then you can really come home to the meaning of the day.
2007-12-04 15:10:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simple: Christmas stopped being purely a religious holiday years ago. For that matter, Christmas was first invented to replace pagan holidays around the same time. We (I'm a Christian, too) just changed the meaning of the holiday and used it for our own purposes. What's the difference between that and what an atheist does when they decide to celebrate the holiday? They just change the meaning for themselves, too: give presents, celebrate good cheer and friendship, and that's that. As far as I am concerned, good for them!
2007-12-04 23:14:46 · answer #2 · answered by Mr. Taco 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am not an atheist, only because I can't tell you for sure whether God exists or not. In my opinion it hasn't been proven to me one way or the other. I suppose that would make me an agnostic, but anyway, I do celebrate Christmas, mainly because it celebrates the life of a Man whom I admire greatly. I believe in the message that Jesus Christ was trying to spread to everyone. Goodness, kindness, charity, defeating injustice, equality and harmony for all races and creeds, protecting our earth, and all it's inhabitants, whether animal or vegetable, are what he taught, and that is everything that I try to live my life by. I assume that is how your friend feels too. If it's true that God loves everyone regardless of who they are, atheist or believer, then I don't think he'll judge too harshly someone celebrating Christmas who lives his life righteously, albeit non religiously. I think one of the biggest problems these days in our world are people who consider themselves believers, who don't live by the teachings of Christ,
or Buddha, or Vishnu, or Allah or whomever their God may be for that matter. So, if your friend is a good friend, and a good person, then that's all that's important. Share Christmas with him and enjoy his company, and be thankful that you have his friendship.
2007-12-04 23:33:25 · answer #3 · answered by blueangel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, it's quite easy. Just because you don't attach religious significance to the celebration, there's no reason not to take part. You take the opportunity to be with friends and family - most of whom probably *do* follow the religious tradition. So you exchange gifts, eat the dinner, even sing the carols and attend the mass (if for no other reason than to keep the peace).
2007-12-04 23:22:14 · answer #4 · answered by hogan.enterprises 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Amen! People complain about the world Christmas being pushed at them yet if you go into their home they have a tree, Santa comes and stuff like that.
True having a tree in your home and stockings hung by the fireplace isn't worshiping God but look at the word CHRISTmas. Listen to the popular CHRISTmas songs. They are about Jesus being born.
This is what irritates me about people not allowed to say CHRISTmas in their store, the store ads, commercials and even in some schools you can't say CHRISTMAS you have to say Holiday. Yet you go the school, store or what ever and you hear "The Little Drummer Boy" playing his drum for baby Jesus.
It's crazy. Try explaining that your kids why the sign in the store says Happy Holiday and not Merry Christmas. (shrug)
2007-12-04 23:12:15 · answer #5 · answered by Faith 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
How can you steal a pagan holiday and claim to be Christian?
It's a public holiday. All major public holidays are time for getting together with family and celebrating, as far as i'm concerned.
2007-12-04 23:20:29 · answer #6 · answered by Keyring 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because they are not celebrating the religious reason for the holiday. They are celebrating the family gatherings .
2007-12-04 23:10:40 · answer #7 · answered by flautumn_redhead 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
they can because like like to take christmas as a celebration for everyone, when really you have to be a christian to celebrate it.
2007-12-04 23:10:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same way someone can go to church every week, and still be a horrible person!
2007-12-04 23:13:27 · answer #9 · answered by mithril 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋