One last question it is about Christmas?

Question

How many of you have or would ask your loved ones and Friends to donate money to a deserving Charity in place of a Christmas Gift for you? I would like to know the religious disposition of people who reply.

Answer 1

I would ask (for Yule, though most of my family celebrates Christmas), but I tend to just give the money to the groups I like by myself. Some people I know have different ideologies than I do and would not be comfortable giving to the same organizations.

These are causes I support on at least an annual basis (not in any particular order):
http://www.heifer.org/
http://www.reproductiverights.org/
http://wskg.org/ (http://www.npr.org/)
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/home.cfm
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
http://www.parrots.org/
http://www.peregrinefund.org/default.asp
http://www.momshouseny.org/
http://www.defenders.org/index.php
http://www.trcp.org/
http://www.rmef.org/

A different group for every month. :)

Answer 2

I have what I want, and if I wanted any thing else, I would get it for my self. Christmas saddens my heart. Might be a spirit of rebelion within me. Every body says " be joyfull and happy now" and I go the other way. I believe strongly in an ultimate and omnipotent power, dont attend church, consider them a blight on the social landscape with some exceptions. No one will moralise over me. That is not their role as I understand it but, they jump at the opportunity. Theirs is to lead by example and see where they have gone. Any description of imorality is fair game. Offend the weak and defenseless. Child abuse is the high profile issue, could go on, no time, no space. God bless and Merry Xmass.

Answer 3

That's a wonderful idea. Or even better than money, donate time at the Animal Rescue League for me.
My religious "disposition" is quite complex. It's Christian, Pagan, Psychological, Agnostic, Mystical, etc.

Answer 4

I'm a Christian. I would consider asking them to do that, but I haven't ever done so. Actually, never thought of it till now, even though I myself donate money to charities at Christmas time. Sounds like a good idea.

Answer 5

I don't do Christmas, but even though I'm an atheist I celebrate Eid, so I suppose I can answer this one. In my country, kids recieve money as gifts. I must admit it never occurred to me to tell my family to donate that money instead of giving it to my son who has plenty of it already. Yes, I'm ashamed that it never occurred to me.

But you just gave me a great idea. All the money he gets this Eid is going to the public kitchen.
.

Answer 6

Why is your question limited to Christmas? Donating to charities for all occasions is a Jewish tradition.

I wonder why Christians allow Santa to be the central character of their pseudo-religious holiday.

Jew-by-choice
.

Answer 7

I asked for the World Feed bag from family members who asked me for gift ideas. Its a burlap bag you can use to carry groceries but the price for it is $60 and feeds one child in a third world country for a year so long as they stay in school.

In general we have mostly eliminated gift giving among adults during this holiday though. We mainly just gift the children. My husband and I do buy each other presents though. I'm a pantheist/atheist.

Answer 8

For years, I have asked that anyone who intends to give to me should donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, or another charity of their choice.

My kids usually choose a child from one of the giving trees set up in various business locations, and use their allowance to buy gifts.

No religion.

Answer 9

My wife and I have done that on many occasions. Our Unitarian Universalist church holds an Alternative Gift Market through a number of international and local charitible organizations.

Answer 10

I would. I would ask them to donate to animal rights, organizations,like Humane society,...