If an athiest celebrates Christmas, does that mean he believes ?

Question

One of our neighbors boasts he does not believe in God - or Jesus - or anything Biblical. That is fine - to each his own. We all have a right to believe or not believe as we see fit. But, he is the first on our block to erect giant Christmas scenes, flashing lights, and he even put that annoying wreath on the grille of his mini-van. Could he be a closet-Christian or is he just a hypocrite ?

Answer 1

maybe he doesn't believe in the "God" christmas but instead believes in the "Santa / Wal-mart / I wanna pony!" christmas.
maybe his mom believes in the "Christian" christmas and he is actually a closet athiest who hasn't come out to his family yet. or maybe he is just telling people that he is an athiest becuase he wants to people to think that his is somehow "tougher" than they are by not believing in all that softy "angels and somewhere there is someone better than me" crap.

Answer 2

Well, considering the fact that the history of Christmas is shrouded in pagan festivals and traditions, I'd say that Chrisitans are actually closet-pagans. Well, not really, but it was a pagan festival in which people celebrated the birth of the Sun god Mithra.

Basically, many pre-Christian Sun gods were said to have been born on December 25th, were crucified and then resurrected on the spring equinox.

Many traditions such as decorating with holly, the misletoe, the yule log, and even decorating evergreen trees have pagan origins. As a matter of fact, I would recommend that Christians no longer have Christmas trees because your god does NOT permit it (Jeremiah 10:2-5).

So, is he a "closet-Christian" or just a "hypocrite"? I'd say neither... HE'S PAGAN JUST LIKE THE REST OF US!!!!! Just kidding, of course... Pagans are weird.

Jake

Answer 3

Maybe he just enjoys the traditions of Christmas. I think all the bs that is associated with being politically correct when it comes to using the term "Merry Christmas" opposed to "Happy Holidays" is a crock. Most of the traditions associated with Christmas really have nothing to do with being a “Christian” any way, it is just tradition based on our heritage, or our culture. A lot of the traditions of Christmas are really just pagan rituals. Putting up lights, hanging stockings, decorating trees, and snow men, making cookies and fudge, leaving out cookies for Santa Claus, sending Christmas cards etc, are all just traditions, based on different cultures that evolved into the commercialized mess we have today. They have their origins in a lot of different countries that as time passed the rituals changed.
The holiday would be a whole lot different if it was based just on Christianity, the name is just about the only part of Christianity that is left. I remember as a kid learning the Christmas story of Jesus in the manger in school. I now wonder how much you can learn about the Christian basis for the holiday even in some churches.

The sad thing is that the premise of the holiday is showing caring compassion and love to fellow mankind and if we can continue to keep that as part of the tradition then maybe there is hope for us yet, if we lose that we are not going to last long…. But that is another question for another day.
I think as long as your neighbor shows compassion and love there is hope for him to understand the true Christian meaning of Christmas. (even if he is an Atheist)

Answer 4

For some people, like myself..it has nothing to do with religion..it has to do with spending time with family and friends, errecting pretty lights to make it festive. We put up a tree, exchange gifts, play Christmas music, but we are Athiest. I don't think Rockin around the Christmas tree is really all that Christian in it's meaning, it's just a happy tune we can all sing along too. It is just an excuse to show the ones around us how much we care. We celebrate Easter as well with lots of chocolate, and stomach aches.

Answer 5

I dont think he's a hypocrite if he stryctly does the commercial side of christmas, or doesn't acknowlege the "true" reason for christmas. I know lots of ppl that aren't religious that still celebrate christmas, not cus they believe, it was the birth of Jesus, but because they use it as a reason to get together with friends and family, give gifts, etc. I stayed with a jewish friend and celebrated Hannukah with her family, but that doesnt make me jewish, nor does it make me a hypocrite for celebrating something other then my christian christmas. Good Question thoug, and i see how it would be obnoxious if he's real adement about not believing

Answer 6

I dont think he is either. He could be an athiest and still celebrate. Maybe the part of christmas he is celebrating is just the part about having good spirit and spreading joy (being with all your family, giving presents decorating ect.).

Answer 7

Well thats what happens when the holiday true meaning gets ruined. Some people forget what christmas is truely about, and just think its a time to get gifts. Your neighbor sees it as a time to give presents, and make his house look cool.

Answer 8

Christmas has become a traditional holiday. One does not necessarily have to be a christian to celebrate it. I am not an occultist or a Wiccan but I still celebrate Halloween. Does this help?

Answer 9

I myself am catholic so I celabrate Christmas because it is the day our saviour was born. I also celebrate with family and traditons like santa and all that stuff. Anyways, maybe this nabour is just celabrating the "Santa Claus" part of christmas, not the birth of christ, even though (in my eyes) that is nott the meaning of christmas

Answer 10

I'm gonna go with the hypocrit theory. Or maybe he just believes in gift giving. He want to have his cake and eat it too, doesn't want to believe but wants all the fun that the holiday brings.