Um, Why do Atheists Celebrate Christmas

To a degree, but not to the Christian faith or the Christian purpose. As said, atheists don't care about religion or Jesus. They just want family time, presents, and an excuse off of work.

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Yusshin said:
To a degree, but not to the Christian faith or the Christian purpose. As said, atheists don't care about religion or Jesus. They just want family time, presents, and an excuse off of work.

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Well everyone has work off regardless of their religion or lack of religion.
 
FreakyLocz14 said:
Well everyone has work off regardless of their religion or lack of religion.
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Yup, because it's a national holiday. If the holiday was as hardcore to its religious roots as some here seem to desire, then they wouldn't have the right off of work at all. Religious people could yell that it's to celebrate Jesus, and atheists should have no part. Of course, now there's the excuse for family time :P so they become just as part of Christmas as the religious individuals.

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I loled at this thread. I celebrate it because the rest of my non-atheist family does, and because I do enjoy giving and receiving presents. What, do I have to believe in god to spend time to appreciate my friends and family? I suppose when I move out I'll just change the date to the winter solstice since Christians are apparently so offended (is it just a coincidence that they are so close together?). But seriously, is Christmas really a Christian holiday anymore, at least how it's celebrated in the U.S.? It's more like Capitalism Day.
 
Pokeyomom said:
Because we are heathenistic bastards that love agonizing people by jumping in on their holidays.
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Amen to that LOL Anyway, yeah, I guess there's nothing we can do about it. It just doesn't seem fair, as some either just detest Reiligion or don't even know about the "Christ" part in Christmas. Maybe they just say "Xmas" :D
 
I personally do use the term 'xmas'.
It would seem inappropriate of me, an atheist, to use 'christmas'.
I still, however, dont see how Christianity decided it was best for everyone regardless of how well they got along beforehand.
Who decided that it was the right religion, and that EVERYONE should follow it or be condemned to 'hell' for all eternity?
The romans, I believe it was, changed to Christianity as a diplomatic move more than anything to do with a change of faith, to keep control of the public after Jesus went and stirred s*** up. (cant remember the emporers name who made the call) it was after the crucifixion sometime if memory serves me correctly.
Thats the worst part about Christianity for me, the fact that it was forced on people, regardless, and still is (to an extent) today.
People have the right to free choice.
Not to mention the fact that all you preach is morals and good values and so on, but your religion has done nothing but cause bloodshed for hundreds of years for one reason or another (however weakly justified the reasons were).

Just my opinion. It was a little offtopic, and for that I apologise.
 
FaithInMe said:
Who decided that it was the right religion, and that EVERYONE should follow it or be condemned to 'hell' for all eternity?
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A: God. ;)

Thats the worst part about Christianity for me, the fact that it was forced on people, regardless, and still is (to an extent) today.
People have the right to free choice.
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I take issue with this little section, but it would take too long for an off topic post.

Not to mention the fact that all you preach is morals and good values and so on, but your religion has done nothing but cause bloodshed for hundreds of years for one reason or another.
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Uh, no. The Crusades happened, Hitler happened, but even if they claimed to be Christians, I seriously doubt they were. Maybe there were patriotic soldiers who couldn't read the Bible themselves, but this all happened because of the leaders and for their personal gain. "Religion isn't evil, people are". Not to mention that all religions tend to have extremists doing awful things in their name.
Also, charity and voluntary community service.
 
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It is not intolerant to say that people who do not believe in a certain religion will go to some sort of "Hell" in an afterlife (if one does exist). The religion has taught that for centuries if not milleniums we can't expect people to change those teachings for our convenience. If you don't like the teachings, don't practice that religion. I wouldn't even say Westboro is evil, perhaps misguided but they have every right to have their pickets and spread their message since I don't agree with their message, I simply did not join their church.

Nobody is forced to be Christian anymore. Families will instill beliefs on their children whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, or Atheist, or whatever. When the child becomes an adult they can make their own decision on what belief system to follow.
 
Its for the free stuff. The presents, the presents and maybe some presents. Why do you suppose christianity grew so fast. Because you get presents on christmas.
 
Wooh wooh all atheists are not rebels and hate religion with a burning passion. I am an atheist but I respect everyones religious beliefs even if its notwhat I believe. That aside, someone here already said that most members of a family have beliefs and they try to rub those beliefs off onto there children. When older we can choose what's reality and what's not so everyone is free to choose their own beliefs. If one believes that Christmas is Jesus' birthday then they can believe that but if someone sees it as a day to spend time with lpved ones then they are free to believe that as well. Christmas to me is about family and just being there with your loved ones. Really, I could care less if there is some deeper meaning to it so basically anyone of any religion can celebrate a day such as Christmas.
 
Åzurε said:
Uh, no. The Crusades happened, Hitler happened, but even if they claimed to be Christians, I seriously doubt they were. Maybe there were patriotic soldiers who couldn't read the Bible themselves, but this all happened because of the leaders and for their personal gain. "Religion isn't evil, people are". Not to mention that all religions tend to have extremists doing awful things in their name.
Also, charity and voluntary community service.
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Uhhh.. The crusades and witchhunts, all in the name of religion. Authorised by those in religious power at the time. The witchhunts were all about knocking off all the "satanists"... bit of a poor reason for my liking but anyway.
Hitler, yeah he was an extremist, Ill grant that.
Its happened with EVERY religion though, thats ever been around. As long as there has been religion, there has been bloodshed in its name. Im not saying religion is evil, Ive said in another thread that Im an atheist studying theology. Im fairly tolerant.

One final thing then no more posts for me in here.
You said god decided that christianity was the religion that everyone should follow.
It just doesnt seem logical to me. An invisible entity, that nobody will ever lay eyes on, gave this order?
For all we know, jesus was just a s*** stirrer and wanted to screw with earths people by trying to introduce something new and got his just desserts ;)
 
I've been dithering about whether to post here or not (being atheistic myself) but... perhaps this could shed some light on the subject? (Language warning - view at own discrepancy)

EDIT: Yeah, all you guys arguing about where Christmas came from and who Santa actually is, that link there provides all the answers. So shush.

As for myself... Christmas is a commercial holiday. I do my best to avoid such a thing, i.e. for Christmas this year, all my friends got a cookie. That's right. Hand-baked cookies because
a. I didn't want to go out and buy presents at ridiculous prices for fifteen people and
b. I couldn't afford to go out and buy presents at ridiculous prices for fifteen people.

I see Christmas as time off school, gatherings with family and watching TV specials, all the while eating huge quantities of chocolate.
I don't see it as anything religious. Not now, not ever.
 
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some for presents. some for the festive atmosphere.(guesses) and dude we get 1 day off for eid which true say no one else does. but you get 2 weeks off for christmas although ill admit muslims do too.
 
institutions said:
Aren't Christians intolerant toward people that don't believe what they do, telling them they will burn in hell?
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I'd like to say "Lolwut?!" right here, but there is no part in there that makes me lol....So I'll just go on and say; "Wut?!"
This little thing that you believe....that Christians are intolerant?! I am VERY tolerant! Even though you are an Atheist, I don't think you are going to hell! I don't think people who believe in other things go to hell! Anybody can believe what they want, but it's they're actions say whether or not they are going to hell.

Okay? Good. =D

I was actually born the 24th December, ya know....XD
Even though it sounds like I get more presents that way, I actually get less compared to what my other family members get with Christmas and birthdays combined.
It's teh time fer them joys! XD
Luck said:
It's called family, it's like no Christian I know has heard of that. :/
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Excuse me, but do I know you? If not, the carry on.....
 
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It's called family, it's like no Christian I know has heard of that. :/
 
But why do Atheists, especially the ones who hate religion with a passion get to join in in out fun? They also suck out the meaning of this glorious time, same as Easter which hurts. I know they've been commercialised, Santa, Easter Bunny, but we created the Holiday. If you don;t respect us, don;t respect our Holidays.
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I thought everyone knew Christmas just borrowed bits and pieces from Pagan and other pre-Christian celebrations. Claiming Christians should be the only ones to celebrate it is ridiculous, especially considering its origins. Hell, they should be the last ones celebrating it.
Code said:

I'd like to say "Lolwut?!" right here, but there is no part in there that makes me lol....So I'll just go on and say; "Wut?!"
This little thing that you believe....that Christians are intolerant?! I am VERY tolerant! Even though you are an Atheist, I don't think you are going to hell! I don't think people who believe in other things go to hell! Anybody can believe what they want, but it's they're actions say whether or not they are going to hell.
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Uh... that's one of the core beliefs of Christianity, so you might want to rethink something there. John 3:16, ever heard of it?
 
Strange and amusing topic.
I celebrate Christmas, even though I'm *supposed* to be Catholic [but I'm agnostic, woohoo!]. There's no difference whether a person is Christian or not.
 
Here is what the question should really be:

Why do religious people get so upset that theist people celebrate Christmas? They don't own the day. Its basically asking this: Why do Americans believe in Santa Claus? He is a Dutch ideal after all...
 
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