Splat

At least some xians consider xmas a satanic holiday:

<a href="http://www.greaterthings.com/Lexicon/C/Christmas/" target="_blank">Greater Things web site</a>

Good for a few chuckles too.

Mark S.

I know that it is wrong to have a religious holday in the USA.

But I do get a kick out of the USA supporting a holiday that is is expressly forbidden by the bible.

Ask any Jehovah's Withess!

himynameisPwn

Jamie, did you totally ignore everything in my post except the first line? Is "Gay Day" a promotion of homosexuality?

Jamie_L

I re-read your post to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding it. I'm assuming there is no sarcasim involved. Does "Gay Day" promote homosexuality? No. It is, however, a government endorsement of homosexuality. Instead of remaining neutral about the issue of being homosexual, the government is coming out and saying "It's okay to be Gay. In fact, if you're Gay, you should celebrate it."

Now, I've got nothing encouraging people to celbrate their homosexuality (although some do). I do, however, have a problem with the government encouragine people to celebrate their faith. Not because people shouldn't celebrate their faith, but because the government shouldn't be in the business of encouraging or discouraging matters of faith. The government should be neutral.

Jamie

Amazon

I do have a problem with Christmas.
Even though I know the origins of the winter festival, and the Christian hijacking thereof, this holiday is now considered Christian in the United States.
I am fair enough to say that I would prefer, in the interest of neutrality, if December 25th was not a national holiday. I love time off as much as anyone else, but I hate hypocrisy, and I'm willing to give up that paid day off to prove it.

I also object to the part of Christmas where adults lie to their children about the existence of Santa Claus. Don't adults do enough lying to children? Some say that it's just the magic and fantasy of childhood, and "everyone goes through it". But in my experience, adults don't try to make children think that the Powerpuff girls, Tinky-winky, or Winnie the Pooh actually exist. Therefore, there is no need to "reveal" later on that they're really pretend. The whole lying thing is just too upsetting and typical of Christians in this country.

I get together and exchange presents on December 24th and 25th with my family because they have always celebrated, and would have very hurt feelings if I just stopped in protest. I understand that people like their rituals to be respected, even if the participants don't all believe. I think they equate the celebration of the Christmas holiday with love and respect, even more than observance of religious beliefs. But I can't help but be resentful.
I prefer to show my family and friends that I love and care for them all year 'round.

southernhybrid

Most of us think of it as the "Holiday Season". Objecting to the Xmas holiday is being far too anal IMO. Xmas is deeply ingrained in the American culture. When some of my neighbors decorate their homes, I enjoy the Mexican restaurant flavor, the plastic nativities, and the cardboard Santa's. It just makes me smile and think, "those wacky, tacky Xians, ya gotta love 'em." Regardless of the myth, and history of hypocrisy of the Xian religion, the holiday at least in spirit is supposed to celebrate the concept of "peace on earth, good will toward men." Even Xianity has some nice ideas that can be applied to anyone's worldview.

In reality, the Xmas holiday season is about giving retailers, the opportunity to make a profit. So, one could say that government endorsement of Xmas is good for the national economy.

Atheists who take themselves so seriously that they are upset over the government endorsement of the Xmas holiday season make it very difficult for the rest of us. We end up looking like the cynical, negative stereotypes that many people think we are. To receive tolerance and acceptance, we must be tolerant ourselves.

scombrid

My attitude is that if 85% of the population wants off work for a common observance of something that they hold sacred then fine. (The fact that most xtians have severely bastardized the holyday not with standing). There is no way that government offices could remain open without some religious adherent being forced to work on their holyday. That would violate their constitutional right not to have the gubment interfere with their worship. Besides, federal holydays mean extra pay for us irreverent folk that like to work on holydays because there isn't any traffic and the pay is increased.

Arrowman

I don't buy into the argument that "Christmas was originally a pagan celebration and was hijacked by the Christians" - clearly, Christmas as endorsed by our governments is a Christian celebration. That said, I have no problem with an annual holiday season that just happens to coincide with (was started as) a Christian holiday. If it didn't exist, it'd have to be invented.

And Amazon:

I'm sorry, but I get really sick of hearing this sort of crap. Yes, it is just a harmless fantasy. Get over it. Like southerhybrid said - anal, and cynical.

Splat

I actually agree with you here Amazon. Which is why we've never told our kids a thing about Santa Claus. We've let them invent him all on their own, with liberal help from pop culture. Every question they've ever asked us about him has been answered with a question, usually "well, what do you think?"

They leave cookies and milk out. I eat them. On xmas morning, there are gifts under the tree from each of us to the others (and those that have arrived by mail-magic!), plus stockings filled without comment as to who did the filling. We usually have a few presents labled "from Santa," but they're wrapped in the same paper as all the others and we don't disguise the handwriting. The kids (6 & 10 now) have figured out that it's a game, and they enjoy playing it as much as we do.

As much as anything, I think it's been a great critical thinking exercise. What they've learned is: that they can't believe everything they read, see on tv or at the mall, or hear from their friends; that their parents won't lie to them; that they can make gifts that other people will love; and that none of us ever gets everything we want.

Where's the harm in that?

Arrowman

A more temperate and polite response to Amazon: What Splat said.