Brahma's atheist

My family are Hindu but we're not really religious and I'm atheist.
My mum is really into chrimbo and celebrates every year.Tree, fairy lights and so on. It makes me so angry. We've had so many arguements about those fucking decorations. "Why are we doing this? We're not christians. We don't celebrate Divali so why are we doing someone else's celebration?"
Of course she isn't celebrating the birth of that jesus bloke she's celebrating santa day. She's doing the present giving thing. She says she's not going to spend much this year and of course spend loads. It makes her happy though.
She's asking me what I want for christmas and that really annoys me."You've got to have something." I don't want anything!
It's all emotional blackmail. You're forced to do it culturally. Or you allow yourself to be forced to do it. It's the same with mother's day, fathers's day, first cousin's day etc. Do it or you don't love whoever or you're a miserable git.
Futurama has it right when they celebrate Xmas. I don't think that many people actually celebrate true chrimbo. It's Xmas. It's a time for presents and booze, fuck christ and all that church shit.
The season should be called 'General Fun Time'.
"It's still chrimbo," you might say but isn't their celebration just a rip-off of Saturnalia.
Absorb and change.
Happy GFT!

Ojuice5001

Well, I don't see anything wrong with paying homage to Yahweh on his two biggest holidays, though I probably wouldn't bother if my family weren't Christian. Yahweh's rule, as judged by what things were like in medieval times, has a mixed track record, and we should be quite hesitant about trusting him, but Yahweh still ruled Western culture for 1400 years. Like it or not, Yahweh is one of our gods. So I see Christmas time as a time when people who believe Yahweh's theological claims, those who believe those of the old gods, and those who believe those of the atheism-promoting gods, can all come together and remember that they are only rivals, not enemies. And of course, even if you don't believe Yahweh exists, his religion does, and it is better to have peace with those who believe in it. That's my take on non-Christians celebrating a Christian holiday.

But of course it is still necessary to return the Roman gods to power.

Starboy

Brahma's atheist:

As far as I can tell Christmas is not really a religious occasion. The vast majority of the activities associated with it have nothing to do with religion. It would be one thing if it was traditional for everyone to read the bible, spend the day in contemplation or prayer in church, or perform some other religious task such as atonement or whatever. As far as I can tell it is a commercial holiday since that appears to be the center around which all Christmas activities revolve. So buck up, its not religious, more like valentines or st. patricks day. An exuse to engage in non-religious behaviour based on a vague connection to religion. People do not need much of an excuse to have a holiday.

Starboy

[ December 14, 2002: Message edited by: Starboy ]</p>

Hail

I think Christmas is about Christ because if there was no Christ I cant imagine there being such a thing as Christmas. I don't think anyone should be forced to participate any more than Christians should have to observe Ramadan. I do think I can respect the Spirituality of others without feeling inharmonius towards them. It is possible and not too hard to do.

LordSnooty

You miserable beggar! Cheer up and get into the spirit of things.

I love buying presents for people. Not that I ever get anything good in return, mind you. Tch.

Paul

Luiseach

Whatever it's called, it sure beats the alternative. Winter would be a right drag without Christmas...I'd miss all the crappy Christmas Eve specials on TV, and it's the only time of the year when I can be persuaded to eat turkey. :-D

Family Man

I imagine you couldn't, but Christmas is merely a pagan holiday celebrating the winter soltisce with a religious veneer thrown on top of it. If there was no Christianity, there would still be a holiday this time of year. It would simply have a different name.

Triple Six

Cheer up and party on dude!

It's a great reason for a booze up and generally having a good time. Who cares that the excuse for such fun is a fairy tale?

It's easy to get through without letting religion intrude and let's face it far more fun than fasting and other forms of self punishment that religions come up with.

HazyRigby

I don't celebrate Christmas anymore.

I've always thought it was a pretty stupid holiday, anyway (what's with the people going into debt to finance several thousand dollars in presents?).

My husband and I are both atheists, and we really don't need an excuse to buy people presents or to go out and have a good time, so why celebrate something like that on one day?

(Or was that too much of a Grinch post for my first one? ::goes about shaking hands:: "Hi. I'm Hazy. Some of you may know me from Christian Forums.")

Debbie T

Christmas is what you make it. For me it is a happy time to give and receive. Tonight a group of us went to a local botanical garden to enjoy the beautiful light displays. I fixed sandwiches and others brought other things and we ate while we waited in line to catch the ferry boat. We laughed and swapped stories and enjoyed each other's company. It was a simple time of getting together and doing things centered around the holiday.

I have a group of people over that don't have family or too far from their families to be with for Christmas and I cook a huge meal and I serve everyone. This brings me so much joy. I go all out decorating the house and setting a festive mood for that holidays.

BTW holidays are a great joy now that I leave dysfunctional people out of it. My husband and daughter and I have wonderful holiday time. It isn't about religion, it's a celebration of our lives.