Should Atheists celebrate Christian holidays?

[Neo Rome Republic]

No they should not.

Why not?

[Tekania]

I think they can celebrate whatever they want to. The holiday is so generally commercialized and amalgmated from things which aren't even Christian that it's not hard to engage in such celebrations and leave out religious elements, or keep them in for traditions, or what the hell ever. It's a free country.

[Conscentia]

Do you demand such hard proof when it comes to your own faith?

What faith?

You know, all that information in my signature is there so you read it.

[Conscentia]

The only holidays we should celebrate are:
La Fête de la Vertu, "Celebration of Virtue", on 17 or 18 September
La Fête du Génie, "Celebration of Talent", on 18 or 19 September
La Fête du Travail, "Celebration of Labour", on 19 or 20 September
La Fête de l'Opinion, "Celebration of Convictions", on 20 or 21 September
La Fête des Récompenses, "Celebration of Honors (Awards)", on 21 or 22 September
La Fête de la Révolution, "Celebration of the Revolution", on 22 or 23 September
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Rep ... ntary_days

What's the French Revolution got to do with atheism?

[Cannot think of a name]

Nice Catch 22, we don't celebrate it and it's a "War on Christmas", we do celebrate it and we're hypocrites or some such thing...


--this post brought to you by responding to the thread title alone and not the evolving discussion. Possible side effects may include 'not having recognized the specific nuance contained in the OP' 'retreading ideas that may have already been addressed and are part of an evolving conversation' and 'being a repeat of the same 'clever' horseshit that's been posted at least once or twice per page' which may cause excessive eye rolling, feeling like Sisyphus, the urge to use the "ignore" button, loss in hope for humanity. If any of these symptoms occur, please do not punch your screen. It is recommended that deep breaths be employed and in certain strong cases exclaiming, "For fuck's sake". For extended cases please consult your stumble button for pictures of cats.

[Orcoa]

Of course they can!

If they wish to celebrate with their Christian family or friends then it can help bond with them over good food, good hymns, and of course presents.

[Ifreann]

My feelings on this put to lovely piano music...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q

>Christmas
>sun
Bloody antipodeans.

[Holy Ascension]

Celebrate them on the same date but for different reasons?

Honestly though, the commercialization of the major holidays like Christmas has pretty much masked all religious relevance behind it. How many people even know that Santa Claus is based on a saint?

[Fartsniffage]

Do you demand such hard proof when it comes to your own faith?

What faith?

You know, all that information in my signature is there so you read it.

You have about 20 links in your sig. I hate to burst your bubble but you're really not important enough to me that I'd spend my time wading through all that.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

I think they should be able to if they want to.

It doesn't make sense to even have two separate holidays.

[Gibberan]

Celebrate them on the same date but for different reasons?

Honestly though, the commercialization of the major holidays like Christmas has pretty much masked all religious relevance behind it. How many people even know that Santa Claus is based on a saint?

^^

What faith?

You know, all that information in my signature is there so you read it.

You have about 20 links in your sig. I hate to burst your bubble but you're really not important enough to me that I'd spend my time wading through all that.

^^


Sorry

[Fartsniffage]

My feelings on this put to lovely piano music...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNvZqpa-7Q

>Christmas
>sun
Bloody antipodeans.

One of these days I'm going to have a bbq on Christmas day. I fancy surf and turf instead of turkey dammit.

[Councordia]

Do you demand such hard proof when it comes to your own faith?

What faith?

You know, all that information in my signature is there so you read it.

I see faith all over that there siggy. So much white-knuckled fact-sheet waving faith it's honestly a little bit scary.

Such as
1. The universe came to existence out of nothing, because of nothing
2. <underlying> Dame Reason is the mistress of the universe, because we can figure it all out.

There are lots of rumblings about socialism, but I don't like to assume I know your stance without clicking the links, and I'm not going to bother reading scads of thinly veiled vitriol.

[The Republic of Pantalleria]

Well if they don't want to have free presents in Christmas and free Turkey in Thanksgiving, then as the wise saying goes: More for me...

[Conscentia]

What faith?
You know, all that information in my signature is there so you read it.

You have about 20 links in your sig. I hate to burst your bubble but you're really not important enough to me that I'd spend my time wading through all that.

I was clearly referring to relevant information.
Additionally, my importance is irrelevant. Most of it has nothing to do with me. It's there because I think it's important or interesting, not because I think I'm important.

What faith?

You know, all that information in my signature is there so you read it.

I see faith all over that there siggy. So much white-knuckled fact-sheet waving faith it's honestly a little bit scary.

Such as
1. The universe came to existence out of nothing, because of nothing
2. <underlying> Dame Reason is the mistress of the universe, because we can figure it all out.

There are lots of rumblings about socialism, but I don't like to assume I know your stance without clicking the links, and I'm not going to bother reading scads of thinly veiled vitriol.

1. I'm guessing you didn't actually watch the lecture.
2. I'm not at all confident we can figure it out, so you've completed misjudged.

"I don't like to assume I know your stance without clicking the links"
Splendid. Unsupported assumptions are bad if avoidable.
However, you have made the unsupported assumption that I agree with the links 100%. No - some of it is there merely because I consider it interesting, and would like to share.

"I'm not going to bother reading scads of thinly veiled vitriol"
Unsupported assumptions are bad if avoidable.
A link labelled "sympathy" is hardly likely to contain vitriol.

[Sedikal]

I celebrate Christian holidays not for the religious aspects but for more if the fact that it's just traditional for me to do so.

[Jamjai]

if they want free gifts during Christmas or free candies during Easter...

[The Scientific States]

Well if they don't want to have free presents in Christmas and free Turkey in Thanksgiving, then as the wise saying goes: More for me...

Thanksgiving isn't a Christian holiday.

[Page]

I don't think Christians get to say that the Christian religion influenced apparently secular aspects of our culture, like how they say our laws or values are based on Biblical principles or something, and praise that perception as a good thing, and then whine when non-religious people celebrate Christmas which would be an example of just that.

I'm an atheist and I celebrate Christmas because I don't associate it with religion personally, and it's not as if I am unilaterally co-opting it when millions and millions of people go through the entire lights and tree and gift giving and eggnog stuff without a single thought to Jesus.

[Slafstopia]

Well if they don't want to have free presents in Christmas and free Turkey in Thanksgiving, then as the wise saying goes: More for me...

Thanksgiving isn't a Christian holiday.

Plus, that's about as wise or about as much of a saying as "Hair grows!" Nobody needs to point out that 20/101<20/100. We can do maths.

[Knowlandia]

Atheists pick and choose what part of religion they practice. Since Christmas is fun they celebrate it, but since going to church is boring they don't do that.

[Neo Rome Republic]

Atheists pick and choose what part of religion they practice. Since Christmas is fun they celebrate it, but since going to church is boring they don't do that.

What's your point? Not all Atheists celebrate Christmas, btw.

[Slafstopia]

Atheists pick and choose what part of religion they practice. Since Christmas is fun they celebrate it, but since going to church is boring they don't do that.

I would argue that our alleged 'cherry-picking' has already split Christmas in twine. So have fun sitting solemnly in a brown building, I am going to cover something in a toxin then light it on fire before taking the molecules which make that something up, karate chopping them in two, and using them to make more parts of me.

Life is good.

[Shaggai]

I like Christmas as a ritual. The consumerism is rather problematic, but the idea of giving gifts to the people you love and spending time with them is a good one. Even if some people go overboard.

[Sanguinea]

Atheists pick and choose what part of religion they practice. Since Christmas is fun they celebrate it, but since going to church is boring they don't do that.

Going to church isn't necessary to be a Christian, going to services doesn't mean you're in communion with God.

I believe atheists can join whatever holiday celebration they wish, at the end of the day all holidays are about spending time and having fun with loved ones.