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If you're an atheist how do you celebrate Christmas?

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Chris OConnor

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If you're an atheist how do you celebrate Christmas?

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As an agnostic atheist I obviously don't celebrate the religious components of Christmas or Easter or any other religious holiday. But I certainly love Christmas and celebrate it as much as the Christians I know. I'd love to hear how my fellow nonbelievers celebrate Christmas and the reasoning behind whatever celebrations or rituals you practice. Then I'll chime in on my own ways of celebrating.

How do you feel about saying Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays?

Did you ever miss the religious aspects of Christmas?
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Re: If you're an atheist how do you celebrate Christmas?

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Since Christmas was a holiday created based on prior celebrations in order to attempt the erase said celebrations and supplant them with Christianity... I don't see the point of the question.

Happy Holidays.
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Chris OConnor

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Re: If you're an atheist how do you celebrate Christmas?

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So you celebrate or don't celebrate?
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Chris OConnor

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Re: If you're an atheist how do you celebrate Christmas?

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I've had Christians appear to be quite upset that an atheist is celebrating their religious holiday.
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Re: If you're an atheist how do you celebrate Christmas?

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Chris OConnor wrote:I'd love to hear how my fellow nonbelievers celebrate Christmas and the reasoning behind whatever celebrations or rituals you practice.
I ignore all the religious stuff—as do most people, even those who purport to believe in God and Jesus. Christmas is a very secular holiday. There's nothing religious about decorating trees and buying presents and listening to Christmas carols.

Those Christians who feel resentful about atheists celebrating Christmas are likely ignorant of the origins of Christianity and of the many pagan traditions that preceded it. Since I don't advertise my atheism, I guess I will never experience the joy of such hypocrisy.

I'm fine with saying Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. I've never given it much thought. To my Jewish friends, I might substitute Happy Hanukkha, just to be inclusive. But I've never personally witnessed much of the supposed admonishment by the politically correct to say "Happy Holidays."

I also don't buy the "war on Christmas" narrative from FoxNews and other sources. Those who insist that they "still say Merry Christmas." Go ahead and say, Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone!
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Re: If you're an atheist how do you celebrate Christmas?

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I view all religious language as metaphor. The physical reality behind the Christmas story is the celebration of the annual shift from days getting shorter to days getting longer. The whole mythology of Christianity rests upon solar imagery.
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Re: If you're an atheist how do you celebrate Christmas?

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My guess on why Christmas has hung on even among those without a shred of belief in Christ is that it serves a good purpose in the cause of family. Our individualist, capitalist, get-ahead world severely weakens connection in general, so at least at Christmas time we can pull together in our nuclear groups and celebrate our love for each other. It doesn't matter if we sing songs whose words might be irrelevant; we're singing them together.

Of course, capitalism and consumerism don't sit on the sidelines, but have made exceptional use of the holiday season to rev up production and sales. Say, have you bought that Lexus for your spouse yet?
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Re: If you're an atheist how do you celebrate Christmas?

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I celebrate the way I always have. Though I don’t decorate the house like I used to I spend time with family and friends. Gift exchange when appropriate or just hangout when that’s what called for. Mostly I just want the time off work. Here in the states the claim can be made that without these religious holidays there’s a good chance of not having much paid leave, particularly in the current environment of anti-labor that seems so dominant.
I enjoy spreading the joy of atheism this special time of year. I broadcast my atheism, I can positively claim that open declaration of said atheism has helped me find a path towards happiness and joy ,(escitalopram oxalate , helps as well).
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Re: If you're an atheist how do you celebrate Christmas?

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by celebrating new years eve, i suppose,
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Re: If you're an atheist how do you celebrate Christmas?

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I'm an atheist and I don't "celebrate" Christmas at all. However, I go to see a lot of Christmas displays during Christmas time. I'm not sure if that counts as celebrating the holiday. I don't think it does.
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