When I first walked away from Christianity, of course I refused to answer people when they wished me a merry Christmas. I was surrounded by Christians in the buckle of the Bible belt. I couldn’t say what I wanted to say, but I’d be damned if I’d let them force me to say what I did not want to say.

That was twelve years ago. Today my opinion of Christianity has not changed, b the emotional need to distance myself from everything associated with god has mellowed. Now I remember that as a child Christmas was the only morning when nobody was fussing over whose turn it was in the bathroom.

Now I know that Jesus was never the “reason for the season.” The early church did not celebrate Christmas or Easter. The first Christmas was celebrated in Rome. That’s here all the pagan symbolism came from (I know someone here will correct me if I’m wrong, but until then, I’m right.) So I have a totally humanistic, secular view of Christmas. I let the serotonin flow through my brain and enjoy it.

Yeah I totes dig Christmas because I get offa work and hang with the family (who I actually like) and watch lots of college football bowl games and such. When people wish me a merry Christmas I say "to you too" or something like that. I don't actively wish people a merry Christmas, for much the same reason I don't say "bless you" when someone sneezes: it's a content-devoid automatic reaction, no different from saying "ouch" when you hit your knee on something. I will tell people that I hope they enjoy their time off or visits with family or things like that.

Meh, the day has zero religious significance to me. The narrative doesn't even support the idea that Jesus was born in December. I may as well be celebrating Yule, Saturnalia, the winter solstice, or yay - Christmas fell on a Sunday this year so I get 4 1/2 consecutive days out of the office so let's party.

There's family, feasting, football, and gift-giving. That's all I care about.

No way, absolutely not! If I find anyone doing this, they're out of the atheist cult

Nah, sure I say merry Christmas to everyone. It has almost no religious connotations round here anymore.

Christmas was originally pagan. It was taken over by Christians later. Today it's really just a mix of capitalism and secular celebrations. I don't really care. I just spend time with people I love and try to have a good time.

I don't say anything about the holidays. If they say merry Christmas to me I say "to you as well". That way I can't get yelled at like last year. I too live in the bible belt. But I also celebrate Christmas for what it is; a hallmark holiday just like Thanksgiving but with presents. My boss doesn't agree since I got into a situation yesterday when I wouldn't sign a Christmas thank you card with biblical stuff on it.

Christmas has religious connotations?!

(December 21, 2016 at 6:25 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: Christmas has religious connotations?!

Yeah, but you have to squint REALLY hard to see them.

Boru

I wish everyone a happy Winter Foodfest, if they don't like it who cares?

If it's got good food, I don't mind whatever fairytales are associated with it