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RE: Anyone practicing Christmas??
November 26, 2011 at 2:24 pm
(This post was last modified: November 26, 2011 at 2:26 pm by Joe Bloe.)
(November 22, 2011 at 4:44 pm)airborne2k10 Wrote: I have grown fond of many of the Christmas songs I used to play and despite the fact that I don't believe in the songs' message, I still think many of the them are quite beautiful. I've been an atheist all my life, but I like some of the "old time religion" songs and even sing along when I hear them.
(November 22, 2011 at 4:44 pm)airborne2k10 Wrote: Do you guys completely ignore the holiday all together? If you celebrate it, what sort of things do you cut out? I am just interested to hear your thoughts on Christmas I was always an atheist but I celebrated Christmas until I was 14 and then I stopped. No cards, no presents, no Christmas dinner since then - it's just another day for me.
But if there are children involved then I always play along, give them presents, and pretend I'm really excited about it all. Kids love Christmas and I'll never mess it up for them.
(November 22, 2011 at 4:44 pm)airborne2k10 Wrote: Since then I have received only a couple snide remarks from my family concerning my lack of faith (my family is general pretty accepting). However, as the holiday season approaches I am concerned about things getting heated over religion. Just for fun, if your extended family try to put you on the spot for your lack of belief, you should ask them to find the bible text that says Jesus was born in a stable. That should keep them busy for a long time.
Matthew says the wise men went into a HOUSE to see Jesus and Luke says that Jesus slept in a manger, but that's an animal food bin (just the right size for use as a baby's cradle)
There is no mention of Jesus being born in a stable anywhere in the bible.
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RE: Anyone practicing Christmas??
December 4, 2011 at 7:47 pm
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RE: Anyone practicing Christmas??
December 5, 2011 at 2:52 am
I love the family and tradition aspect of it all, especially as I grew up with it, and I look at it more as a time to enjoy the weather (LOVE Winter), decorate and spend time with my family, almost like a second, more cheery and festive Thanksgiving lol.
~*~Your beliefs don't make you a better person, your behavior does ~*~
~*~Live a good life. If there are Gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are Gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no Gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones - Marcus Aurelius~*~
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RE: Anyone practicing Christmas??
December 6, 2011 at 9:30 am
Meh
All my friends celebrate Christmas and most of them are atheists.
What is it other than an excuse to party, get drunk, eat chocolate, and give and receive presents 
Christmas isn't properly a Christian festival anyway. They stole it from the pagans.
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RE: Anyone practicing Christmas??
December 6, 2011 at 10:32 am
(December 6, 2011 at 9:30 am)Xavier Wrote: Meh
All my friends celebrate Christmas and most of them are atheists.
What is it other than an excuse to party, get drunk, eat chocolate, and give and receive presents
Christmas isn't properly a Christian festival anyway. They stole it from the pagans.
F*** yeah!
~*~Your beliefs don't make you a better person, your behavior does ~*~
~*~Live a good life. If there are Gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are Gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no Gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones - Marcus Aurelius~*~
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RE: Anyone practicing Christmas??
December 6, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Nah, they stole it from the Yogites.
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RE: Anyone practicing Christmas??
December 6, 2011 at 10:56 pm
There is no way as an atheist for me, I could cut out Christmas. I will forever celebrate it. For me the holiday is about spending time with loved ones, giving back if you can, and of course, the pretty trees, lights, food, and presents.  But I don't see the harm in that. How many Christians truly celebrate Jesus' birth that day without any of the gifts and lights? I've never seen it. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving and receiving presents. It's fun and makes you feel good. For me I am so so excited to send a gift to my friend in England. That's what the holidays mean to me. She's been there for me for the past 5 years or so now and deserves something special. Not much has to be taken out of Christmas in order to celebrate it. For me it only means no more going to a special Christmas mass on Christmas Eve but that's fine. That was a fun memory. Fun, but it's in the past. I personally still love all the Jesus-themed songs. Does it mean I believe? No, but who said you had to in order to simply enjoy singing or hearing the song?
That's the holiday in my world.
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Mega Harry Potter and Stan Marsh fan.
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RE: Anyone practicing Christmas??
December 8, 2011 at 12:12 pm
I have studied the Bible and the theology behind Christianity for many years. I have been to many churches. I have walked the depth and the breadth of the religion and, as a result of this, I have a lot of bullshit to scrape off the bottom of my shoes. ~Ziploc Surprise
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RE: Anyone practicing Christmas??
December 8, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Always liked 'The Little Drummer Boy'. Anyway, gf wants to do Christmas, so we're doing Christmas. Last year my freethought group had a traditional Jewish Christmas.
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RE: Anyone practicing Christmas??
December 12, 2011 at 9:00 am
I could never ignore christmas. I am a singer by traid, and for musicians it's the best time of the year [to make money among other things].
But I love christmas. I don't go to church, and that's the real only consession I have made to my atheism.
My husband goes off to midnight mass all by himself and I stay at home drinking wine. it's win win all round.
but I do the present buying, the carols in the park etc, because it's just so much fun!
Quote:Frankly, I wish that the fruits of my work useful and glorious appearing of the world that the fruits of my labor awaken the mind and unlock the feeling of those who are deprived of light.
Ridiculous to say, outside the sky was nothing.
There is not one world, one earth, one sun, but as many worlds as we see bright sparks on us.
Giordano Bruno
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