Screenwriter needs Atheist insight

[FlyingNarwhal]

Hello all,

I'm a screenwriter working on a new project that involves an atheist character. Instead of relying on stereotypes like most in my profession do, I'm looking for real insight from an atheist about what they believe/don't believe - etc.

Most importantly - The project involves Christmas time and people overly obsessed with Christmas. I have a few questions I am curious to have answered;

1) What is the general feeling towards the Holiday by you as an atheist?

I really don't care about it, it's just another day. At this point most of the Jesus and Christianity aspects of Christmas have been sucked out and it has become more general and commercialized so I really don't even feel like I'm looking at a religious day anymore.

2) What are your feelings towards the display of Christmas lights on houses?

Don't care, your property. Just please take them down by the start of February at the latest. It's just tacky at that point.

3) What are your feelings about Christmas displays in stores?

Again, don't really feel like it's a religious display at this point, just a commercial one. Sooooo.......don't care.

4) What are your feelings about the mad dash for gifts?

Don't care.

5) What are your feelings about it being a federally recognized holiday?

Torn here. On one hand, I don't think it should be recognized because after all it is a religious holiday and our government isn't supposed to endorse any religion. On the other hand, like I said before I think that the religious aspect of it is dying and it's become more of an annual gift giving holiday. I guess I'd say it shouldn't be federally recognized because Christ's name is in the holiday. If it was to be called "Annual Gift Giving Holiday" than sure whatever, recognize it.

6) What are your feelings about people telling their children that Santa is real?

Hey you wanna lie to your kid fine, ain't my family. I might not choose that path, but I can understand I guess how some parents would want to instill some kind of mystical wonderment.

7) What are your feelings towards Carolers or Christmas music on the radio?

Private radio, sure go for it. I'm just not going to listen to that station. And I wouldn't listen to it not because I don't want to listen to religious music, I wouldn't listen to it because Christmas music sucks. And after having to listen to it in every store, mall, and fast food restaurant during the Christmas season I definitely don't want to listen to it on the radio. There's only so many times a man can listen to White Christmas in a day before he wants to put a bullet through his temporal lobe. NPR doesn't get the luxury of Christmas carols though.

8) What are your feelings about how non-atheists perceive atheists?

I feel like many religious folk look at us like drunk drivers. We haphazardly drive down the road, crashing into random good drivers and converting them. There are some theists out there though that will vouch for our soberness.

9) Do you as an atheist celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah?

I used to celebrate Christmas with my family when I was younger and an atheist. But I no longer celebrate holidays in general. Haven't celebrated a birthday in 3 years.

10) What are your feelings towards the Christmas people who start decorating their house before Halloween?

Like with #2, just tacky. Honestly, it's a good thing I only have an apartment and not a house. If my neighbors were putting up Christmas decorations before Halloween I would leave my Halloween decorations up through Christmas.

11) If you could ask those that celebrate Christmas to change one thing (or several things) about it - what would it (they) be?

Sometimes, it's just too much Christmas. Look ultimately I really don't get too much say on what people wanna do as far as how they choose to celebrate the holiday. But sometimes I wish people would just tone it down a little.

12) At what point in your life did you realize you were an atheist?

At 11 and a half years old. But I think it's important to point out that in my experience, other atheists I have met have rarely gone straight from being theist (if they were one) to atheist instantly. I was 10 when I stopped being Catholic (religion in which I was raised). In the year and a half between I explored a few other theist religions, then jumped to deism, agnosticism, and finally atheism.

13) Did you ever have a "coming out" moment as an atheist? How was it received?

Not really. Was lucky enough to live in a pretty liberal state (Massachusetts) and people I knew gradually found out if the topic ever came up. I didn't really make it a point to state my atheism but at the same time I never really tried to hide it or anything.

14) As an atheist, what is your goal or intention about informing others that disagree with you about your stance?

If they want to ask me some questions I don't really mind answering them. But I'm not going to go about evangelizing for atheism either. It's not like I feel any allegiance to atheism.

15) If you do not celebrate Christmas - do you do anything in particular on Christmas day to celebrate anything at all? Family? A nice dinner with a loved one?

I visit family because they celebrate it, but I took myself out of the gift giving aspect of it. I don't accept gifts and I don't give them.

I appreciate the responses in advance. Cynics need not apply. I'm looking for level headed atheists who wish to put out a positive view of their "people", so to speak.

It was a fun little survey. Just FYI though, asking for atheists to respond that aren't cynics is like asking for theists that aren't believers.