1) What is the general feeling towards the Holiday by you as an atheist?
I love Christmas. It's been a secular holiday with religious trappings pretty much since it became widely celebrated.
2) What are your feelings towards the display of Christmas lights on houses?
Love it. The more ridiculously elaborate, the better. My mom used to do this when I was younger.
3) What are your feelings about Christmas displays in stores?
Ambivalent. I worked retail long enough that I don't really pay attention to them unless they're creative and interesting.
4) What are your feelings about the mad dash for gifts?
It's the only part of the commercialization I really don't care for. I buy things months in advance if I can, and I never buy that much anyway.
5) What are your feelings about it being a federally recognized holiday?
No problem with it.
6) What are your feelings about people telling their children that Santa is real?
If you're going to tell your kids fairy tales in order to get them to behave, enticing them with rewards is better than threatening them with hell.
7) What are your feelings towards Carolers or Christmas music on the radio?
Fuck that song by Wham!. But, otherwise, I tune in after Thanksgiving.
8) What are your feelings about how non-atheists perceive atheists?
We have a bad reputation we've done nothing to deserve.
9) Do you as an atheist celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah?
I celebrate Christmas.
10) What are your feelings towards the Christmas people who start decorating their house before Halloween?
Can't wait to see it when it's done.
11) If you could ask those that celebrate Christmas to change one thing (or several things) about it - what would it (they) be?
Let's stop pretending it is, or ever was, about Jesus. Christians stole a pagan holiday. Now, we secularists are stealing it for everybody.
12) At what point in your life did you realize you were an atheist?
About fifteen months ago.
13) Did you ever have a "coming out" moment as an atheist? How was it received?
I didn't make a big deal about it. Most people don't seem to care. My dad was the only family member who objected.
14) As an atheist, what is your goal or intention about informing others that disagree with you about your stance?
I enjoy debates and arguments both. My only real intention is to demonstrate how horrible the core beliefs of Christianity really are when you stop automatically assuming the best about God.
I love Christmas. It's been a secular holiday with religious trappings pretty much since it became widely celebrated.
2) What are your feelings towards the display of Christmas lights on houses?
Love it. The more ridiculously elaborate, the better. My mom used to do this when I was younger.
3) What are your feelings about Christmas displays in stores?
Ambivalent. I worked retail long enough that I don't really pay attention to them unless they're creative and interesting.
4) What are your feelings about the mad dash for gifts?
It's the only part of the commercialization I really don't care for. I buy things months in advance if I can, and I never buy that much anyway.
5) What are your feelings about it being a federally recognized holiday?
No problem with it.
6) What are your feelings about people telling their children that Santa is real?
If you're going to tell your kids fairy tales in order to get them to behave, enticing them with rewards is better than threatening them with hell.
7) What are your feelings towards Carolers or Christmas music on the radio?
Fuck that song by Wham!. But, otherwise, I tune in after Thanksgiving.
8) What are your feelings about how non-atheists perceive atheists?
We have a bad reputation we've done nothing to deserve.
9) Do you as an atheist celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah?
I celebrate Christmas.
10) What are your feelings towards the Christmas people who start decorating their house before Halloween?
Can't wait to see it when it's done.
11) If you could ask those that celebrate Christmas to change one thing (or several things) about it - what would it (they) be?
Let's stop pretending it is, or ever was, about Jesus. Christians stole a pagan holiday. Now, we secularists are stealing it for everybody.
12) At what point in your life did you realize you were an atheist?
About fifteen months ago.
13) Did you ever have a "coming out" moment as an atheist? How was it received?
I didn't make a big deal about it. Most people don't seem to care. My dad was the only family member who objected.
14) As an atheist, what is your goal or intention about informing others that disagree with you about your stance?
I enjoy debates and arguments both. My only real intention is to demonstrate how horrible the core beliefs of Christianity really are when you stop automatically assuming the best about God.
