Well, the dang dog started barking at a hooty owl in the middle of the night and now I can't sleep. So whutthehell.
1) What is the general feeling towards the Holiday by you as an atheist?
Mixed. Always glad for a day off and not too picky over the reason for it. OTOH, it galls me when people use their faith like a weapon, as in getting angry if you wish them, "Happy holidays!" instead of "Merry Christmas!" Christians don't have a lock on the reasons to celebrate at this time of year, ya know?
2) What are your feelings towards the display of Christmas lights on houses?
Again, mixed. Their house, their nuttiness. I do regret the needless squandering of resources. And it also seems so "in your face." OTOH, it's nice they're willing to so clearly identify the homes of Teh Crazy.
3) What are your feelings about Christmas displays in stores?
It's become such a commercial occasion in this country... what else does one expect? I avoid the shops at the holidays.
4) What are your feelings about the mad dash for gifts?
I'm always sad when people permit their behaviors to be mindlessly dictated by others. Nice to give gifts, but not for the sake of it. I give gifts, but there are two rules: They must be homemade, and they must be consumable. Candles, liqueurs, wines, jams, candy... that's the sort of stuff you'll get from me.
5) What are your feelings about it being a federally recognized holiday?
I have a problem with this. I'd rather see a non-specific holiday designated for people to use on Christmas if that is meaningful to them, or some other day if it is not.
6) What are your feelings about people telling their children that Santa is real?
I think it's good training for the kid to figure out how similar the Santa story is to the god story... and arrive at the truth.
7) What are your feelings towards Carolers or Christmas music on the radio?
I haven't heard live carolers in years -- live too rural. (Don't get trick-or-treaters, either!) I can turn off the radio.
8) What are your feelings about how non-atheists perceive atheists?
It makes me sad. It's odd to have characteristics of evil attributed to me solely on the basis of my non-belief. I take people as I find them, irrespective of their religious or non-religious views, and always assume others do the same. Sadly, it is not the case. There is proof all around theists that atheists can be and are good people or bad people, yet they don't see this. But since there is proof all around theists that there is also not a god, can't say I'm surprised.
9) Do you as an atheist celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah?
No, but as someone who pays great attention to the seasons, I celebrate the Winter Solstice. It is meaningful to me for many reasons.
10) What are your feelings towards the Christmas people who start decorating their house before Halloween?
Their money, their time, their lives. I don't judge.
11) If you could ask those that celebrate Christmas to change one thing (or several things) about it - what would it (they) be?
I would ask them to understand that not everyone sees it the way they do, and the rest of us ought not be made to share in their celebrations according to their strictures. All the best to them. All the best to me, too.
12) At what point in your life did you realize you were an atheist?
I can't remember a time when I wasn't an atheist. I did wonder at times if there was something I was missing, but having had a good hard look around for it, I concluded I was one of the fortunate few whose mind was never cluttered with all that strange nonsense. Mass psychosis at its best.
13) Did you ever have a "coming out" moment as an atheist? How was it received?
I consider one's beliefs or non-beliefs a private matter, so no, no "coming out" for me. For most of my life, it was a non-issue. In recent years, however, there is a more militant version of Christian who seems to have a need to ferret out this information almost immediately about everyone they meet. I am not shy or retreating about my atheism if pushed on this point. I am happy to have the debate, facts being on my side and all. But I don't foist it on others unless asked directly. Sometimes I am asked about it because I do not participate in godly rituals, such as saying, "under god" when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, or represent that I am "praying" for someone. (I don't.) Happy to share my reasons why.
14) As an atheist, what is your goal or intention about informing others that disagree with you about your stance?
See #13. To elaborate, if pushed, I will have no mercy in pointing out the weaknesses of their belief system. I've deconverted more than a few.
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?
Again, I celebrate the Winter Solstice. I often have a party with like-minded friends, give them gifts and a lavish dinner with a Yule log, no artificial lights on in the house, only candlelight, firelight and hurricane lamps. I decorate a tree if I feel like it. Mostly it's an opportunity to share good fortune, laughter and joy with others whom I love. But I am grateful in only the most general sense -- never to a deity. And I do similar celebrations throughout the year for no reason at all other than that I enjoy doing it.
1) What is the general feeling towards the Holiday by you as an atheist?
Mixed. Always glad for a day off and not too picky over the reason for it. OTOH, it galls me when people use their faith like a weapon, as in getting angry if you wish them, "Happy holidays!" instead of "Merry Christmas!" Christians don't have a lock on the reasons to celebrate at this time of year, ya know?
2) What are your feelings towards the display of Christmas lights on houses?
Again, mixed. Their house, their nuttiness. I do regret the needless squandering of resources. And it also seems so "in your face." OTOH, it's nice they're willing to so clearly identify the homes of Teh Crazy.
3) What are your feelings about Christmas displays in stores?
It's become such a commercial occasion in this country... what else does one expect? I avoid the shops at the holidays.
4) What are your feelings about the mad dash for gifts?
I'm always sad when people permit their behaviors to be mindlessly dictated by others. Nice to give gifts, but not for the sake of it. I give gifts, but there are two rules: They must be homemade, and they must be consumable. Candles, liqueurs, wines, jams, candy... that's the sort of stuff you'll get from me.
5) What are your feelings about it being a federally recognized holiday?
I have a problem with this. I'd rather see a non-specific holiday designated for people to use on Christmas if that is meaningful to them, or some other day if it is not.
6) What are your feelings about people telling their children that Santa is real?
I think it's good training for the kid to figure out how similar the Santa story is to the god story... and arrive at the truth.
7) What are your feelings towards Carolers or Christmas music on the radio?
I haven't heard live carolers in years -- live too rural. (Don't get trick-or-treaters, either!) I can turn off the radio.
8) What are your feelings about how non-atheists perceive atheists?
It makes me sad. It's odd to have characteristics of evil attributed to me solely on the basis of my non-belief. I take people as I find them, irrespective of their religious or non-religious views, and always assume others do the same. Sadly, it is not the case. There is proof all around theists that atheists can be and are good people or bad people, yet they don't see this. But since there is proof all around theists that there is also not a god, can't say I'm surprised.
9) Do you as an atheist celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah?
No, but as someone who pays great attention to the seasons, I celebrate the Winter Solstice. It is meaningful to me for many reasons.
10) What are your feelings towards the Christmas people who start decorating their house before Halloween?
Their money, their time, their lives. I don't judge.
11) If you could ask those that celebrate Christmas to change one thing (or several things) about it - what would it (they) be?
I would ask them to understand that not everyone sees it the way they do, and the rest of us ought not be made to share in their celebrations according to their strictures. All the best to them. All the best to me, too.
12) At what point in your life did you realize you were an atheist?
I can't remember a time when I wasn't an atheist. I did wonder at times if there was something I was missing, but having had a good hard look around for it, I concluded I was one of the fortunate few whose mind was never cluttered with all that strange nonsense. Mass psychosis at its best.
13) Did you ever have a "coming out" moment as an atheist? How was it received?
I consider one's beliefs or non-beliefs a private matter, so no, no "coming out" for me. For most of my life, it was a non-issue. In recent years, however, there is a more militant version of Christian who seems to have a need to ferret out this information almost immediately about everyone they meet. I am not shy or retreating about my atheism if pushed on this point. I am happy to have the debate, facts being on my side and all. But I don't foist it on others unless asked directly. Sometimes I am asked about it because I do not participate in godly rituals, such as saying, "under god" when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, or represent that I am "praying" for someone. (I don't.) Happy to share my reasons why.
14) As an atheist, what is your goal or intention about informing others that disagree with you about your stance?
See #13. To elaborate, if pushed, I will have no mercy in pointing out the weaknesses of their belief system. I've deconverted more than a few.
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?
Again, I celebrate the Winter Solstice. I often have a party with like-minded friends, give them gifts and a lavish dinner with a Yule log, no artificial lights on in the house, only candlelight, firelight and hurricane lamps. I decorate a tree if I feel like it. Mostly it's an opportunity to share good fortune, laughter and joy with others whom I love. But I am grateful in only the most general sense -- never to a deity. And I do similar celebrations throughout the year for no reason at all other than that I enjoy doing it.
