1) What is the general feeling towards the Holiday by you as an atheist?
When I reverted back to atheism I had to re-evaluate Christmas and what it meant to me. I concluded that it's a holiday of love and compassion, and that's what I embrace about it.
2) What are your feelings towards the display of Christmas lights on houses?
Love them. So long as they don't bankrupt you.. Personally I'd prefer the money go to charities and go to the park or zoo to see a light display.
3) What are your feelings about Christmas displays in stores?
I like them. In December. Also, Santa stuff is sooooo blowhardy I can't even fathom who the hell thought that shit up.
4) What are your feelings about the mad dash for gifts?
Retarded to the max
5) What are your feelings about it being a federally recognized holiday?
I have no problem with every religion having its own holidays. I would work through them anyways.. But they're good for the economy. I enjoy the Christmas Holiday off and think it's been around too long to take away as a federal holiday. Sometimes it's nice to see the whole world pause and rest for a moment.
6) What are your feelings about people telling their children that Santa is real?
I wouldn't do it myself, for the mere fact that my cousins kid lost all faith in humanity for about 6mo when she found out Santa didn't exist. She was depressed because she didn't know what was real and what wasn't, and when her parents did or didn't lie to her. So, I won't be doing that to my children. That doesn't mean I won't do tooth fairy stuff though.. That has a purpose, to keep the teeth till they're older.
7) What are your feelings towards Carolers or Christmas music on the radio?
Santa clause stuff gets on my nerves. I like hearing the religious music though, it's beautiful. I value other peoples' happiness as a means to my own and if believing in god makes them happy it makes me happy.
8) What are your feelings about how non-atheists perceive atheists?
Well, I feel like my right to be able to celebrate and enjoy myself is muted around those who know I don't believe in their god. When I gave up my faith the first Christmas I was very depressed.. Christmas was always my favorite holiday. I had to re-assess what it was about the holiday that made it special for me, and I concluded that it's an overall time for love, happiness, and self-sacrifice. Then my fiancee proposed on Christmas Eve and now it will forever be a special time for me
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?
I've never even witnessed that in my lifetime and I've lived in Colorado, home of the Christmas light fanatics. There are some who keep them up year-round, though.. I just figure they are dealing drugs or something though, no one keeps Christmas lights on for no reason year round..
11) If you could ask those that celebrate Christmas to change one thing (or several things) about it - what would it (they) be?
FGS make some unretarded Christmas movies.
12) At what point in your life did you realize you were an atheist?
I was in my early twenties.. One day I started crashing in the hospital from an illness. All that was there was me, and I was dying. I wanted nothing but comfort and all that was there was darkness. All I remember when I stopped breathing and started choking was realizing that this must be how old people feel too, in the nursing homes. A video of a lion killing a gazelle was on tv and this haze that had overshadowed my life making me feel safe and comforted was removed. There was nothing left but survival for me, which was horrific since I was dying where I lay.
I pulled out of it after a while in the ICU and started wondering if god was even there. After that for 4+yrs of searching for him, I concluded he wasn't there.
13) Did you ever have a "coming out" moment as an atheist? How was it received?
Yes, I did. I had people telling me I wasn't an agnostic atheist because that didn't make sense and I had to explain that it would have to take faith on my part to say I don't believe in a god but also know for certain he isn't real. Therefore I don't know for certain but until I have reason to believe in god I won't believe in it. I'm an atheist who doesn't know for sure if god exists, I'm not accusing anyone of believing in something that doesn't exist. I have every right to question it though, especially if beliefs interfere with important things like relationships and how you treat yourself or others.
14) As an atheist, what is your goal or intention about informing others that disagree with you about your stance?
To help them understand that morality is not copy-written by theism. I'm not going to go out and keep a wallet I find just because there isn't a god to ensure that I do the right thing. And there are existential laws and rights that each and every one of us have that cannot be taken away, unless we pose a danger to ourselves, society, or our environment.
When I reverted back to atheism I had to re-evaluate Christmas and what it meant to me. I concluded that it's a holiday of love and compassion, and that's what I embrace about it.
2) What are your feelings towards the display of Christmas lights on houses?
Love them. So long as they don't bankrupt you.. Personally I'd prefer the money go to charities and go to the park or zoo to see a light display.
3) What are your feelings about Christmas displays in stores?
I like them. In December. Also, Santa stuff is sooooo blowhardy I can't even fathom who the hell thought that shit up.
4) What are your feelings about the mad dash for gifts?
Retarded to the max
5) What are your feelings about it being a federally recognized holiday?
I have no problem with every religion having its own holidays. I would work through them anyways.. But they're good for the economy. I enjoy the Christmas Holiday off and think it's been around too long to take away as a federal holiday. Sometimes it's nice to see the whole world pause and rest for a moment.
6) What are your feelings about people telling their children that Santa is real?
I wouldn't do it myself, for the mere fact that my cousins kid lost all faith in humanity for about 6mo when she found out Santa didn't exist. She was depressed because she didn't know what was real and what wasn't, and when her parents did or didn't lie to her. So, I won't be doing that to my children. That doesn't mean I won't do tooth fairy stuff though.. That has a purpose, to keep the teeth till they're older.
7) What are your feelings towards Carolers or Christmas music on the radio?
Santa clause stuff gets on my nerves. I like hearing the religious music though, it's beautiful. I value other peoples' happiness as a means to my own and if believing in god makes them happy it makes me happy.
8) What are your feelings about how non-atheists perceive atheists?
Well, I feel like my right to be able to celebrate and enjoy myself is muted around those who know I don't believe in their god. When I gave up my faith the first Christmas I was very depressed.. Christmas was always my favorite holiday. I had to re-assess what it was about the holiday that made it special for me, and I concluded that it's an overall time for love, happiness, and self-sacrifice. Then my fiancee proposed on Christmas Eve and now it will forever be a special time for me
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?
I've never even witnessed that in my lifetime and I've lived in Colorado, home of the Christmas light fanatics. There are some who keep them up year-round, though.. I just figure they are dealing drugs or something though, no one keeps Christmas lights on for no reason year round..
11) If you could ask those that celebrate Christmas to change one thing (or several things) about it - what would it (they) be?
FGS make some unretarded Christmas movies.
12) At what point in your life did you realize you were an atheist?
I was in my early twenties.. One day I started crashing in the hospital from an illness. All that was there was me, and I was dying. I wanted nothing but comfort and all that was there was darkness. All I remember when I stopped breathing and started choking was realizing that this must be how old people feel too, in the nursing homes. A video of a lion killing a gazelle was on tv and this haze that had overshadowed my life making me feel safe and comforted was removed. There was nothing left but survival for me, which was horrific since I was dying where I lay.
I pulled out of it after a while in the ICU and started wondering if god was even there. After that for 4+yrs of searching for him, I concluded he wasn't there.
13) Did you ever have a "coming out" moment as an atheist? How was it received?
Yes, I did. I had people telling me I wasn't an agnostic atheist because that didn't make sense and I had to explain that it would have to take faith on my part to say I don't believe in a god but also know for certain he isn't real. Therefore I don't know for certain but until I have reason to believe in god I won't believe in it. I'm an atheist who doesn't know for sure if god exists, I'm not accusing anyone of believing in something that doesn't exist. I have every right to question it though, especially if beliefs interfere with important things like relationships and how you treat yourself or others.
14) As an atheist, what is your goal or intention about informing others that disagree with you about your stance?
To help them understand that morality is not copy-written by theism. I'm not going to go out and keep a wallet I find just because there isn't a god to ensure that I do the right thing. And there are existential laws and rights that each and every one of us have that cannot be taken away, unless we pose a danger to ourselves, society, or our environment.
If I were to create self aware beings knowing fully what they would do in their lifetimes, I sure wouldn't create a HELL for the majority of them to live in infinitely! That's not Love, that's sadistic. Therefore a truly loving god does not exist!
Dead wrong. The actions of a finite being measured against an infinite one are infinitesimal and therefore merit infinitesimal punishment.
I say again: No exceptions. Punishment should be equal to the crime, not in excess of it. As soon as the punishment is greater than the crime, the punisher is in the wrong.
![[Image: tumblr_n1j4lmACk61qchtw3o1_500.gif]](https://66.media.tumblr.com/5fb74c6d16622fb3dbb358509c9aec03/tumblr_n1j4lmACk61qchtw3o1_500.gif)
Quote:The sin is against an infinite being (God) unforgiven infinitely, therefore the punishment is infinite.
Dead wrong. The actions of a finite being measured against an infinite one are infinitesimal and therefore merit infinitesimal punishment.
Quote:Some people deserve hell.
I say again: No exceptions. Punishment should be equal to the crime, not in excess of it. As soon as the punishment is greater than the crime, the punisher is in the wrong.
