For our Atheist friends struggling with Christmas.?

Have a happy winter solstice!

I do not strugle with christmas, It isnt about religion anymore. It is all bout what we are going to get or give so have fun with it. thats what I do I dont go to church or anything like that but I do partake in the joy of this time of year. People are better even if it is only for a short time. I see a little humanity in everyone during the holiday season and that is what I celebrate. So if some one says Merry Christmas, happy hollidays, or Seasons Greetings I repay the favor for any other time of the year, it would be move, hurry up, or get out of the way. I embrace this holiday season because for what ever your religion, people are more loving for just a couple of months

I have no problem with Christmas. If someone wants to wish me a Merry Christmas that's fine by me, just as people sometime wish me a happy Hannaka or a Happy Divali.

I don't take offence at someone wishing me a pleasant holiday of any description.

What does offend me is:-

+ religionists using christmas to preach to me about something I neither believe in nor am interested in... to me that's just plain rude

+ christians claiming that christmas is an entirely christian celebration - December 25 has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual date of the birth of a very ordinary human being who was stupid enough to get himself nailed to a stick (which didn't happen at Easter either).

The pagan mid-winter celebration pre-dates christianity by hundred of years and the fact that it is now a "christian" festival symbolises all that is wrong with christianity - people were not permitted to practice their own beliefs but were coerced and frightened into the beliefs of christians, often changing forever the societies and social structures that previously existed. This is true right across the world wherever interfering religionist missionaries poison the ancient - and just as equally valid - beliefs of ancient peoples.

Christmas for christians should be a time when they hang their heads in shame

I'm an Atheist and I still celebrate Christmas because it is part of western culture. It it a public holiday and a good time to spend with family. And it's not just about receiving presents, I like to give presents too.

As an atheist, I do not struggle with christmas, only with trying to keep the Yule tree ornaments from finding their way into floor courtesy of my children. I do, though, love the smell of pine or fir in my home.

Interesting how you required Shinto and Buddhism in order to strengthen a self declared apparent lack in your christianity. Perhaps you should make a switch and see if that belief system will have a profound positive impact on your psyche and Id. And perhaps you can cease assuming "we" atheists are struggling with things.

Happy Yule.

The only thing I struggle with at Christmas time is money.

BTW I thought maybe you would offer me some money...thanks for the false hope.

Merry Christmas...which I mean in the context of Christmas is a legal holiday according to my state statute 12-5-2.

What makes you think all Atheists are offended by something so little as a socially acceptable greeting? Is it often you wish Merry Christmas to an Atheist and then are subjected to a lecture on why Christmas is full of crap?

You have a very backwards view of Atheists. Be faithful in their character like you are in your religion and you might see better fruits of it.

So I shouldn't expect that people who know that I am Jewish to maybe great me with something other than Merry Christmas?

I am happy for their holiday and I hope that have a smashing time - I guess it would just be nice if they were respectful of other people's feelings.

We aren't struggling with Christmas. Atheists are generous and nice to others EVERY day of the year. WE don't have to hijack a holiday season so to justify temporary kindness and practice Pagan traditions (like decorating trees and hearth, giving gifts, singing songs, gathering with family, feasting, etc.).

I don't struggle with it, I tackle it head-on until it begs for mercy! Bows, mistletoe, candles, glitter, pine boughs, wrapping paper! (Or at least until it begs for me to stop butchering those Christmas songs...)

Of course, I still say Joyous Yule to anyone tacky enough to wish me a Merry Christmas without knowing if I actually celebrate it. That's just habit, though.

I think we Humanists are too rational and broad minded to get our tails in a twist over this. Be kind and charitable but perhaps suggest to them that 'most of the people on earth are NOT christians'. As Pat Condell says 'Peace'. dj