Unbelievers, if you value consistency...?

Of course.

If Christians value consistency, they will reject that Christmas gift. After all, gift giving has nothing to do with Christianity. It was originally part of the winter solstice celebrations where people helped each other out through the hardest part of the year. This is also why people give to charity, connect with family members, and display green fauna that represents life enduring winter.

I know that Christians have since stretched the story of the wise men to going to midnight madness sales on "Black Friday" so they can spend what they don't have on family members so they'll be impressed. However, that is really a stretch. In fact, the whole Nativity is a stretch. It was not included in Paul's writings, which were the earliest after Jesus' death. The Gospels were written decades after Paul and included much of the symbolism of the Jewish myths for effect. There's nothing really, though, to suggest there is any validity to the Nativity story. Even the season is wrong. Shepards would not be in the fields in the middle of winter.

So, given the secular and pagan origins of gift giving during Solstice, are you going to accept that gift?

Yes, because I've consistently accepted gifts on December 25 since the time I was born. Those gifts were given out of love and companionship, not as a lesson to believe in Jesus Christ.

In other words, if I did not accept the gifts, I would be inconsistent.

I value considered consistency. Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.

There is nothing inconsistent nor hypocritical in sharing in and respecting the beliefs and customs of others. In fact, by offering that respect, I'm hoping to get it in return, as per Matthew 7:12 (although it is hardly the earliest statement of the ethic of reciprocity, I do appreciate its eloquence).

Unbelievers in what - the tooth fairy?

No one has offered me a Christmas gift.

Bah humbug to you too.

Yes, why can't we nonbelievers celebrate the glorious Winter Solstice? By the way, what's Christmas? ; )

Why not, there's nothing religious about exchanging gifts with people you like. Also, atheists don't expect to get brownie points for their charitable work, so our motives are "purer" than yours.

Yes. Believe it or not, Christmas is more about family than about Jesus, in practice if not in definition.

Sure, Santa brings gifts to everyone.

I'll accept my YULE gift, yes.

I accepted a couple today.