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Why do Athiest's celebrate Christmas?

Why? I see loads of people saying they don't believe in God (Athiest) or Agnostic but yet they celebrate Christmas.

Someone explain this to me, what is the meaning of Christmas these days?

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Reply 1

GoodbyeTSR

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Reply 2

joey11223

it is a secular holiday celebrating general family time and gift giving, which is a common theme of many festivals.

But hey my mum bought a Yule log from the shops, I don't like them much but I'll say we're celebrating Yule not Christmas! :tongue:

Reply 3

DJkG.1

They used to be Christian but then gave up the faith but stuck with the Christmas celebrations? :dontknow:

For the lulz.

I don't get why they don't celebrate Eid, I mean there's 2 of them and only one day of Christmas if they love the gifts and family time...

Reply 6

agolati

Tis' the season to be jolly, tra la la la la, la la la la.

Reply 7

Circadian_Rhythm

I agree with lulz and would add another paradigm: prezentz.

Reply 8

ByronicHero

Presents, family, food. Xmas has very little to do with religion for many, in much the same way easter is, for most, about chocolate eggs.

Reply 9

Vozhak

we celebrate the spirit of the season- that being charity, goodwill, sharing, caring, happiness, hoping for peace on earth etc.

Atheists do not believe in God it does not mean we do not believe in humanity and many times atheists can spend more time helping and caring for others because we don't have to spend time praying.

I celebrate all religious holidays with my friends from Christmas, to Eid to Divali to Yom Kipur, because each of those times evoke good works in people.

So to end we celebrate all of the humanistic aspects of Christmas and not the birth of Christ, which most religious people stopped celebrating a long time ago too.

Hope this clears it up :biggrin:

happy holidays :smile:

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 10

Flying Scotsman

"Why do Christians celebrate Christmas?" would be a more appropriate question. It was originally a pagan festival.

Reply 11

Teveth

Original post by Becreate

Why? I see loads of people saying they don't believe in God (Athiest) or Agnostic but yet they celebrate Christmas.

Someone explain this to me, what is the meaning of Christmas these days?

A winter festival with log fires, pine trees, lights, singing, gifts etc existed in Britain long before Christ was born. Snowmen, Santa, and most others things that go along with a modern Christmas all have nothing to do with religion, which is why it is a secular holiday for most.

Reply 12

Aphotic Cosmos

Because Christmas is simply a religious appropriation of festivities that have been present in European culture for thousands of years prior to the rise of Christianity. It is a time to be thankful for what we have and be with the ones we love. Atheists are not soulless automatons, and when most of the activities and decorations around Christmas are completely secular in nature anyway, one questions why it is even considered a religious holiday any more. Easter is about chocolate, Christmas is about family, Halloween (derived from All Hallows (All Saints) Day Eve) is about scary things.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 13

Holly Hiskey

PRESENTS
Also because I like most kinds of celebrations and Christmas is a good one for distracting me from the weather ^-^

Reply 14

harrietta

because it's pretty darm commercialised!

Reply 15

CrusaderTemplar

Original post by Becreate

Why? I see loads of people saying they don't believe in God (Athiest) or Agnostic but yet they celebrate Christmas.

Someone explain this to me, what is the meaning of Christmas these days?

1. I am atheist and celebrate christmas because It is a good excuse for being with family etc.

2. Christmas was hijacked by christianity. it was orignally a pagan celebration of the winter solstice.

Reply 16

MostCompetitive

Atheists don't have religions. Christmas is a religious festival. It doesn't make sense.

EDIT: neg repping me is all you can do. Nobody can argue against what I have said in this post. I love TSR.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 17

JohnnytheFox

Why does anybody celebrate Christmas anymore? When was the last time you heard someone mention Jesus in relation to Christmas outside of church?

I'm sorry to break it to you bro, but the big high street brands have hijacked Christmas as an excuse to get you spending ****loads of money that you don't have in their stores. The only thing christmas is a celebration for these days is commercialism.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 18

Abbadon27

Why not? Most cultures and religions have celebrations around this time of year anyway, so you might as well make the most of it. Also, when you open your presents I very much doubt your thinking of Jesus.

Reply 19

woejane

Christmas isnt even that religious. No where in the bible does it say that you should celebrate the birth of Jesus.
IMO its now just a family holiday, and i think its nice that most people celebrate it.
If you think about it, if atheists didnt celebrate it, there wouldnt actually be a need for christmas, because technically, those who follow the traditional christian faith dont actually need to celebrate it either

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