Comments on: I’m looking forward to Christmas http://www.reasonabledissent.com/christmas/ Open-minded thoughts on atheism, religion, theism and science. Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:19:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: AtheistSpy http://www.reasonabledissent.com/christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-263 AtheistSpy Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:46:26 +0000 http://www.reasonabledissent.com/?p=238#comment-263 I didn't even know Christmas was a celebration of jesus until I was 12. I think Christmas is a great tradition, and an increasingly secular one at that. Some of my fondest childhood memories are from a stinking hot Australian Christmas day around the pool. Never have I associated god with it. I think its great that godless people can celebrate Christmas, not believing in god shouldn't affect your social life or exclude you from such great events as Christmas or Easter. I didn’t even know Christmas was a celebration of jesus until I was 12. I think Christmas is a great tradition, and an increasingly secular one at that. Some of my fondest childhood memories are from a stinking hot Australian Christmas day around the pool. Never have I associated god with it.

I think its great that godless people can celebrate Christmas, not believing in god shouldn’t affect your social life or exclude you from such great events as Christmas or Easter.

]]> By: Jessica Sideways http://www.reasonabledissent.com/christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-262 Jessica Sideways Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:50:23 +0000 http://www.reasonabledissent.com/?p=238#comment-262 Yeah, I cannot wait for the holidays to roll around this year. Pumpkin pie and turkey, but alas, I cannot celebrate thanksgiving properly this year so I am going to have to default to American Thanksgiving. Oi. And this will be the first time EVER that I have not spent the holidays without anyone that cares for me since I have my brand new wife. ^_^ Yeah, I cannot wait for the holidays to roll around this year. Pumpkin pie and turkey, but alas, I cannot celebrate thanksgiving properly this year so I am going to have to default to American Thanksgiving. Oi. And this will be the first time EVER that I have not spent the holidays without anyone that cares for me since I have my brand new wife. ^_^

]]> By: Carl http://www.reasonabledissent.com/christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-260 Carl Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:41:35 +0000 http://www.reasonabledissent.com/?p=238#comment-260 I had a feeling that I wasn't alone in feeling this way. I know there are some religious people that get kind of huffy about "taking Christ out of Christmas", and they probably don't like it. But, hey, what are they going to do? We just like the holiday :) I had a feeling that I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. I know there are some religious people that get kind of huffy about “taking Christ out of Christmas”, and they probably don’t like it. But, hey, what are they going to do? We just like the holiday :)

]]> By: Crystal http://www.reasonabledissent.com/christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-257 Crystal Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:26:15 +0000 http://www.reasonabledissent.com/?p=238#comment-257 I'm with you on the excitement of Christmas. I love the holiday (I get the post-Christmas blues - that's how much I love it), and I love spending it with my overtly religious family. Despite the fact that they are very religious, Christmas has never been a sacred holiday in my family. Yes, my mother puts up her angel tree topper, and yes, we all go around singing religious Christmas carols while we bake and decorate (even I do! Just because I'm an atheist doesn't mean I can't enjoy the music I grew up with, even if that music has a religious message. My two favorite Christmas songs are both religious, as a matter of fact), and yes, my mother has her Christmas nativity decorations around the house, but Christmas itself has always been more about enjoying time with the family, not about praising some baby born in a barn. Despite their firm faith, my family rarely went to church anyway, so church on Christmas wasn't something we did (except when visiting my grandparents up in Indiana). Since I have come out as an atheist, Christmas has never been awkward because, to us, it's more about family, food, and... more food. I’m with you on the excitement of Christmas. I love the holiday (I get the post-Christmas blues – that’s how much I love it), and I love spending it with my overtly religious family. Despite the fact that they are very religious, Christmas has never been a sacred holiday in my family. Yes, my mother puts up her angel tree topper, and yes, we all go around singing religious Christmas carols while we bake and decorate (even I do! Just because I’m an atheist doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the music I grew up with, even if that music has a religious message. My two favorite Christmas songs are both religious, as a matter of fact), and yes, my mother has her Christmas nativity decorations around the house, but Christmas itself has always been more about enjoying time with the family, not about praising some baby born in a barn. Despite their firm faith, my family rarely went to church anyway, so church on Christmas wasn’t something we did (except when visiting my grandparents up in Indiana). Since I have come out as an atheist, Christmas has never been awkward because, to us, it’s more about family, food, and… more food.

]]> By: Carl http://www.reasonabledissent.com/christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-255 Carl Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:42:14 +0000 http://www.reasonabledissent.com/?p=238#comment-255 Nope, no religion necessary. Really, most American families need only remove the obligation to sit in church for an hour that day, and theirs won't be religious either. I just happen to be comfortable admitting that to myself where they may not be. It's funny, I don't normally get all cheesy and nostalgic, but I just like Christmas a lot. (And apparently come off somewhat feminine?) Personally, I've never had too much of a problem with the whole Santa thing. I've seen some people write about it like it's a huge lie to your kids and on a level with religious indoctrination and "You shouldn't manipulate them like that." Well, I don't think it has to be like that. Let them have this imaginary guy that watches your every action and brings toys to all the kids of the world in a night. You can only answer their questions for so long until they see through it. It may actually turn into a good lesson about finding your own answers when someone gives you a fantastical story like that. The parallels with how some religions (arguably) manipulate and control people are almost inescapable. But for me it wouldn't be about the lesson. It seems like kids have a good time with the Santa thing, and all their friends will be excited - I don't see a pressing reason to take that away. Nope, no religion necessary. Really, most American families need only remove the obligation to sit in church for an hour that day, and theirs won’t be religious either. I just happen to be comfortable admitting that to myself where they may not be. It’s funny, I don’t normally get all cheesy and nostalgic, but I just like Christmas a lot. (And apparently come off somewhat feminine?)

Personally, I’ve never had too much of a problem with the whole Santa thing. I’ve seen some people write about it like it’s a huge lie to your kids and on a level with religious indoctrination and “You shouldn’t manipulate them like that.” Well, I don’t think it has to be like that. Let them have this imaginary guy that watches your every action and brings toys to all the kids of the world in a night. You can only answer their questions for so long until they see through it. It may actually turn into a good lesson about finding your own answers when someone gives you a fantastical story like that. The parallels with how some religions (arguably) manipulate and control people are almost inescapable. But for me it wouldn’t be about the lesson. It seems like kids have a good time with the Santa thing, and all their friends will be excited – I don’t see a pressing reason to take that away.

]]> By: mjb http://www.reasonabledissent.com/christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-254 mjb Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:03:43 +0000 http://www.reasonabledissent.com/?p=238#comment-254 Nothing you've described has anything to do with religion. Just a party with a cheezy (but fun)winter-ish theme and certain types of decorations and certain types of food. If you have kids someday are you going to string them along with the whole Santa Claus thing? Nothing you’ve described has anything to do with religion. Just a party with a cheezy (but fun)winter-ish theme and certain types of decorations and certain types of food.

If you have kids someday are you going to string them along with the whole Santa Claus thing?

]]> By: Carl http://www.reasonabledissent.com/christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-253 Carl Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:45:04 +0000 http://www.reasonabledissent.com/?p=238#comment-253 Oops... not a girl. Thanks for the support though :) Oops… not a girl. Thanks for the support though :)

]]> By: makarios http://www.reasonabledissent.com/christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-252 makarios Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:29:13 +0000 http://www.reasonabledissent.com/?p=238#comment-252 You go girl! Enjoy what you enjoy and don't let anyone stop you. Happy Holy Days! You go girl! Enjoy what you enjoy and don’t let anyone stop you. Happy Holy Days!

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