HydrogenBond Posted December 10, 2006 Report Posted December 10, 2006 Irregardless of one's attitude toward Christmas, it is down right mean to take away the magic from the children, just because the adults have lost that magic. Christ said, "Unless ye be as children, one can not inherit the kingdom of God". Children believe in magic and therefore can feel the joy that comes with that magic.
TheBigDog Posted December 17, 2006 Report Posted December 17, 2006 F'n A! because its F'n fun! I love it! I AM SANTA CLAUSE!!!! Dum.. dum.. dum dum dum (theme to Iron Man) A few years ago I was driving in the car with my son BRyan (#3). He blurted out "Dad, I know you are Santa". It was the middle of summer and quite out of context. I was taken by suprise. "Why do you think I am Santa?" I asked, worried that a six year old had learned the truth too soon. It didn't take him long to answer... "BECAUSE YOU ARE FAT AND YOU HAVE A BEARD!!!! HAHAHAHAH!!!!!" I was both relived and insulted at once. Bill
ryan2006 Posted December 17, 2006 Report Posted December 17, 2006 I love Christmas because people are kind that time of year and they are not as busy running from point A to point B trying to do the other job. Survival.
Freddy Posted December 17, 2006 Report Posted December 17, 2006 Christmas is a pagan holiday and a Christian fraud. That said, I have a family that celebrates the holiday so I try to be as secular as possible by just enjoying the time with my family. Luckily, no one is too religious and pushes that aspect of it.
TheBigDog Posted December 17, 2006 Report Posted December 17, 2006 Christmas is a pagan holiday and a Christian fraud. That said, I have a family that celebrates the holiday so I try to be as secular as possible by just enjoying the time with my family. Luckily, no one is too religious and pushes that aspect of it. The Christians adopted the holiday, and have given it hundreds of years of tradition. All of that is meaningless because it was someone elses false holiday first? It is only celebrated as widely as it is because of the Christian tradition, regardless of the factual history behind it. In fact it has probably been a Christian holiday longer than it was ever a pagan holiday. To ignore that fact because you don't share the belief is obscene to me. But have fun with it! I like my kids to know the religious nature of any holiday we celebrate, regardless of if we believe it or not. And I don't frame it as being stupid people who robbed other stupid people to fool the masses into thinking it was something it is not. But I acutally try to let them understand that these days are sacred to people. And that for that fact we should be respectful, even though we believe differently. You CAN believe differently and still be respectful. My personal choice. But one I recommend. Bill Chacmool 1
Freddy Posted December 17, 2006 Report Posted December 17, 2006 The Christians adopted the holiday, and have given it hundreds of years of tradition. All of that is meaningless because it was someone elses false holiday first? It is only celebrated as widely as it is because of the Christian tradition, regardless of the factual history behind it. In fact it has probably been a Christian holiday longer than it was ever a pagan holiday. To ignore that fact because you don't share the belief is obscene to me. But have fun with it! I like my kids to know the religious nature of any holiday we celebrate, regardless of if we believe it or not. And I don't frame it as being stupid people who robbed other stupid people to fool the masses into thinking it was something it is not. But I acutally try to let them understand that these days are sacred to people. And that for that fact we should be respectful, even though we believe differently. You CAN believe differently and still be respectful. My personal choice. But one I recommend. Bill You are incorrect. Pagan traditions still being celebrated include: 12 Days of Christmas, Yule Log, Mistletoe, Holly, evergreens, caroling, giving presents, and partying/rowdiness all predate Christmas from hundreds to thousands of years. How was I being disrespectful for pointing out facts about the holiday? Besides the original post asked about our thoughts on Christmas.From original post:"Thoughts on Christmas? what it means, and what it symbolizes?" If my post bothered you too bad. I have a suggestion, you celebrate the holiday as you like and I will do the same. For me it symbolizes pagan traditions and for you its symbolism is obviously different. Nowhere did I call anyone stupid as you imply. We do agree on one thing it is all about family.
TheBigDog Posted December 17, 2006 Report Posted December 17, 2006 Christmas is a pagan holiday and a Christian fraud.How was I being disrespectful for pointing out facts about the holiday?It is a factual Christian Holiday. You have no fact, yet you state it as such. That is disrespectful. Merry Holidays! Bill
Freddy Posted December 17, 2006 Report Posted December 17, 2006 It is a factual Christian Holiday. You have no fact, yet you state it as such. That is disrespectful. Merry Holidays! BillPlease point out exactly what I posted that is not factual?
Turtle Posted December 17, 2006 Report Posted December 17, 2006 This year, my household and surrogate family opted for an artificial tree. When I was a child I was so deathly allergic to a real tree I could come no where near it either to decorate or open gifts. I eventually outgrew the allergy enough to participate. I can't think of a single year I haven't had some type of tree, even if it was a Charlie Brown fake. I have on many occasions obtained permits and gone into the forest to harvest my own; my best ever was a beautiful Noble Fir a few years back. We ran out of gas in the forest in the middle of a snow & sleet storm. A virtual Norman Rockwell moment.:Whistle: I like the pagan aspects, the delight of children, and the general celebratory atmosphere because it lightens the mid-winter blues. I do think there is a lot of wastefulnes & I try to limit that, but I do accede to some of it in deference to the household. This year however I won't be putting lights on the house as the others would like and since they won't actually do the work we will have none. I do some baking and cook the Christmas turkey & fixins. I had more , but I have some chores. our tree which came pre-lighted but we haven't hung the ornaments yet. Merry Christmas.
anglepose Posted December 17, 2006 Report Posted December 17, 2006 I celebrate christmas as a pick me up and tradition.Although i am not religous.Hmmmm if there was no cristianity would we still celebrate christmas;Yes i think we would, maybe not "Christmas" but a midwinter festivity of the sorts, as since history began there have been midinter festivals when the sun is at its lowest as everyone needs a pick me up when the weather sucks and its to darn cold in europe and north america where christmas (of the sorts we celebrate today) originated so we feast and give each other presents to make us happy so thats why i celebrate christmas,
maikeru Posted December 18, 2006 Report Posted December 18, 2006 Yes, I do, although I regard it more as a time to spend with relatives and my parents, and much needed R&R from studies.
Chacmool Posted December 20, 2006 Report Posted December 20, 2006 Yes, I love celebrating Christmas! However, it has no religious meaning to me. I regard it as a time of goodwill and generosity. I like to spend it with my family, and to spoil them with some special gifts. And we always eat waaayyy too much! I'm also very fond of the decorations, especially the lights. Since my boyfriend and I are both atheists, I didn't expect us to argue over a religious holiday (of all things!), but things got a little scratchy between us because I like celebrating Christmas (even if it is in a very secular manner). He was brought up Jewish, but has always been an atheist. He simply cannot fathom why I would want to participate in anything even remotely associated with religion. I'm having a hard time explaining what Christmas is all about to me. It will be interesting to see what happens next year when I start buying Easter eggs...
Buffy Posted December 20, 2006 Report Posted December 20, 2006 Yes, I love celebrating Christmas! However, it has no religious meaning to me....He simply cannot fathom why I would want to participate in anything even remotely associated with religion. I'm having a hard time explaining what Christmas is all about to me.I'll have to assume he's having problems with the cognitive dissonance of "I am an atheist" and "I celebrate a traditionally religious holiday", rather than him simply being the cold unemotional type (whom I know you would *never* date :eek: ). My advice to him (you don't need any!): If you let other people hijack your definitions, you will be trapped by them. Don't let them freeze you out of the time of year where we can celebrate being *human* and *caring* about one another. If some people want to bring in religious traditions, that's their business. The reason why Haunukkah and Christmas go so well together is that they focus on exactly the same concept: its a time to come together with friends and family and let them all know how much you love them. What the heck is religious about that? You don't *have* to celebrate Christmas or Haunukkah if you don't want to, but your militant protest against it sure tells people that you're a cold hearted loner who thinks he doesn't need anyone else. [cue "I am a Rock" :hihi:]It will be interesting to see what happens next year when I start buying Easter eggs...Mmmmm! Chocolate Pesach bunnies! My other major PAGAN religious holiday! Pass the eggs and gefilte fish please! He has risen so open the door for Elijah! Happy Christmas & Haunukkah & Kwanzaa Everyone! Buffy Chacmool 1
TheBigDog Posted December 21, 2006 Report Posted December 21, 2006 Since my boyfriend and I are both atheists, I didn't expect us to argue over a religious holiday (of all things!), but things got a little scratchy between us because I like celebrating Christmas (even if it is in a very secular manner). He was brought up Jewish, but has always been an atheist. He simply cannot fathom why I would want to participate in anything even remotely associated with religion. I'm having a hard time explaining what Christmas is all about to me. It will be interesting to see what happens next year when I start buying Easter eggs...Hard alcohols taste like crap. But people still buy them for the flavor. You don't need to be an alcoholic to enjoy a drink. Just like you don't need to be a Christian to enjoy/celebrate Christmas - and enjoying/celebrating Christmas does not make you a Christian. Bill
Tormod Posted December 21, 2006 Report Posted December 21, 2006 It is a factual Christian Holiday. You have no fact, yet you state it as such. That is disrespectful. Well, it is not hard to back up Freddy's statements though. Here in Norway the midwinter feast was the main even of the winter, and Christmas (Christ's Mass) is obviously a Christian affair but the festivities it is based upon has nothing to do with Christianity. The traditions of chopping down trees to put in your living room etc has pagan backgrounds and was adopted by Christians: Christmas traditions, Christmas tree history But as long as each can celebrate the holiday as they wish, I see no problems with it. Happy holidays! :weather_snowing: Southtown 1
TheBigDog Posted December 22, 2006 Report Posted December 22, 2006 Holiday Hol"i*day, n. [Holy + day.] 1. A consecrated day; religious anniversary; a day set apart in honor of some person, or in commemoration of some event. See Holyday.I think that Christmas as celebrated by Christians fits the definition of "Holiday". Christmas is a pagan holiday and a Christian fraud.Hmmm..... I am going through a similar thing at home. My wife has taken it upon herself to cleanse our house of Christianity. Yet all other religions seem to be welcome. We have been collecting ornaments for the tree over the years. Her mother had given us a crystal ornament every year from 1995 to 2002. The 1998 ornament was a nativity picture engraved in the crystal. So Shannon has decided that it is no longer appropriate to hang that ornament, or any angels. Yet she bugs me every year to do the Hanukkah candles and prayer with the kids. She is baptized as a Mormon, and currently practices Wicca. I think she wants to do the candles just to kiss my mom's (Jewish) butt. :( :lightning I recognize the same practice of selective intolerance in Freddy's post. Pagan celebration (religion based) is OK. Christian celebration (religion based) not OK and is fact a fraud. :santa: :shrug: Merry Christmas everyone! Bill
Freethinker Posted December 22, 2006 Report Posted December 22, 2006 See now I was confued. I thoght the forum about the Solstice was the one about the holidays. It is actually the "Reason for rthe Season" after all. All sun worshiping religions, such as all the Abrahamic ones, base their celebrations on the sun's cycles. The sun being reborn easily becomes the birth of the son, especially when you are killed if you dare bring up the much older rebirth of the sun story during the growth of Christianity. So then I see a poll asking if I also sucker into the more recent spin on sun god worship, Christianity and it's spin, Christmas (Yahweh was originally the sun god in that polytheistic group). Had I read that the author lacked clarity in constructing the poll, giving an apriori acceptance to Christmas as the actual reason for this season, and had actually meant do we do any celebrating around now for what ever reason, my answer would have been different. My biggest wish (perhaps next to Peace on Earth, Imprisonment for the Bush clan and new tubes for my guitar amp) is that if Christians want to refuse to acknowledge reality (needed to remain a Christian) they at least stop claiming they invented everything. And that if they do not get SPECIAL consideration, there is a battle against them. Yes stores are using the baby Jesus as a sales tool. congradulations! You'll be bitching about them using his name in vein next year like you did a few years ago which forced them to start saying Happy Holidays in the first place. Which will back you all very happy that a local strip joint is also using Jesus to promote their "Christmas Party" special stripper night and it's fund raiser "Tatas for Toys". So will Jesus being doing pole and table dances that night!
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