Do athiests celebrate Christmas? If so, why? Do they believe in Santa Claus? If they get so upset at the mere mention of "God" why would they play along with the gift giving that comes with celebrating Christmas? Is being athiest just a cheap way to get out of butying presents? Is it OK to give an athiest a Christmas present or will they be offended?

Absolutely not. I DO NOT give Christmas presents. However, due to my humanitarian spirit and respect for others, I graciously accept Christmas presents. (Cash is particularly appreciated).

Doesn't the Good Book say..."Yea, verily, those that giveth nothing shall receiveth nothing."

Christmas is something that has been imposed upon us, especially those with families. It's a pain in the arse and if given the choice, I would rather we didn't have it at all.

Don't think I'll bother with presents this year although if I was back in blighty where I (and my daughter) would be subject to the corporate pressure everyday, it may be a different story. Young kids don't know anything about religion, they'd just see that they are not getting presents while everybody else is.

To suggest atheists are being hypocritical is somewhat wide of the mark, they're just not given much of a choice in the matter.

P.S.

I'm not an atheist myself.

who or what are Athiests?

Ask an atheist; don't ask me!

Atheists believe there is not god.

An atheist is more or less the other side of the same coin as a believer because they believe in something for which there is absolutely no evidence.

who or what are Athiests?

Someone who gets all worked up over something that they don't even believe exists.

who or what are Athiests?

Someone who gets all worked up over something that they don't even believe exists.

who or what are Athiests?

Someone who gets all worked up over something that they don't even believe exists.

I thought they were Atheists?

Atheists celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival but they call it Christmas because they're conformists at heart. They don't have to believe anything for that.

The Christians celebrate Christmas as Christs's Birthday (fixed on that date to coincide with the Winter Solstice)... and then quickly forget about the religious bit, and celebrate the pagan festival like the rest.

Santa Claus is, of course St. Nicholas somewhat garbled; it doesn't matter whether you believe in him or not, because you are still expected to give presents.

Santa Claus is, of course St. Nicholas somewhat garbled; it doesn't matter whether you believe in him or not, because you are still expected to give presents.

If I were athiest I wouldn't give presents. It's just a matter of principle.

Santa Claus is, of course St. Nicholas somewhat garbled; it doesn't matter whether you believe in him or not, because you are still expected to give presents.

If I were athiest I wouldn't give presents. It's just a matter of principle.

Atheist, Koheesti, not athiest (I thought it was just a typo the first time)(unless of course you're on about something quite different, and we've all misunderstood you!).

I could afford principles like that.

I have edited the topic title to correct the spelling--I hope that is OK. We aren't normally allowed to edit topic titles (in case you are wondering why some topics are obviously wrong and stay that way), because it affects internet searches. In this case, it is a very small change, so it should be OK.

It doesn't matter how he spells it, it's a troll post anyway.

He is trying to get non-religeous people to admit that they give xmas presents so he can label them hipocrites.

Those of us with a brain know who the real hipocrites are.

For the record, this atheist loved receiving presents as a kid (without any religious overtones), doesn't particularly recognise xmas now, although I am probably going to tolerate my budhist GF putting up tinsel in the house and buying presents.

I have always taken every religeous (and any other) holiday off from school or work and enjoyed the break without once thinking of some bloke called heysous. It's not like I was ever given a choice anyway.

For me the most henious crime around the world in this day and age, is the domination of state by religion, whether it be muslim ayatollahs or nut case fundamentalist (teaparty) christians in the US or Australia.

Personally, Old Croc, I disagree with you about it being a troll post. However, eventually we will see, if posters get jumped on for their hypocrisy.

In the US, at least, Christmas is considered to be a traditional holiday, not necessarily a religious one. I know some Muslim families that celebrate Christmas with a big dinner a tree and presents. Nothing Religious in their celebration, however.

All in all, it's kind of interesting to know, although I don't really know how many true Atheists we have on the forum.

In the US, at least, Christmas is considered to be a traditional holiday, not necessarily a religious one. I know some Muslim families that celebrate Christmas with a big dinner a tree and presents. Nothing Religious in their celebration, however.

during my time in Saudi Arabia truckers from Sweden used to bring mid december thousands of pine trees to Jeddah and sold them in parking lots of supermarkets. it didn't take longer than a few hours till the last tree was sold. the lion share of trees was bought by Saudis who also bought presents for their children and it was quite normal that a (western) foreigner was wished "Merry Christmas" by Saudi friends and acquaintances.

a decade later some stupid fundamentalists managed to stop the import of trees because it was "unislamic". a petition of islamic scholars who argued that the Qr'an mentions Jesus as the revered prophet Isa bin Maryam and therefore Muslims are allowed to celebrate his birth was unfortunately dismissed.

Is it still legal in the West to give Christmas presents? Shouldn't they be Holiday presents?

in the 90s in Australia government departments became very PC about Christmas and careful that the cards they sent out at that time didn't mention the "C" word. I found it ironic that government departments in China at the same time sent us cheery cards with "Merry Christmas" all over them.

I'm not sure if anyone should give presents at Christmas unless they have a genuine desire to do so at that time, but Atheists might be happy to give "Christmyth" ones.

If I'm going to use a word like hypocrite I really should learn to spell it correctly.

Is it still legal in the West to give Christmas presents? Shouldn't they be Holiday presents?

in the 90s in Australia government departments became very PC about Christmas and careful that the cards they sent out at that time didn't mention the "C" word. I found it ironic that government departments in China at the same time sent us cheery cards with "Merry Christmas" all over them.

I'm not sure if anyone should give presents at Christmas unless they have a genuine desire to do so at that time, but Atheists might be happy to give "Christmyth" ones.

Christmas is celebrated just as enthusiastically in non-Christian countries these days. I doubt whether many of the people in Bangkok, for example, who put up Christmas decorations know what the word means. But there's no harm done so long as we realise that it is two festivals coinciding, that's all. Some Christian countries (or formerly Christian countries) like France and Scotland, always celebrated New Year instead.

Avoiding the C-word is just plain stupid, like so much PC.

I used to get two or three hundred cards from students every year... but they arrived mid-January, and usually featured Rama V or the present Royal family. One of the silliest recent customs (I suppose you call it a custom) is sending Christmas cards by email; you can't even use them as decorations!

Christmas as we know it today has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. It is the biggest commercial festival in the world, regardless of religion.

Ever wonder why it is on a fixed date in the (solar) calendar whilst Easter is according to the lunar calendar? Mostly Nordic religions influenced these dates, the Catholic church at the time had little choice. Christmas trees with lit candles certainly have nothing to do with the story that happened in Bethlehem, but with the homecoming for winter solstice, a fest celebrated on 21 December.

And rabbits and eggs are part of the fertility festival in the northern European countries at the time, and the Church just used the dates in order to swing people over to their beliefs but had to compromise. No, there were no egg-laying rabbits anywhere near Jesus when we died and resurrected.

Therefore, Christmas presents have nothing to do with being a Christian, a follower of another religion, or being an atheist.

I usually don' give or receive Christmas presents (with exceptions), as I believe a present should be given from the heart, and not because a date dictates it. I don't suddenly love Mom more and feel an urge to show it by spending money when the calendar says so, but I might see something nice at any other day of the year and think she would like it, so I buy it.

Is it still legal in the West to give Christmas presents? Shouldn't they be Holiday presents?

I love your sarcasm!

in the 90s in Australia government departments became very PC about Christmas and careful that the cards they sent out at that time didn't mention the "C" word. I found it ironic that government departments in China at the same time sent us cheery cards with "Merry Christmas" all over them.

I'm not sure if anyone should give presents at Christmas unless they have a genuine desire to do so at that time, but Atheists might be happy to give "Christmyth" ones.

We have been using "Season's Greetings" for a couple of years now. Never mind what is PC, I just feel that it is more appropriate.

"Christmyth" is a funny word creation, but at some time a boy called Jesus, who later became to be the Christ, was indeed born, so this is not a myth. The myth is that presents have to be given on Christmas Day. The Three Wise Men gave presents on 6 January (if we can believe the Church about that date). In fact, in some Christian countries the children received their Christmas presents on 6 January rather than 25 December but it was easier for the international business world to unify this.

Christmas as we know it today has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. It is the biggest commercial festival in the world, regardless of religion.

Ever wonder why it is on a fixed date in the (solar) calendar whilst Easter is according to the lunar calendar? Mostly Nordic religions influenced these dates, the Catholic church at the time had little choice. Christmas trees with lit candles certainly have nothing to do with the story that happened in Bethlehem, but with the homecoming for winter solstice, a fest celebrated on 21 December.

And rabbits and eggs are part of the fertility festival in the northern European countries at the time, and the Church just used the dates in order to swing people over to their beliefs but had to compromise. No, there were no egg-laying rabbits anywhere near Jesus when we died and resurrected.

Therefore, Christmas presents have nothing to do with being a Christian, a follower of another religion, or being an atheist.

I usually don' give or receive Christmas presents (with exceptions), as I believe a present should be given from the heart, and not because a date dictates it. I don't suddenly love Mom more and feel an urge to show it by spending money when the calendar says so, but I might see something nice at any other day of the year and think she would like it, so I buy it.

See post #11, Tom.

Easter is by lunar date because it coincides with the Jewish Passover. All sorts of odd things have got attached to both Easter and Christmas, Yule logs, Christmas trees, and Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. I don't think they do any harm... and the present-giving of Christmas day (or eve in some families) is a pleasant family occasion. Christmas has become a commercial jamboree... but it could just as well have been new year... or winter solstice. It is very much a cold-weather festival, simply because Christianity spread northwards from the Mediterranean, not south... so all the extras are connected with winter in the north.

The date doesn't really matter, Tom. It's just convenient to have a date when everyone celebrates whatever it is they're celebrating on the same date. Modernisation of the calendar has screwed this up a bit, but the intention is there.

Atheists celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival but they call it Christmas because they're conformists at heart. They don't have to believe anything for that.

The Christians celebrate Christmas as Christs's Birthday (fixed on that date to coincide with the Winter Solstice)... and then quickly forget about the religious bit, and celebrate the pagan festival like the rest.

Santa Claus is, of course St. Nicholas somewhat garbled; it doesn't matter whether you believe in him or not, because you are still expected to give presents.

I saw this now, thanks for pointing me to it. Winter solstice and Christmas are a few days apart, that was politically sound at the time. They couldn't steal the celebration but they made the dates close enough so that they merged into one fest. And they succeeded: Now we celebrate on 25 December rather than 21 December.

St. Nickolaus was a man who lived sometimes in the Middle Ages. He gave small presents to children (I think he put them into their shoes, at least according to German folklore), but not on Christmas Day either. The colours of red and white have something to do with the Coca-Cola company early in the last century.

The date doesn't really matter, Tom. It's just convenient to have a date when everyone celebrates whatever it is they're celebrating on the same date. Modernisation of the calendar has screwed this up a bit, but the intention is there.

Call it family day. I think every culture has one day per year when the family comes together. Be it Thanksgiving, Christmas, Songkran, the end of Ramadan, or any other day. That's good.

But I am not so sure that excessive spending on unneeded presents should accompany this.

I'm not sure if anyone should give presents at Christmas unless they have a genuine desire to do so at that time, but Atheists might be happy to give "Christmyth" ones.

We have been using "Season's Greetings" for a couple of years now. Never mind what is PC, I just feel that it is more appropriate.

"Christmyth" is a funny word creation, but at some time a boy called Jesus, who later became to be the Christ, was indeed born, so this is not a myth.

I think there's enough doubt now cast on the historicity of the gospel narratives and Paul's Christ to suggest that, if there was an original historical figure on whom the Jesus story was based we'll never know anything about him.

Some scholars, e.g. Joseph Hoffman ("Sources of the Jesus Tradition"), argue that we'll never know if there was an historical Jesus or not. Others, like Robert Price ("The Incredible Shrinking Son of Man") and Earl Doherty ("Jesus: Neither God Nor Man") argue that Jesus is purely a literary construct, put together as midrash, constructed from Old Testament materials (especially the prophets and Psalms) by Mark, whose text was built on and adapted by Matthew and Luke to suit their communities. (John is a different story; like Paul he was not really interested in a flesh and blood Jesus.)

I think "Season's Greetings" is apt. You're right, "Christmyth" would not really enter into the spirit of the season. Actually, especially with Christian friends I'm quite happy to wish people a Happy or Merry Christmas.

Santa Claus is, of course St. Nicholas somewhat garbled; it doesn't matter whether you believe in him or not, because you are still expected to give presents.

If I were athiest I wouldn't give presents. It's just a matter of principle.

Atheist, Koheesti, not athiest (I thought it was just a typo the first time)(unless of course you're on about something quite different, and we've all misunderstood you!).

I could afford principles like that.

Oh, God (not saying he exists), now the spelling police are out in force again? I can hammer anyone on here for spelling just as good as the next guy but don't because it's stupid.

I'm not sure if anyone should give presents at Christmas unless they have a genuine desire to do so at that time, but Atheists might be happy to give "Christmyth" ones.

We have been using "Season's Greetings" for a couple of years now. Never mind what is PC, I just feel that it is more appropriate.

"Christmyth" is a funny word creation, but at some time a boy called Jesus, who later became to be the Christ, was indeed born, so this is not a myth.

I think there's enough doubt now cast on the historicity of the gospel narratives and Paul's Christ to suggest that, if there was an original historical figure on whom the Jesus story was based we'll never know anything about him.

Some scholars, e.g. Joseph Hoffman ("Sources of the Jesus Tradition"), argue that we'll never know if there was an historical Jesus or not. Others, like Robert Price ("The Incredible Shrinking Son of Man") and Earl Doherty ("Jesus: Neither God Nor Man") argue that Jesus is purely a literary construct, put together as midrash, constructed from Old Testament materials (especially the prophets and Psalms) by Mark, whose text was built on and adapted by Matthew and Luke to suit their communities. (John is a different story; like Paul he was not really interested in a flesh and blood Jesus.)

I think "Season's Greetings" is apt. You're right, "Christmyth" would not really enter into the spirit of the season. Actually, especially with Christian friends I'm quite happy to wish people a Happy or Merry Christmas.

I thought it was a historical fact that Jesus was born and lived and preached. I thought the only dispute was whether he was the Messiah. Or a prophet. Or not.

This is the first time I hear that his very existence has been doubted. Hm, I believe there are always people who doubt what they didn't see with their own eyes. Now I have to say: I believe that he lived. Very much like Gautama the Buddha lived and Mohammad the Prophet lived. Are the lives of the latter two also in doubt?

It doesn't matter how he spells it, it's a troll post anyway.

He is trying to get non-religeous people to admit that they give xmas presents so he can label them hipocrites.

Those of us with a brain know who the real hipocrites are.

What is a hipocite?

The OP is full of fair questions. If they make anyone uncomfortable, go find a thread about unicorns and moonbeams.

I am not religious. I am not Christian. I don't have a problem with people who practice their faith peacefully. I do not normally give Christmas presents although this year I will do one Secret Santa thing at a party. I despise atheists unless they keep it to themselves. Otherwise they are no better than the religious nuts who try to push their religion on you. This time of year with all their anti-Christmas crap, is the same as them pushing their views on people.

The only reason atheists might celebrate winter solstice is as an excuse to give presents. Just makes them look like fools. What a joke.

Now don't get upset with a little atheist bashing. There has been plenty of Christanity bashing around here and even some Islam bashing. What's wrong with taking your atheists taking their fair share?