T'was the night

[Aron-Ra]

[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]From out of the cold dark night, he comes [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]dragged through the bitter abyss [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]by a spell-bound team of cloven hooved beasts.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]An obese hairy remnant of pagan lore, [/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]clad in animal hides of the deepest crimson [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]and cracking his whip with a perverse laugh. [/FONT]​

[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]He comes with a list of names, [/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]looking for the homes of little children.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]Locked doors and bolted windows cannot keep him out.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]He knows where you live.[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]He sees you when you're sleeping. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]And he knows when you've been BAD. [/FONT]​

[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]So jump in bed and cover your head, 'cause....[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]hang it up and say your prayers, 'cause....[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, adobe-times, Times]SANTA CLAUS is COMING![/FONT]​

Who says atheists have no holiday spirit.

 

[AV1611VET]

Who says atheists have no holiday spirit.

Atheists celebrate holidays in spite of their beliefs, not in respect to them.

 

[Valkhorn]

Atheists celebrate holidays in spite of their beliefs, not in respect to them.

Atheists by the definition of what it is to be one do not have a religious belief or faith.

Strike one.

 

[AV1611VET]

Atheists by the definition of what it is to be one do not have a religious belief or faith.

Strike one.

I didn't say they did.

Call overruled.

 

[Aron-Ra]

Atheists celebrate holidays in spite of their beliefs, not in respect to them.

No, I may celebrate Arbor Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, President's Day, New Year's Eve and the like because of my beliefs rather than in spite of them. Every culture has a family-oriented midwinter observance, just as every culture has a spring festival, and a celebration of the harvest, which is what Halloween and Thanksgiving both are. I celebrate both of those as well, and I do so because I believe it is good to take stock of all that is good in your life especially your family. You don't need to imagine any floating invisible father figure to do any of that.

 

[AV1611VET]

No, I may celebrate Arbor Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, President's Day, New Year's Eve and the like because of my beliefs rather than in spite of them. Every culture has a family-oriented midwinter observance, just as every culture has a spring festival, and a celebration of the harvest, which is what Halloween and Thanksgiving both are. I celebrate both of those as well, and I do so because I believe it is good to take stock of all that is good in your life especially your family. You don't need to imagine any floating invisible father figure to do any of that.

Good post (except for the last sentence). --- I stand corrected.

 

[shernren]

S. Harris cartoon:

 

[Chalnoth]

S. Harris cartoon:

A rather ridiculous perspective, considering that Christmas started as a pagan holiday anyway. There's nothing stopping atheists from celebrating Christmas as a family-oriented holiday, if they so choose.

 

[Aron-Ra]

A rather ridiculous perspective, considering that Christmas started as a pagan holiday anyway. There's nothing stopping atheists from celebrating Christmas as a family-oriented holiday, if they so choose.

You'd better celebrate Christmas. Because, as I said, Santa Clause is coming!

 

[AV1611VET]

There's nothing stopping atheists from celebrating Christmas as a family-oriented holiday, if they so choose.

Now here I disagree --- and very much so.

I cannot for the life of me (and I'm being serious) figure out why atheists go out of their way to do anything at Christmas time and Easter.

Especially if they have children.

(I know this sounds cruel --- but that's because it is.)

 

[Aron-Ra]

Now here I disagree --- and very much so.

I cannot for the life of me (and I'm being serious) figure out why atheists go out of their way to do anything at Christmas time and Easter.

Especially if they have children.

(I know this sounds cruel --- but that's because it is.)

Why? Why would you think that? We'll celebrate pretty much anything. Christmas is just one of many names for the winter festival. You don't have to believe in gods and all that any more than you have to believe in Santa Clause. In fact, there is no difference I can see between Jesus and Santa. Its just one more excuse to gather around family, friends and food.

 

[AV1611VET]

Why? Why would you think that? We'll celebrate pretty much anything. Christmas is just one of many names for the winter festival. You don't have to believe in gods and all that any more than you have to believe in Santa Clause. In fact, there is no difference I can see between Jesus and Santa. Its just one more excuse to gather around family, friends and food.

With a Christmas Tree? Mistletoe? And, pray tell, singing traditional Christmas hymns?

And, just by coincidence, December 24th or 25th?

Nope --- I say atheists do this stuff in spite of their belief --- not in respect to it.

 

[Lilandra]

Why? Why would you think that? We'll celebrate pretty much anything. Christmas is just one of many names for the winter festival. You don't have to believe in gods and all that any more than you have to believe in Santa Clause. In fact, there is no difference I can see between Jesus and Santa. Its just one more excuse to gather around family, friends and food.

The Soltice has a rich scientific history. Many ancient cultures celebrated it. It is the shortest day but also it is the point in the year when the Earth is the fartherest away from the Sun.

It is like science is innate to humans or something.

Once you chuck superstition.

 

[gluadys]

In fact, there is no difference I can see between Jesus and Santa. Its just one more excuse to gather around family, friends and food.

You're not the only one. I well remember a poem in one of my English texts--though I can't remember the name of the poet.

My Father Christmas passed away
When I was only seven.
At twenty-one, alack-the-day,
I lost my hope of heaven.

But not in either lies the curse,
The sting of it's because
I'm not sure which loss hurt the worse,
My God or Santa Claus.

 

[gluadys]

Well, now I'm embarrassed. Google tells me the poet was Robert Service. Should have known that, being Canadian.

 

[Adriac]

With a Christmas Tree? Mistletoe? And, pray tell, singing traditional Christmas hymns?

And, just by coincidence, December 24th or 25th?

Nope --- I say atheists do this stuff in spite of their belief --- not in respect to it.

I can see what you mean. That does sound a lot like a pagan celebration of the solstice.

 

[AV1611VET]

I can see what you mean. That does sound a lot like a pagan celebration of the solstice.

That's why one needs to be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, so they are mature enough to tell the difference.

• [bible]Ephesians 6:4[/bible]

 

[Chalnoth]

The Soltice has a rich scientific history. Many ancient cultures celebrated it. It is the shortest day but also it is the point in the year when the Earth is the fartherest away from the Sun.

I'm not sure that's true, and the timing of the aphelion varies on a 26,000 year cycle anyway (i.e changing by about 20 minutes every year).

 

[Aron-Ra]

With a Christmas Tree? Mistletoe? And, pray tell, singing traditional Christmas hymns?

Well, we do have a Christmas tree, but I do that partly in honor of my Norse heritage, and for my respect for Druidism. Mistletoe I've never even seen. And Christmas carols? Definitely not. Christmas to me is a celebration of winter, really. That, and of the bonds of humanity to see each other through the harsh times. That's where the tradition of exchanging gifts came from. You Christians have no idea what the real reason for the season even is.

And, just by coincidence, December 24th or 25th?

The latter part of December, maybe a bit of January. Doesn't matter.

Nope --- I say atheists do this stuff in spite of their belief --- not in respect to it.

Belief is irrelevant. Its perspective that counts.

 

[Adriac]

That's why one needs to be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, so they are mature enough to tell the difference.

Oh, please. A tree, with lights and candy? An exchange of gifts? Feasting? Let's not mention that it's in the middle of winter.

What little our secular Christmas owes to Christianity, it owes to the Christian co-opting of the pagan solstice.

Which I am grateful for. Better than if you'd just killed them all.