I've never liked Christmas. I and I've been an atheist for a few now. I bid good natured "happy solstice" to people who I know know I'm a non-beleiver and it serves as a sort of in joke. As for everyone else just a "Same to you." Maybe in England its different because we're a secular nation but really "Merry Christmas" is just a cultural thing if your respond to "how are you?" with "get bent" then fine. If not I think you give the holiday more thought than its worth when you start looking for ways to make a point.

As a side note...

Jehovah's witnesses are the most tolerant and sensible of all the christian beliefs they just seem crazy 'cus there's so few of them and they like to talk to people about it (which according to the grand commission every christian should be doing unless they are steaming hypocrites). No rituals, no clergy (members of the congregation give the talks) and general literal interpretations of Jesus' philosophy.

Mormons on the other hand, I read that book and that is some self serving stuff. Still I'm not all that comfortable making moral judgements as I'm not convinced by the arguments for free will.

Thats fairly off topic feel free to ignore.

That sounds contradictory.

Exactly. He was pretty much a doer not a talker.

I always just say "No U".

I think we can do both if everyone wants to. I've said Merry Christmas to someone who smiled and said, very straightforwardly, "I'm an atheist." I think I said something like, "Oh, well, have a really great day on the 25th - or anytime." It doesn't have to be confrontational, is all.


My daughter said one of the things she discovered as she grew up was that there were battles worth fighting and some that were just foolish wastes of energy.

I was just thinking of this tall very black young man standing in the doorway of the grocery store some years ago. He had a very striking gold piece on a chain around his neck which I guess I noticed because it stood out in the sunlight. I stopped and said, "That's beautiful, what is it, does it have a meaning?" He did not look friendly and announced, "It means "Allah is Great!" I said, "So He is, brother!" and took my Crucifix-wearing self inside to do my shopping.

It's all good I think if we decide we can all just be - yanno - okay with each other.

(I just realized I didn't address your actual question/comment. Oh well. God gave us brains as well as emotions. Seems like we can use one to ameliorate the other for a good purpose, and one to inform the other for other purposes.)

You know, emotions come from brains.

Brains, among other areas.

Correct. They come from the oldest part of the brain, the intellect from the most recently evolved part. Emotions put you on tilt because when you are in them, you steal energy from your intellect and you don't function optimally.

Interestingly, when people who are prayer adepts are in deep prayer states, and are most feeling the peace and presence of God, it is not the oldest part of the brain that is working, but the newest part.

Now, I have to spend tomorrow finding that reference because I know someone will ask me for it.....

Source?

lol


But prax: no one is contesting that the brain can produce some pretty awesome feelings. The question is whether it comes from God or not. The fact is: you don't need God for those feelings to make sense.

whao care we livei n america its a free country man

LOL at this thread.
People need to grow the hell up.
Getting offended over something dumb like Merry Christmas.

Someone wishes you good cheer and you get offended?
That is pretty intolerant. That's the kinda of crap that makes people think that atheists have low morals and are rude.

Would you get offended if a french person said merci to you because you don't speak french? I mean you don't want people thinking you are french do you!

Do you have a tattoo that says atheist on your forehead? How the hell is anyone going to know you are an atheist? People are just going to say what is familiar to them unless it is obvious you are different from them.

Just wish them Happy Holidays.

Also this whole it's not Christmas it's X-mas thing is BS. As an atheist it annoys the hell out of me when someone say Merry X-mas. It's CHRISTMAS not Xmas. But oh know it has the word christ in it? Oh NO. So F*&%&$% what. It's some words. How many atheists go to mass? Well then let's take out the mas part and just call it X. And how dumb is Xmas. We are supposed to be smart enough to figure out the bible is a bunch of crap and there is no GOD yet we can't even think of a better name than Xmas. Sounds like something Vince McMahon and the WWE would come up with.

What about Valentines day that is named after a saint and Easter. Should we changes there names because of they to are tied to a religion? We will call Valentines day S-day and Easter let's call Z weekend.

CHRISTMAS time Or the Holiday season ( if you prefer ) is a joyful time of year. Doesn't matter what crap you believe. Just be happy and enjoy it.

Oh and I remember hearing a story about a fat jolly guy named Chris Kringle. If it makes you feel better just think of it as a day to celebrate the joys of his name and great Legend. Obviously Santa is fake but the joy he brings to kids is real and it really is just a time to make kids feel good about themselves ( thinking they were good enough for him to leave them presents)and spend time with the people you care about.

Sorry bout the the rant.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT !

Its not.

Happy Holidays is always my go to line.

If you don't have free will then how can you make any moral judgements?

*grunch*

christmas is awesome. even christmas church services and religious carols add to it for me, a total atheist. good will to all men brings a tear to my eye. christmas is awesome and the fact the holiday was appropriated by christianity does little to prevent me from enjoying it. i would even go as far to say i wish it was way less commercialised and presents were just a small bonus rather than the focus.

*edit* and as long as no one is forcing me to believe anything, i am down with diwali, Hannukah, eid, whatever. cultural holidays are the tits.

Not having free will doesn't prevent you from making moral judgments. It just means that you were predestined to make those moral judgments.

(This argument really belongs in another thread)

Exactly. When you say it makes you uncomfortable making those moral judgements if sounds like you have a choice in the matter.

I agree. We don't need to get into any more detail.

Xmas is an accepted abbreviation that has been around for hundreds of years. It was not invented by atheists.

Edit: Specifically, "X" has been written in place of "Christ" in church records.

yep I was wrong. so!
No need for name calling but when in Rome.Right?

The point really wasn't who exactly responsible for the inception of the word into the world. But more who has embraced it and made it so popular and why.
And considering it is frowned upon being used as a formal spelling of the word by most literary communities and the church. I highly doubt it is the church pushing for more Xmas signs and less Christmas signs.

And more so the point was people are such cry babies now a days. I mean seriously it's some words. And it is not like they are cursing, they are wishing you well. To get offended is ridiculous.

respond like this:
"Yes, it's wonderful celebrating the winter solstice to remember all the gods who have been traditionally celebrated this time of year!"



wiki:

The solstice itself may have been a special moment of the annual cycle of the year even during neolithic times. Astronomical events, which during ancient times controlled the mating of animals, sowing of crops and metering of winter reserves between harvests, show how various cultural mythologies and traditions have arisen. This is attested by physical remains in the layouts of late Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeological sites such as Stonehenge in Britain and New Grange in Ireland. The primary axes of both of these monuments seem to have been carefully aligned on a sight-line pointing to the winter solstice sunrise (New Grange) and the winter solstice sunset (Stonehenge). Significant in respect of Stonehenge is the fact that the Great Trilithon was erected outwards from the centre of the monument, i.e. its smooth flat face was turned towards the midwinter Sun[6]. The winter solstice may have been immensely important because communities were not certain of living through the winter, and had to be prepared during the previous nine months. Starvation was common in winter between January and April, also known as the famine months. In temperate climates, the midwinter festival was the last feast celebration, before deep winter began. Most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter, so it was almost the only time of year when a supply of fresh meat was available. The majority of wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking at this time. The concentration of the observances were not always on the day commencing at midnight or at dawn, but the beginning of the pre-Romanized day, which falls on the previous eve.[7]
[edit] Explanations for parallel traditions
[edit] Symbolic

Since the event is seen as the reversal of the Sun's ebbing presence in the sky, concepts of the birth or rebirth of sun gods have been common and, in cultures using winter solstitially based cyclic calendars, the year as reborn has been celebrated with regard to life-death-rebirth deities or new beginnings such as Hogmanay's redding, a New Years cleaning tradition. In Greek mythology, the gods and goddesses met on the winter and summer solstice, and Hades was permitted on Mount Olympus. Also reversal is another usual theme as in Saturnalia's slave and master reversals.

I just say, "You too," or "Merry Christmas." I would guess that people wishing you a Merry Christmas are very rarely inferring anything about you if you respond wishing them the same.

I can't find a reason why a person should get offended by a person who honestly means no offense...no matter what words are used.

Because this is why a lot of Christians suck. It's like saying "If Christians can stop gays from getting married, why can't atheists stop [whoever] from getting married?"

The point is to be above it all.

Just like when someone says in mixed company, "we're all good Christians here." You should just smile and nod and say "darn tootin'."

Because if you don't, you are a douche, or anti-social, or something.

The point isn't to go along with everything christians say, the point is to simply not do the stupid stuff they do. So in this example, it's fine if you speak up and correct them that you're not a christian, but it's not ok for you to say in mixed company "we're all atheists here."