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I don't put a tree or lights or any of that. However I still engage in gift giving, and getting together with family. If you think getting together with family and celebrating are strictly Christian values then you are wrong. Also, Christmas is by and large a secular holiday in America. It has pagan roots that were hijacked by Christianity, however today most people don't really celebrate any religious "reason for the season."
I'd have to disagree with that. First, I'm a Christian, not an atheist so I probably shouldn't be posting in this thread. But most people in my family and among my friends and acquaintances DO celebrate the religious side of Christmas. I'm not one for going to church, but a good 75% of my condo complex will be pretty much deserted Christmas Eve and Christmas morning as they will all be in church. Every church in town will be holding services either or both Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. And all of those services will be pretty much packed solid. Now, if that's the case in Las Vegas, don't you think it's likely to be true in other cities and small towns across America? Yes, we all celebrate the gift giving and get togethers with family and friends. But we also celebrate the birth of Christ.
Just wondering if you take part in Christmas celebrations of any sort.
Do you avoid the holiday Christmas parties at work citing moral objection?
My company had a Christmas party this year. Most of the folk in my dept are from China and India lol.
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Do you put up a Christmas tree and/or holiday decorations or exchange gifts with anyone?
Yes. I have stockings on the fire place, Santa decor, gifts under the tree. It's very magical to me. Whether it's due to the solstice, a secular celebration for the kids, I don't care. Twinkle lights and family gatherings is where it's at for me.
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Do you give back your Christmas bonus (if you get one) or Christmas gift from your boss?
We get a year end bonus...in March. I wish it came before Christmas.
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All of the atheists that I personally know still take part in Christmas festivities, put up Christmas trees, and exchange gifts with friends and family. Most even send out holiday cards. What gives??
As others have stated, none of the above has anything to do with religion. With that said, I'm hand making my mother a rosary for Christmas. I wire wrapped all the gem stones myself for the chain (took me 4 hours). I've ordered a sterling silver crucifix and a sterling silver 'Our lady of sorrows" rosary center ($70). I wanted to give her a Catholic bible, but I don't know if I can afford it. Maybe.
She is giving me her nativity scene, which I grew up with, and it has a lot of memories tied up with it. She no longer celebrates Christmas in her home since my brother passed. She's got a beef with god. While I'm atheist, I can respect her beliefs as her companion. Frankly, I see Christ, especially with the nativity on it's away, as I see twinkle lights. It's an ideal that I wish were true. Hopefully, I'm wrong and she's right (sort of).
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Originally Posted by DubbleT
What part of office parties, bonuses, decorated pine trees, and the materialism of spending too much money on gifts has anything to do with celebrating the birth of Christ?
Yep
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Originally Posted by whatyousay
These are traditional ways (not all-inclusive) that many Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. Would these things exist at the levels they do if it weren't for Christmas?
Yes. There's good reason why our history has several celebrations through out the cold months of the year. Christ, if he historically existed, wasn't born in December. The solstice was adopted for Christmas, and Easter, another pagan holiday, was adopted not only to convert, but folk need celebrations during long, dark months. It's good for the head, imo.
Of course, the craziness with commercialism isn't good for folk, tho, it may be good for the economy. I like making my gifts.
These are traditional ways (not all-inclusive) that many Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. Would these things exist at the levels they do if it weren't for Christmas?
<shrug> My Norse pagan forefathers celebrated Yule for centuries before missionaries showed up. Mid-winter is miserable - a good time to overeat, drink too much, exchange gifts and generally speaking make merry. Which I do.
I don't personally care who celebrates Christmas, but I do find it ironic that so many self-professed atheists still take part in the festivities. I'm just wondering why that is? Do you have a problem with me asking, and if so, why?
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Originally Posted by burdell
Why? Because things like the tree, Yule Log, caroling, et al have their roots in Winter Solstice celebrations, that's why.
So if there were no Christmas, Atheists the world over would be celebrating the Winter Solstice with Winter Solstice trees, Winter Solstice Yule Logs and Winter Solstice caroling?
What would the point of not partaking in Christmas just to prove a point which most people could care less about accomplish for either party? Live and let live...
Why are religious people so interested in what atheists do or do not do?
I mean, we don't go around asking catholics why they believe in the immaculate conception or asking fundamentalist protestants why they think the pope is the anti-christ.
These are traditional ways (not all-inclusive) that many Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. Would these things exist at the levels they do if it weren't for Christmas?
The birth of Christ has little to do with it. In fact, i'll go so far as to say that it's been decades since Christmas has had ANYTHING to do with Jesus... PERIOD!
Christmas is a retail holiday, and everyone knows it. And yea, i'm basically an atheist, and i don't participate in much of anything. But i don't get all out of sorts just because others want to partake. If folks want to spend all of their money buying people presents, that's their business. But i don't buy the Jesus thing.
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But most people in my family and among my friends and acquaintances DO celebrate the religious side of Christmas. I'm not one for going to church, but a good 75% of my condo complex will be pretty much deserted Christmas Eve and Christmas morning as they will all be in church. Every church in town will be holding services either or both Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. And all of those services will be pretty much packed solid. Now, if that's the case in Las Vegas, don't you think it's likely to be true in other cities and small towns across America? Yes, we all celebrate the gift giving and get togethers with family and friends. But we also celebrate the birth of Christ. 
