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This short film shows various Christmas traditions. I think the British do Christmas better than anyone.
If you as an atheist object to Christmas traditions, when what do you find so objectionable about any of these things?
I get the feeling some atheists don't like ANYTHING to do with Christmas. You all know that I've had my share of religious skepticism. But I think all these things are joyful.
By the way, I assume the only thing I need to support is wishing someone a Merry Christmas, with good tiding to "you and your king". Okay, I'll answer that. The Christmas story represents the birth of a "king". That is the guiding influence in each person's inner mind. So the story represents a newborn spirit of love. Therefore, I don't need to support my reasons for wishing a person to have a new spirit of love inside of them.
You're putting your own interpretation on the "king" reference, which is by no means universal. But aside from that, all of the other traditions -- caroling, Xmas tree, Xmas cards, presents, Xmas eve, stockings -- seem benign and secular. Wasn't any praying to a violent and jealous god, and abuse of children for being bad.
Innocuous, really. The only thing I would object to is the dead turkey, which makes me slightly ill. Birds are the most abused animals of all, and I cannot accept the moral stance of someone claiming to be a decent human but conveniently ignoring this suffering.
Last edited by KaraZetterberg153; 12-23-2018 at 08:58 AM..
Your response came less than the amount of time of the video. What in the video did you object to?
I was responding to what you wrote.
As you asked "If you as an atheist object to Christmas traditions, when what do you find so objectionable about any of these things?", and I do not object to them, I did not watch the video.
As you asked "If you as an atheist object to Christmas traditions, when what do you find so objectionable about any of these things?", and I do not object to them, I did not watch the video.
Aside from the singing (and that's mostly the lyrics) nothing in that was particularly religious. Most of those 'traditions ' are pagan in origin and have nothing to do with the god, jesus or the bible.
This short film shows various Christmas traditions. I think the British do Christmas better than anyone.
If you as an atheist object to Christmas traditions, when what do you find so objectionable about any of these things?
I get the feeling some atheists don't like ANYTHING to do with Christmas. You all know that I've had my share of religious skepticism. But I think all these things are joyful.
I am as thoroughly atheist as anyone you are ever likely to meet, yet I do not object to Christmas traditions. I don't even object to calling it Christmas, even though I will not be attending the Christ mass on Christmas morning. Jesus wasn't born on December 25th and there is no celebration of Jesus in my Christmas tradition. No celebration of the winter solstice either, which is the true reason for the season. There is nothing to "worship" about the fact that the Earth wobbles on its axis. Nor do I need to celebrate the fact that the days are going to become longer again. They always do.
But having a colorful and heartwarming celebration of friends and family at this cold and dreary time of year is a splendid idea. I hope that will stay within our traditions, even as Christianity itself withers away. Because the concept of Christmas predates Jesus. And there is no reason why the tradition can't continue on, perhaps under another name. Festivus?
You said "I get the feeling some atheists don't like ANYTHING to do with Christmas". So I asked do you have any evidence for this? Because a lot of your arguments are either based on your feelings that do not represent any atheists I know, or straw versions of atheists.
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