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Yes, atheists can celebrate holidays without believing in a god. Most holidays have very little to do with a deity, even though some people think they do. For instance, there is Christmas. Atheists can certainly celebrate a holiday of togetherness, family, and gift-giving without having any of the related religious parts mean anything to them. Halloween? Same thing...that's the best freakin' party holiday EVER. I loves me some Halloween. Easter? It's all about the chocolate, baby. Thanksgiving? I can be grateful for what I have without attributing it to any god -- everything I have is a result of my own hard work, or the hard work of my family. And who doesn't like T-day dinner?
I completely agree with what you say. Holidays are not really even religious any more. I am an atheist, yet I celebrate all those holidays.
Isn't Houston the home to all those churches including Lakewood which is held in a stadium!
Houston is one of many cities with megachurches. I don't see what that has do with anything. Most people in Houston have probably never even been to Lakewood.
Portland, my hometown, is tops in my opinion. Many of my classmates in school were atheists.
As for all these misconceptions about atheists- I was baptised christian, I go to church sometimes, I celebrate the holidays, but I simply cannot believe in god. i don't deny that "god" is a POSSIBILITY, just like I don't deny that vampires or invisible giants are a Possibility, but I do not view any of these entities as a rational or likely possibility. i cannot force myself to believe in something I don't believe in. That's it. It's not hypocritical to celebrate holidays you grew up with and enjoy. Was Mother Teresa a hypocrite for doing deeds in the name of a god she herself did not believe in? An atheist is simply someone who does not believe in god. That's it. It isn't (necessarily) a rejection of the concept of god or any particular moral code. Frankly, I've met wonderful atheists and religious people and I've also met atheist/religious people I don't like. I do understand, however, the desire to live in an area where it isn't considered evil/wrong/odd to not be a believer. If you are looking for such a city, Portland, Seattle, SF, Boston, NYC, much of California, are all areas where you will not be looked down upon for your lack of belief even if you are in the minority.
Location: from houstoner to bostoner to new yorker to new jerseyite ;)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mpope409
Houston is one of many cities with megachurches. I don't see what that has do with anything. Most people in Houston have probably never even been to Lakewood.
I know I haven't (says this agnostic Houstonian).
California leads the nation in megachurches.
Lakewood is of the new breed of feel-good variety megachurches. It's not fundamentalist evangelical, but "spiritual". It's not like they built the stadium to accommodate the church. It had been a sports arena. I saw my first concert there. But it was just sitting vacant after the Houston Rockets, et al, decamped, then its brief incarnation as the Compaq Center went bust, and the Osteens snatched it up, from what I recall. Some of us still accidentally call it the Summit.
Sperling's Best Places indicates Houston is 50.38% religious (not necessarily Christian), on par with the rest of the nation at 50.03%. It is the second least religious major city in Texas after Austin.
i would bet there are PLENTY of athiests out there. the thing is that most people are not going to admit that to others unless they already know the other person feels the same way. i mean who really wants to open that can of worms with some hardcore christian? there's no 'winner' in a religious argument, i learned that a long time ago. i've lived all over the place and i think MANY people don't really buy into organized religion and they're just not sure about god either way, i guess the proper term would be agnostic. they just live their life as good honest people and they're comfortable with that. i actually feel that describes MOST people, except for the bible belt maybe, where there's a church on EVERY corner. as for being so concerned about a 'true' agnostic not celebrating christmas, come on, why do people feel the need to put everything into a well-defined box? anyway, just as many have already said, portland and seattle would be my guess for the most agnostic cities.
I was stating my personal opinion about the subject. He stated his, and then I stated mine again. Am I supposed to feel guilty about what I said because you disagree? Get outta here.
You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to mine. Or any one else's. Atheists are entitled to their own opinion too. There is no proof that you've offered - just your opinion. You are welcome to interpret the world through that veil.
See that's the problem with atheists/agnostics...everything is subjective and there is no final 'truth' for them. And no matter how much 'proof' you try and show them it's still subjective,so what's the use? It's like they're floating around with no beliefs in anything.
"When you understand why you dismiss all the other gods you will understand why I dismiss yours." ~ Stephen F. Roberts
Nice quote from Mr. Roberts...here's one for ya-
"I am the Lord your God,you shall have no other gods before me" ~ God
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It's not like they built the stadium to accommodate the church. It had been a sports arena. I saw my first concert there. But it was just sitting vacant after the Houston Rockets, et al, decamped, then its brief incarnation as the Compaq Center went bust, and the Osteens snatched it up, from what I recall. Some of us still accidentally call it the Summit. 
