An Atheist's Christmas

[stacey bo bacey]

So this will be the first Christmas I am not celebrating Jesus being born and all that hooey.

Is it weird, though, that I still REALLY like Christmas songs? Like......"O Holy Night" was always my favorite Christmas song. I mean...my beliefs have done a 180 but I still really like that song. I like the music AND the words, even though I don't believe in them anymore.

I am so weird!!!!!!!!! :bounce

Also, I love the feel of this time of year--as I try to ignore the disgusting commercialization...like the other day at work there was this pillow for sale and it said "On Donner, On Blitzen...On Mastercard, On Visa!" *BARF*--as far as the smell and all the decorations go. It smells like pie and wood burning and all the decorations and lights are so awesome!

How do I justify feeling this way? Do I need to?

Like I said, the celebration of the reason behind Christmas is a no go. BUT I still love all the songs and the hot cocoa and the lights and the feeling....

Anything wrong with that?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

So this will be the first Christmas I am not celebrating Jesus being born and all that hooey.

Is it weird, though, that I still REALLY like Christmas songs? Like......"O Holy Night" was always my favorite Christmas song. I mean...my beliefs have done a 180 but I still really like that song. I like the music AND the words, even though I don't believe in them anymore.

I am so weird!!!!!!!!! :bounce

I'm weird the same way - that's my favourite Christmas carol. A lot of the rest I can take or leave, though.

I've got lots of positive associations with Christmas. Some negative ones as well, but not because of my atheism.

 

[misanthropic_clown]

Not at all. For most people who celebrate Christmas, it is attached (along with the songs and trappings) with strong and happy experiences with family and friends and a warm spirit of togetherness. It is no surprise that even if the religious connotation is removed from it that there is an overall spirit of excitement that transcends religious boundaries. I think it is a beautiful thing rather than an odd one.

 

[Quagmire]

So this will be the first Christmas I am not celebrating Jesus being born and all that hooey.

Is it weird, though, that I still REALLY like Christmas songs? Like......"O Holy Night" was always my favorite Christmas song. I mean...my beliefs have done a 180 but I still really like that song. I like the music AND the words, even though I don't believe in them anymore.

I am so weird!!!!!!!!! :bounce

Also, I love the feel of this time of year--as I try to ignore the disgusting commercialization...like the other day at work there was this pillow for sale and it said "On Donner, On Blitzen...On Mastercard, On Visa!" *BARF*--as far as the smell and all the decorations go. It smells like pie and wood burning and all the decorations and lights are so awesome!

How do I justify feeling this way? Do I need to?

Like I said, the celebration of the reason behind Christmas is a no go. BUT I still love all the songs and the hot cocoa and the lights and the feeling....

Anything wrong with that?

YES!!! everyone knows the Christian church has exclusive rights to holiday cheer! Now that you're an atheist, Stacey, you're obligated by law to feel vaguely depressed and annoyed starting from the day after Thanksgiving until Dec. 26.

you can still eat the turkey, pumnkin pie, dressing and all that and you can drink the eggnog and listen to the carols, you can even look at the lights and displays but under no circumstances are you allowed to enjoy any of it.

Also; the only holiday cartoon you're allowed to like is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, since it's basically secular.

You can also get together with all the family and friends you want but you're forbidden to actually love them or enjoy they're company*.

(*Actually, this rule applies all year but especially during the holidays).

 

[Father Heathen]

So this will be the first Christmas I am not celebrating Jesus being born and all that hooey.

Is it weird, though, that I still REALLY like Christmas songs? Like......"O Holy Night" was always my favorite Christmas song. I mean...my beliefs have done a 180 but I still really like that song. I like the music AND the words, even though I don't believe in them anymore.

I am so weird!!!!!!!!! :bounce

Also, I love the feel of this time of year--as I try to ignore the disgusting commercialization...like the other day at work there was this pillow for sale and it said "On Donner, On Blitzen...On Mastercard, On Visa!" *BARF*--as far as the smell and all the decorations go. It smells like pie and wood burning and all the decorations and lights are so awesome!

How do I justify feeling this way? Do I need to?

Like I said, the celebration of the reason behind Christmas is a no go. BUT I still love all the songs and the hot cocoa and the lights and the feeling....

Anything wrong with that?

Don't worry, Christmas was originally a pagan holiday that was later hijacked by Christians. Winter solstice - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[texan1]

Me too Stacey! I love Christmas songs and I even LOVE gospel music *starts singing to self: Soon as my feet touch Zion, gonna lay down my heavy burden, gonna sit down beside King Jesus and tell him all about my trouble, put on my robes in glory and shout to tell the story!......so you are not weird. Well.........you might be weird - but not because you like religious Christmas songs.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

Oh awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought I was being a MAJOR hypocrite...

I'm so happy I don't have to give any of this up! Weeee!!! :bounce

 

[stacey bo bacey]

P.S.--you guys are funny

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Oh awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought I was being a MAJOR hypocrite...

I'm so happy I don't have to give any of this up! Weeee!!! :bounce

Heck, I usually end up at church on Christmas... but you don't have to go that far.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

Heck, I usually end up at church on Christmas... but you don't have to go that far.

Haha, I don't plan on it. Then again, my mom might make me.
At least then I can hear the pretty songs and smell that awesome incense they put out.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

Don't worry, Christmas was originally a pagan holiday that was later hijacked by Christians. Winter solstice - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yea, I have been interested in that and want to celebrate it. I don't know what the pagans do..I'll just have a "the universe is awesome" party! That'll be for each season.....

Because......the universe and nature ARE awesome!

 

[lamplighter]

I love Christmas as well, a close second to Halloween though, but my favorite song is Carol of the Bells, which was actually ripped off of a pagan Ukrainian New Year's chant. Do Christians steal everything?

 

[Nanda]

I love Christmas! I love everything about it. It doesn't have to be true for it to be a beautiful story.

 

[Quagmire]

I love Christmas as well, a close second to Halloween though, but my favorite song is Carol of the Bells, which was actually ripped off of a pagan Ukrainian New Year's chant. Do Christians steal everything?

It isn't stealing so much as blending.

 

[Father Heathen]

Yea, I have been interested in that and want to celebrate it. I don't know what the pagans do..I'll just have a "the universe is awesome" party! That'll be for each season.....

Because......the universe and nature ARE awesome!

Well, the vast majority of Christmas traditions, from the tree to the gifts to the Saint Nick figure, all have pagan roots.

 

[texan1]

Heck, I usually end up at church on Christmas... but you don't have to go that far.

I go to church with my family on Christmas too

 

[stacey bo bacey]

I love Christmas as well, a close second to Halloween though, but my favorite song is Carol of the Bells, which was actually ripped off of a pagan Ukrainian New Year's chant. Do Christians steal everything?

Oh yea!! How could I forget Carol of the Bells? Sooo pretty.

 

[Father Heathen]

My family just has a dinner.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

My family just has a dinner.

My mom can't cook so we always have Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner at an IHOP or Cracker Barrel.

Classy, I know.

 

[whereismynotecard]

I love Christmas!!

And it has nothing to do with Jesus or God.

It has everything to do with the smell of a christmas tree, beautiful christmas lights, buying presents and sending out christmas cards, and just having a jolly good time.

Frankly though, I'm a bit scared about thanksgiving and christmas this year, because my dad died in august and it will be the first time he isn't here. It's going to be weird. I'm getting very nervous about thanksgiving.