A question for Atheists

[Morrison]

what sucks about diseases are the horrible sounding names...

like cancer... why not call it Blowjobs For Life instead?
who wouldn't want that!?

sure, it's a much shorter life, but you could always be telling people about all the blowjobs you're getting. imagine that wonderful phone call to mom... "Mom... we need to spend alot of quality time together real soon, because... I've got Blowjobs For Life....and I mean quality time, mom. "

I mightve read wrong, but did your post say "*******" and "mom" in the same sentence?

 

[Superhobo]

Ow. My brain-stem. I think you broke it.

 

[Ring Deacon]

While I find your very straightforward analysis amusing, it lacks the shades of gray.

Who honestly believes in Thanksgiving? Yah, the pilgrims and the Native Americans played well together and made nice-nice. Yeah. Right.

It's an idiotic holiday, and even a brief glance at U.S. history involving Native American tribes will spin a different tale.

So do you not celebrate Thanksgiving, because it's a complete LIE?

You still haven't answered my question. Why don't Jews and Muslims celebrate Christmas or Easter if they are just national holidays? It would seem to me that you have no answer other then Jews and Muslims don't have the same beliefs as Christians. So why do you as an Atheist celebrate Christmas and Easter? Now i am not completely insensitve to your view, but if you don't believe in Christ you can't believe in Christmas. You can however celebrate the holiday season and say happy holidays, but as for Christmas it is called Christmas for only one reason and that is because of Jesus Christ.

As for thanksgiving it is only a US holiday so it is a celebration of America's foundation.

 

[sinewave]

You still haven't answered my question. Why don't Jews and Muslims celebrate Christmas or Easter if they are just national holidays? It would seem to me that you have no answer other then Jews and Muslims don't have the same beliefs as Christians. So why do you as an Atheist celebrate Christmas and Easter? Now i am not completely insensitve to your view, but if you don't believe in Christ you can't believe in Christmas. You can however celebrate the holiday season and say happy holidays, but as for Christmas it is called Christmas for only one reason and that is because of Jesus Christ.

As for thanksgiving it is only a US holiday so it is a celebration of America's foundation.

plenty of people have answered your question. go back and read from the beginning.

 

[Ring Deacon]

plenty of people have answered your question. go back and read from the beginning.

let me check........nope no one has said why jews and muslims don't celebrate Christmas and Easter if they are just national holidays.

The point is you can argue as an Atheist that you celebrate the winter season by having a Happy Holiday, but as for Easter there is no other reason to celebrate it other then to celebrate Christ.

 

[Addendum]

I just like the days off from work.

 

[ObakeTora]

Do you celebrate Christmas and Easter? If yes why?

In my opinion as a Christian if you do not believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ then you shouldn’t celebrate his birth or the day he rose from the dead. There is no other reason to celebrate these holidays because they are Christian holidays not Secular.

xmas is my most hated time of year.

 

[Superhobo]

let me check........nope no one has said why jews and muslims don't celebrate Christmas and Easter if they are just national holidays.

The point is you can argue as an Atheist that you celebrate the winter season by having a Happy Holiday, but as for Easter there is no other reason to celebrate it other then to celebrate Christ.

Jews and Muslims don't celebrate it because their religions each have their own respective holiday for that particular time of year and that occasion.
Athiests do it because not only do we have free will (which your god supposedly gave us) to do so, but we can also appreciate the meaning of the holiday, even without its religious connotations. To spend time with family, be good and nice, good will towards men and women. Just because we don't celebrate it religiously doesn't mean we don't see the moral point of it. We also acknowledge that the holiday is nationally called Christmas. That's what it's called.
And as for your Easter argument, I don't celebrate Easter. Even as a kid, with the whole 'bunny and eggs' thing, the holiday seemed boring.

 

[EXCELSIOR]

I mightve read wrong, but did your post say "*******" and "mom" in the same sentence?

WARNING! - Knock it off!

 

[Superhobo]

"Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children?!"

 

[psychocheeseman]

It seems to me that taking the secular aspects away from christmas removes the majority of the traditional celebration from christmas. all you need to do to celebrate the birth of jesus is go down to your local church in the morning, sing a few hymms and go home. (and occasionally try and convince yourself that you are in touch with the alll powerful creator of the universe....zoltan.............i mean God.)

Secular celebration has a cool fairy tale for kids, celebrates family and togetherness, encourages good will to all, and encourages us to realise how lucky we are, and try and spare a thought (and possibly some $) for those less fortunate than opurselves. It Gives us an excuse to spend hours preparing food for eveyone we love and then eating till you can't eat any more.......... and watching a james bond film.

Thats not to say you can't do both. But to say us atheists and agnostics and undecideds and...well... everyone who isn't of your faith, can't celebrate family and friendship with a few fairy tales, lots of jokes, and a big meal, just because we differ in opinion concerning the supernatural is kinda rude. ....and not very christmassy!

 

[The Apocalypse]

Do you celebrate Christmas and Easter? If yes why?

In my opinion as a Christian if you do not believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ then you shouldn’t celebrate his birth or the day he rose from the dead. There is no other reason to celebrate these holidays because they are Christian holidays not Secular.

Most Christians celebrate Christmas because they get stuff. I am Catholic, but I don't agree with a lot of the Catholic church laws anymore. Regardless though most people just celebrate Christmas to get stuff and the birth of Jesus really just passes them by.

 

[Shifty]

Man, The Rapture sure is late. It would end these kinds of discussions.

You still haven't answered my question. Why don't Jews and Muslims celebrate Christmas or Easter if they are just national holidays? It would seem to me that you have no answer other then Jews and Muslims don't have the same beliefs as Christians. So why do you as an Atheist celebrate Christmas and Easter? Now i am not completely insensitve to your view, but if you don't believe in Christ you can't believe in Christmas. You can however celebrate the holiday season and say happy holidays, but as for Christmas it is called Christmas for only one reason and that is because of Jesus Christ.

As for thanksgiving it is only a US holiday so it is a celebration of America's foundation.

Canadian Thanksgiving in October! Supposed to celebrate the fall harvest, have a family dinner, being thankful for things.

let me check........nope no one has said why jews and muslims don't celebrate Christmas and Easter if they are just national holidays.

The point is you can argue as an Atheist that you celebrate the winter season by having a Happy Holiday, but as for Easter there is no other reason to celebrate it other then to celebrate Christ.

How do you celebrate Easter? Hidden eggs, the Easter Bunny, chocolate, flowers and other spring time imagery, nope no sign of Jesus. You get Good Friday off and Monday morning the left over Easter candy is reduced.

You go celebrate your holiday, I'll go celebrate my holiday. I can celebrate my birthday on my actual birthday or I could wait a couple of days until the weekend. You can do whatever you want. It won't bother me. Christmas and Easter are two holidays; religious and secular. Accept it, like you have Jesus, and things will be fine.

You better not celebrate Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny! Or eat any Easter candy! Or any chocolate snowmen! Or drink egg nog! Or kiss under the mistletoe! Or hide any eggs!

Someone from your organization got lazy and let the name Christmas and Easter become stolen for our horrible family get togethers and bringing peace and joy and taking advantage of children who will believe anything. With all the money you collect you couldn't buy the official rights or pay off politicians? Who cares what I do as long as I don't harm you.

We're not barging into your house and stealing anyting with Jesus on it.

Just like gay marriage, who cares? Who cares? I've got snow outside, egg nog, Christmas decorations, a Christmas tree, family is over, we have a big meal, everyone is happy, we play games, and you have your family, you go to church, you have meal, pray, be happy that Jesus was born etc.
Hey look! Human beings not hurting each other! Wow! That's a miracle!!

So would you rather people don't see families, don't buy gifts, not be kind to each other? Should we just go vandalize those big churches on Dec.24th?

I guess we're just too lazy, we should celebrate "X-Mas" but we call it "Christmas" and Jesus isn't mentioned. I prefer to say Happy Holidays, I'm in the clear on that. I'm sorry the millions of people upset you when they celebrate anti-Christmas and anti-Easter.

 

[Jack Rabbit]

You still haven't answered my question. Why don't Jews and Muslims celebrate Christmas or Easter if they are just national holidays? It would seem to me that you have no answer other then Jews and Muslims don't have the same beliefs as Christians. So why do you as an Atheist celebrate Christmas and Easter? Now i am not completely insensitve to your view, but if you don't believe in Christ you can't believe in Christmas. You can however celebrate the holiday season and say happy holidays, but as for Christmas it is called Christmas for only one reason and that is because of Jesus Christ.

As for thanksgiving it is only a US holiday so it is a celebration of America's foundation.

Probably because despite the fact that Christmas and Easter are completely commercialized holidays, they directly contradict what Jews and Muslims believe. And I know Jews who celebrate Christmas, and Chanukah.

You're completely disregarding everything people have said. You can believe in Christmas without Jesus.

Most people will tell you Christmas is about being with loved ones, or giving gifts. Not the birth of Jesus.

You're pretty ****in' narrow minded. Are you Baptist?

 

[cryptic name]

Do you celebrate Christmas and Easter? If yes why?

In my opinion as a Christian if you do not believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ then you shouldn’t celebrate his birth or the day he rose from the dead. There is no other reason to celebrate these holidays because they are Christian holidays not Secular.

i celebrate both holidays because i like free s**t and get them off school and work. does that clear things up.

and leave that "those holidays are only for christians" crap out of here. do you think jesus was born on december 25th? no, it was moved there to be closer to winter solstice so pagans would be easier to convert, your holidays aren't even on real holy days. so give it a rest.

 

[S_H_F_4839]

I know this is a little off topic but anyone wonder how we got to hunting for eggs on the day he rose from the dead?

i dont get how to bridge the gap.

Rising from the Dead

looking for eggs

 

[redmarvel]

Alright, so by that logic, your god created man to be curious, correct? Then, he gives them free will. Okay? Then, he says, you can do anything you want in this garden. But wait! Don't eat from the Tree of Knowledge! But why?
No reason, just don't do it. It's like your god wants mankind to undo itself.

Okay, Superhobo, let me try to explain it this way. You want your child to learn for himself and try things himself. You let him wander around the house looking into drawers, pulling open cupboards. Yet you tell him, whatever you do, DON'T TOUCH THE STOVE. When he touches the stove, you punish him. Why? It was your fault because you let him explore and let him into the kitchen.

 

[redmarvel]

Ok, Squeek... you go out and have gay "relations" and we'll see what happens.

After we die, if I'm right and you're wrong, you owe me a fiver.
Not sure how the Devil will get it up to Heaven, but maybe there some sort of inter-dimensional postal system. I hope so, because I want to be sending pictures to all the sinners suffering of what a good time they're missing.

Sure, the original cuase of AIDS was for the gays, but since we accept them, we must all now suffer. That's tough love for you, but God is trying to make a point. And, I'd say it's coming through loud and clear.
Don't for second tell me you believe God is all powerful (which He is) but that AIDS is some accident that wasn't created by Him. ALL things were, don't you know?

The original cause of AIDS was not for the gays... if it had been then it would have been spread by sperm alone, not blood... (Frankly I think AIDS was inventend in a lab in Africa by scientists that did not take the proper precautions and accidentally let it loose in the world)

 

[redmarvel]

Christmas = Party

I don't give a damn the religious meaning of the day.

Agree with you on that one. Christmas has little to do with Christ and more to do with the Church wanting to convert pagans to their cause by including a mid-winter festival in the Church calendar. (The actual date of Christ's birth has been the topic of much debate, but was not likely to have been in mid-winter if the shepherds were still in the fields with their flocks).

 

[redmarvel]

You still haven't answered my question. Why don't Jews and Muslims celebrate Christmas or Easter if they are just national holidays? It would seem to me that you have no answer other then Jews and Muslims don't have the same beliefs as Christians. So why do you as an Atheist celebrate Christmas and Easter? Now i am not completely insensitve to your view, but if you don't believe in Christ you can't believe in Christmas. You can however celebrate the holiday season and say happy holidays, but as for Christmas it is called Christmas for only one reason and that is because of Jesus Christ.

As for thanksgiving it is only a US holiday so it is a celebration of America's foundation.

Jews celebrate Hannukah (?sp?) and Muslims celebrate Ramadan (?sp?) but surprise, surprise, both are also mid-winter festivals.

We also have Thanksgiving in Canada. It's the fall festival to celebrate the Harvest (and has NOTHING to do with religion). We have it in October, a month earlier than the American Thanksgiving.

 

[redmarvel]

I know this is a little off topic but anyone wonder how we got to hunting for eggs on the day he rose from the dead?

i dont get how to bridge the gap.

Rising from the Dead

looking for eggs

Eggs represent Birth, Jesus rose from the dead allowing humanity to be reborn through him...

I suspect that colouring the eggs, and the hunt for them was more to entertain the small children than anything else...

The chocolate on the other hand, well God threw that one in there for people like me

 

[squeekness]

Honestly, in my opinion the hateful God is the one described in your bible, and by the majority of it's followers. As for those followers, there are exceptions, as with all things... I've met cool people who happened to be handicapped with a belief in God and the bible. But they worked through it, best they could. By looking on the bright side of things, and not burdening their intelligent friends with any attempts at "saving them" from their skeptical views on that dinosaur-bone-hiding-mularky.... (intelligent skepticism - something I think any God in His right mind should respect and not condemn to eternal suffering)

Maybe that stuff is true and I'm going to burn in hell forever... christ, I can only stand working out for like 30 minutes, so it's going to be a long hard haul. An eternity of shoveling burning coals and being molested by pitchfork wielding devils...Sorta like a never ending Blue Man Group show, only Red...and with pitchforks and more molestation. I don't think I'll be able to take it, man. But, I still can't force myself to believe in that hogwash... I hope God will understand. Besides, all the cool kids will be in Hell. Sure, there'll be some jerks like Hitler and Charles Manson, but at least there'll be alot more rockstars and artists than child-molesting priests and corrupt ego-maniacal politicians.

Look, I'll tell you the problem with God's power: it didn't require any discipline to attain it. He read what others had done and He took the next step. He didn't earn the knowledge for Himself, so He won't take any responsibility... for it. He stood on the shoulders of geniuses to accomplish something as fast as He could and before He even knew He had... He patented it and packaged it and slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and now He's selling it, He wants to sell it!

Hey, I'll admit it = I was overwhelmed by the power of the Lord; but I made a mistake, too. I didn't have enough respect for that power and it's out now. The only thing that matters now are the people we love: Bill Murray, Danny Elfman, that sax guy from 'America's Got Talent'....Laura Dern.... Squeek, they're out there where people are dying.

There is medication for folks like you, you might want to look into it. Really, I thought we were having a serious conversation. I was wrong.

 

[sinewave]

let me check........nope no one has said why jews and muslims don't celebrate Christmas and Easter if they are just national holidays.

The point is you can argue as an Atheist that you celebrate the winter season by having a Happy Holiday, but as for Easter there is no other reason to celebrate it other then to celebrate Christ.

i can't speak for jews and muslims, but that's not what this thread was created for, going by the title, so that's irrelevant. we've answered your question about why atheists take part in those holidays, whether you choose to recognize our responses or not. one more time for the cheap seats. we're not celebrating the religious portion of those events, we're just taking part in the family gatherings. that's it. my wife and i go over to her aunt's house on christmas eve to celebrate with her dad's side of the family, which basically boils down to eating a ton of good food, drinking plenty of booze, catching up with relatives and watching the kids get scared when some guy in a santa costume shows up. some of our relatives end up going to mass afterwards but we've never accompanied them. on christmas day we go over to her parents' place and pig out some more, unwrap presents and watch a movie. at no point do i take part in any religious portion of the holiday. even when they say grace i'll join hands with them, but i don't join in with the prayer. as for easter, we usually go to some relative's house and pig out, catch up with family and do the whole egg hunt thing with the kids. once again, i don't join in withe prayers or accompany anyone to church. there, that's it. now can you please shut up and go on with your own personal beliefs and stop dictating what those of us who don't share them do for those holidays.

 

[jaguarr]

I've decided that I'm going to start celebrating Palm Sunday with a big BBQ every year. For Lent, I'll be doing all the things that everyone gave up, especially if I never do them. On Ash Wednesday, I'll be enjoying a fine cigar. And, for Advent, my wife and I will have a pornographic movie night. Why? Because I can.

jag

 

[Superhobo]

Okay, Superhobo, let me try to explain it this way. You want your child to learn for himself and try things himself. You let him wander around the house looking into drawers, pulling open cupboards. Yet you tell him, whatever you do, DON'T TOUCH THE STOVE. When he touches the stove, you punish him. Why? It was your fault because you let him explore and let him into the kitchen.

Um, exactly. It IS the parent's (god's) fault. Because we will touch the stove, it's in our nature to be curious. It's like your god was just up there going, "hey! I could do this!"