Christmas is a time for eating and buying
Therefore it rocks the socks of anyone from any religion

It's disappointing how commercialized Christmas has become. Even so, I think it's still a great time to get together with the family... Also, of course, presents. :P

Happy Holidays Claude!

As a lifelong atheist, the religious impact of Christmas has meant absolutely naught to me, however the idea that there's this one time of year where everyone is at least jolly and kind to each other means it's just a great holiday. For the rest of the year, walking round the city centre is a horrible experience but at Christmas, it's really nice and that's all down to the atmosphere.

There is no such thing as Christmas in such an economic crisis. My family can't even afford a tree, destroying the spirit.

Christmas is just going to be a normal day for me, pal. Might get some gifts from friends near my neighborhood, but that's it. That doesn't give me the charm that I've witnessed in my past years as being a little kid who wanted all the Batman figures in the world.

Christmas sucks.

its just an excuse to spend money, id rather call a truce with everyone and not get gifts.

ReTarDedFisHy does like Christmas.

Without sounding too cheesy, Christmas is the best time of year, one to spend with your family and friends.
The atmosphere completely changes everywhere, in the little suburbs to even the big cities.
ReTarDedFisHy feels sorry for those lonely souls without holiday cheer.
For that he shall shed a single tear for them. :,{

And oh yeah, presents rule.
And let's not forget being able to pull the Christmas card on your parents for extra cash, or people being a dick to you or refusing to give you a gift.
It's a shame that the Holidays became a huge commercialized event on TV.
ReTarDedFisHy is glad that people still take Christmas as it should be, *sniff* and still hold it where it should be... *sniffle*
In our hearts. ;_ )

"As a lifelong atheist...."

"HandsomeDead said:

"As a lifelong atheist...."

I won't even get into that, but suffice it to say that it's funny when atheists complain about religion.  = D

Personally, I'm agnostic.  I believe that the idea of peace on Earth, goodwill towards man, and the gift of giving are virtues that we should be trying to practice everyday.  Unfortunately, mankind and society in general can't hold back their primal urges.

I like giving presents, and I like that someone thinks of giving presents to me.  However, eight years ago, I decided to stop accepting the presents, and instead, I told anyone planning to get me a present to get something that a 7 or 8 year old would like.  Those presents usually go into the Toys for Tots bin at the local USMC office, because those kids need them a hell of a lot more than I need anything.  I'm blessed enough to have family, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my stomach.  I don't need anything else.  Anything past that is selfishness, and I try to fight that as much as possible during the holidays.

I think you've got a great definition of Christmas, however:  it's about the spirit.  I'm not necessarily talking about anything religious.  I'm talking about just the general idea of getting this...feeling...inside you (and no, it's not the warmth of 00Sweep sliding down your throat and into your tummy).

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season as well.

"

Christmas has always been a time of celebration and giving, even during bad times.  I think putting the Christ in Christmas is a good thing... as long as it's for the right reasons.  And while celebrating Jesus' birth is most important for many, I don't think we should exclude others with different views... helping others and loving your neighbors should be a year-round thing, but at least we know there's one time of year where you're encouraged to do so regardless of religion.

I freakin' love your avatar!!!

"jakob187 said:

"HandsomeDead said:

"As a lifelong atheist...."

I won't even get into that, but suffice it to say that it's funny when atheists complain about religion.  = D

Personally, I'm agnostic.  I believe that the idea of peace on Earth, goodwill towards man, and the gift of giving are virtues that we should be trying to practice everyday.  Unfortunately, mankind and society in general can't hold back their primal urges.

I like giving presents, and I like that someone thinks of giving presents to me.  However, eight years ago, I decided to stop accepting the presents, and instead, I told anyone planning to get me a present to get something that a 7 or 8 year old would like.  Those presents usually go into the Toys for Tots bin at the local USMC office, because those kids need them a hell of a lot more than I need anything.  I'm blessed enough to have family, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my stomach.  I don't need anything else.  Anything past that is selfishness, and I try to fight that as much as possible during the holidays.

I think you've got a great definition of Christmas, however:  it's about the spirit.  I'm not necessarily talking about anything religious.  I'm talking about just the general idea of getting this...feeling...inside you (and no, it's not the warmth of 00Sweep sliding down your throat and into your tummy).

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season as well.

"

"

I bought a Santa hat.

Growing up in the deep south i have always celebrated christmas in one form or another. Even after my year of "discovery" (the year i became an athiest) I still celebrate the thought of giving and recieving gifts.. although being brought up into a poor family i never really cared about recieving gifts as much as giving them. But i still love to go to the mall and just browse the shops looking for good gifts to give to friends. Because im not a huge family person i dont really like staying at the house for christmas, id much rather visit all of my friends houses and eat like no tomorrow.

I like christmas as well, I just try to take out the christ out of it. My family doesn't mind.

Well I am a catholic and I believe in God sincerely though I really loved this blog . the purpose behind events like Christmas is for people to get closer . when you are  happy with your family and you make them happy you are doing the ultimate prayer .
the prayer is not to read the bible in the church , Christmas should not be considered as a religious event .
religious , agnostic , atheist ,.................  it does not make any difference whatsoever
 Christmas is merely the  time when people get closer and the relationships become warmer .

I'm in a similar boat as you.  Different backgrounds, but similar conclusions.

Christmas to me is about the tree, peace, and togetherness (with whomever, even strangers exchanging smiles or doing kind things).  I'd rather people were nice and peaceful all year round, but I'll take what I can get.

Nothing says positive human values than at least making an effort on Christmas to put aside differences.

I hate, though, this pressure to give and receive gifts.  I like getting them, I like finding the perfect gift, but I really don't feel like it should be such a performance as it winds up being.  It feels like a competition even though it isn't, with the value of the gifts being in the back of everyone's mind, and trying to get something acceptable for someone you feel you have to get a gift even though you honestly haven't thought about them...  I dunno.  THAT depends on what you experienced growing up too, I guess.  The gift giving for my family was often a nightmare. To me gift-giving is the source of all my negative feelings about Christmas, so I tend to suspect any commercial appeals as somehow tied fundamentally to Christmas (I knew one family who insisted on personal gifts for Christmas, handmade things or sentimental things and not big purchases, THAT to me is admirable, definitely).

When people do the word thing it doesn't really bother me because I grew up outside of any intensive guilt-complex culture when it comes to religion.  I don't think anyone owns Christmas, though, and since it supplants earlier holidays that existed before the birth of the christ I don't tend to take such claims very seriously.  Being a cultural chauvinist is the wrong attitude in my opinion, but I don't expect a specific season to change anyone's behavior. 

It's just nice when people can calm the fuck down and try to just be decent human beings, even if they can only manage it a little while.  To me that's what it's about.

Christmas for me operates as a great excuse to be with the family, and a great way to relive the wonder of being a kid, through them.

Merry Christmas!

I've never been THAT religious of a person, in the traditional sense of the word (I do believe, mind you, I just don't think that one has to go to Church every week or live by a set of rules in order to be considered religious). So Christmas is entirely commercialized, but I'm fine with that, as I don't see it as a slap in the face to the Christian faith, but rather (as others have said) as a great time of the year when people actually possess a bit more patience than normal, treat each other (arguably) kinder than they do the rest of the year, and as a great reason to spend far too much time eating (whare are, in my life) rare homecooked meals and hanging out with the family. So yeah, Merry Christmas to you too, and to everyone for that matter - no matter if they want to accept my well-wishes or not. :D

christmas means Santa!!!11!!
O wait, he does not exist, lame

Nice blog

Winter Solstice. That's what this time of year means to me.

I love Christmas. Presents, family, and Santa hats on everyone's avatar!

"I love Christmas. Presents, family, and Santa hats on everyone's avatar!"

<quote>There is no such thing as Christmas in such an economic crisis. My family can't even afford a tree, destroying the spirit.</quote>

Yet you can afford a computer and internet access? Trees are like what, 20-30 bucks?

And regardless of your religious affiliation, I think we can all take solace in the fact that historical record does seem to indicate that Jesus performed miracles, and may have actually come back from the dead. I'll celebrate that.

"HandsomeDead said:

"As a lifelong atheist...."

I won't even get into that, but suffice it to say that it's funny when atheists complain about religion.  = D"

I love Christmas for both the Christian aspects and the gift giving aspect.  It's a great time to see my family, appreciate this world, and enjoy my life.  I'm glad you've found a happy balance with it as well.

"jakob187 said:

"HandsomeDead said:

"As a lifelong atheist...."

I won't even get into that, but suffice it to say that it's funny when atheists complain about religion.  = D"

Who said I was complaining?

Also, Jack Skellington can fuck off. Any and all Tim Burton fans should kill themselves as soon as possible."

Its something I have never really thought about. I like the general atmosphere, people are certainly a lot happier. I like getting presents, because i'm a selfish bastard. But its not something I have ever felt the need to rationalise. Christmas happens, I just get on with life and try not to get too caught up in it.

You think about stuff too much Claude. You are too wise...

Christmas is almost entirely secular by now. Also damn fun.

Nothing wrong with having a fun holiday at the end of the year.

"Christmas is almost entirely secular by now."

Well I like christmas, and if you do your homework christmas was originally not a christian holiday. They copied from the pagans. But who cares? I'm atheist and I like presents! Thats the only excuse I need for christmas.