happy atheistmas [Archive]

TheGodlessUtopian

24th December 2011, 18:48

I'm Atheist as fuck and I still celebrate Christmas... lol. Why would you pass up presents, awesome dinner, and all the other festivities over something you don't believe? You're crazy all hell if you think I would pass it up because I'm Athesit...

So I'm with Le Rouge...

Merry Christmas you bastards! :)

I'm an Atheist and I decorate my house with all the usual Christmas trappings and my family does the presents and all, but I believe there is a difference when you speak to strangers and in public places as compared to your family.Not everyone celebrates Christmas so why use a word,in public, that could be offensive to some while you yourself don't even call your self christian?

Le Rouge

24th December 2011, 18:50

If words are actually words than I suppose yo would have no problem with saying Merry X-mas instead of saying a word which has a deeply religious connotation?

I don't. But in french, Christmas is said Noël. There's no religious connotation in
the word noël. And still, in some school and on TV, we can't say noël, we must say instead Happy holidays...But in English it's another story though.

But seriously, Who cares? Who's being offended by this? :confused: I wouldn't give a shit if people said Happy Hanukkah, Shabbah, Eid Al-Adha, etc.

(flame war expected)

Sasha

24th December 2011, 18:51

But, but, atheistmas is 27 April isn't it?

Ocean Seal

24th December 2011, 18:53

How does that make him reactionary? Does America not produce a lot of extra trash due to the holiday shopping bonanza?
Consumerism is not caused by the religious traditions of holidays. Excess spending is a capitalist ideal. And consumerism isn't bad so to speak. I would like to keep the Kindle that I got for Christmas come the revolution. To have commodities is what we are fighting for, so that we can produce enough for everyone and meet their desires. Tell the workers that they can't keep what they produce and they'll stick with the bourgeoisie. We preach abundance not austerity.

TheGodlessUtopian

24th December 2011, 18:56

I don't. But in french, Christmas is said Noël. There's no religious connotation in
the word noël. And still, in some school and on TV, we can't say noël, we must say instead Happy holidays...But in English it's another story though.

Ah,very intriguing,I will have to adjust my language towards more inclusive terms then.

But seriously, Who cares? Who's being offended by this? :confused: I wouldn't give a shit if people said Happy Hanukkah, Shabbah, Eid Al-Adha, etc.

Just because you do not care does not mean everyone shares your opinion.I am sure there are many individuals who grow irate at being wished a merry Christmas simply because they do not celebrate Christian holidays.In a society-America-that is overwhelming geared towards Christianity it is easy for religious minorities to feel insulted at the constant barrage of colliding beliefs.

ColonelCossack

24th December 2011, 18:57

happy winterval.

Susurrus

24th December 2011, 18:58

Meh. I hate both the consumerism and the "keep christ in christmas" mentality. I'll celebrate my winter celebration and wish others a pleasant experience in doing the same.

TheGodlessUtopian

24th December 2011, 18:59

Consumerism is not caused by the religious traditions of holidays. .

Not all by itself by the capitalists have used religious holidays in order to,more or less,brainwash the populace into equating love with buying commodities during a specific time of year (December).This generates unneded waste.If you were able to separate the two (holidays and the brainwashed ideal to consume) than you would be completely correct.

Le Rouge

24th December 2011, 19:02

I wish you all a merry corporation profit day then!

TheGodlessUtopian

24th December 2011, 19:03

I wish you all a merry corporation profit day then!

Much more accurate :lol:

Kitty_Paine

24th December 2011, 19:05

I'm an Atheist and I decorate my house with all the usual Christmas trappings and my family does the presents and all, but I believe there is a difference when you speak to strangers and in public places as compared to your family.Not everyone celebrates Christmas so why use a word,in public, that could be offensive to some while you yourself don't even call your self christian?

I actually posted while you were so I never saw your post, lol... I wasn't really siding with anyone on the issue, I was kinda talking in general about being an Atheist and celebrating Christmas. But while we're talking on it I'll say that I think that if someone were to become offended because I wished them a Merry Christmas and it turns out they didn't celebrate christmas, they are over reacting. I say Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and even Happy Chanukah to people. Why? I dunno... because I think it's funny somtimes... :p

I'm trying simply to wish you good fortune but I do so under the wrong religious affiliation and you get offended and mad at me? (not you, you... just a general you, lol). That has to reflect some personal insecurities or something... lol, jeez. Why can't you say thank you and then just let me know you're another religion... problem solved.

Get over yourself. Some Christians get mad when people say happy holidays and some atheists/jews/etc. get offended when people say merry christmas... it's a never ending circle of BS. But that's my opinion, and that's all. Oh and again, none of the "yous" are you personaly, lol.

A Revolutionary Tool

24th December 2011, 19:24

Who the fuck gets offended when you wish them a merry Christmas?

TheGodlessUtopian

24th December 2011, 19:32

Who the fuck gets offended when you wish them a merry Christmas?

Minorities who feel discriminated against.

NewLeft

24th December 2011, 19:53

Women to me: Happy Holidays, I would wish you a Merry.. You know, I can't say the C word, I might get charged with a hate crime.

Me: Merry Christmas to you too. :rolleyes:

hatzel

24th December 2011, 20:02

Who the fuck gets offended when you wish them a merry Christmas?

Me. I rage something fierce. FIERCE I tell you.

Nah actually I'm not some kind of petty I-don't-know-what so I snapped up an invite to a friend's partaaaaay and I'll rock up in their gaff and nab all the free grub and booze I can get my paws on and then scarper. Christmaaaaasss!!!

But that doesn't mean I don't play the 'you know you're really offending me here'-card when people get all up in my grill with their Christmas shizz and I want them to do one, and then they all think they've hurt my feelings and give it the 'okay, I understand if you don't want to spend the whole day out in the cold at some crappy Christmas market with me paying through the nose for bland porridge' or 'yes, it would be rude of me to expect a present, or even a card, from you,' and then in my mouth I'm all 'damn straight!' but in my head I'm more 'hahahaha sucker trollololololol!!!'

Drosophila

24th December 2011, 20:23

Merry Chrimbus

24th December 2011, 20:25

http://www.alljewishlinks.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/The-Story-of-Hanukkah-Gelt1.jpg

GPDP

24th December 2011, 20:37

Minorities who feel discriminated against.

And who are these minorities, exactly?

I'm not saying that to put you on the spot, btw. I always hear about how some people are "offended" by wishing them a Merry Christmas, but nobody seems to be able to pin point who these people actually are. Are there or have there been cases of people who feel offended or discriminated against, or do these people only exist in hyperbole?

piet11111

24th December 2011, 20:41

The christians dont have the exclusive right to being hypocrites so atheists can celebrate christmas too if it means being with family and loved ones.

Rafiq

24th December 2011, 20:46

Minorities who feel discriminated against.

Most of the Muslims I know keep a tree in there house and there kids believe in Santa and everything..

Its more of a cultural holiday imo

The Young Pioneer

24th December 2011, 21:12

Dec. 25th in my family is about presents and food. No God references at all, really.:rolleyes:

But try this:

To thoroughly insult the masses, one must confound the majority of the Christian population, as well. This is why I prefer the original observation date for the birth of Christ given by my church (Orthodoxy in my area is in a small minority). Ergo, everyone's flabbergasted when I wish them a Merry Christmas!!! on January 7th. :cool:

TheGodlessUtopian

24th December 2011, 21:21

And who are these minorities, exactly?

I'm not saying that to put you on the spot, btw. I always hear about how some people are "offended" by wishing them a Merry Christmas, but nobody seems to be able to pin point who these people actually are.

Muslims, Jews, Wiccans, Satanists, and even denominations of Christians who do not believe in the traditional Jesus story (such as the Jehovah's Witnesses).

Also, I am looking at things from a spiritual perspective when I say people are offended. Cultural only comes into play when I have up my own tree or exchange gifts.

Clarksist

24th December 2011, 21:29

I think this thread is the reason why we shouldn't be allowed internet forums.

Le Rouge

24th December 2011, 21:33

Minorities who feel discriminated against.

I think it's only a minority of people inside minority groups that feel discriminated.

I mean, what the fuck is wrong with the left. Fearing say Christmas because "no no no! Some people feels discriminated about this"

Fuck off man! Do you know there's more people that feels discriminated because we can't say Christmas than actual people who feels discriminated when we say that word? I chose the majority.

Its more of a cultural holiday imo
^This

Nox

24th December 2011, 21:35

TheGodlessUtopian

24th December 2011, 21:39

I think it's only a minority of people inside minority groups that feel discriminated.

but we will never know for sure.I can only say these things because I have personal experience with these types of people being offended over you saying merry christmas.

Fuck off man! Do you know there's more people that feels discriminated because we can't say Christmas than actual people who feels discriminated when we say that word? I chose the majority.I wouldn't forget the militant Christians and Christian nationalists.

That argument does not carry much weight.You are defending a very small minority.

I would maintain that it is more wrong to defend mentioning,and keeping,Christ,in a religious holiday when the persons in questions are leftists.

TheGodlessUtopian

24th December 2011, 21:40

I don't give a shit if someone's crazy religious beliefs doesn't match up perfectly with my cultural holiday.

You wouldn't but others do.

Le Rouge

24th December 2011, 21:44

That argument does not carry much weight.You are defending a very small minority.

Nope. Everyone that i know think the same thing as me. I can't verify if we are a majority though.

TheGodlessUtopian

24th December 2011, 21:48

Nope. Everyone that i know think the same thing as me. I can't verify if we are a majority though.

You won't be able to verify either (or at least it is highly unlikely you will be able to verify).

I was also referring to the Militant Christians and Nationalists though (which are a very small,and frightening,minority).

Nox

24th December 2011, 21:55

You wouldn't but others do.

I can understand someone having a problem with Christmas, but how would they get offended?

TheGodlessUtopian

24th December 2011, 22:00

I can understand someone having a problem with Christmas, but how would they get offended?

I am not sure since I do not hold supernatural beliefs. However, if I had to guess I would assume that it had to do with the culture around them being so favorable to Christianity that everyone assumes everyone celebrates Christmas (whether or not it is a cultural or spiritual) and wishes another a happy Christmas even though they hold differing beliefs.

A petty things I think but such does not stop others from being offended.

hatzel

24th December 2011, 22:04

I can understand someone having a problem with Christmas, but how would they get offended?

Technically those of minorities may be offended by the majority asserting itself on them, under the assumption that they constitute the 'default,' and that the non-Christian population would 'naturally' mark Christmas, whilst of course not reciprocating this celebration of foreign festivals.

I say 'technically' because I don't really know anybody who's taken this position so strongly, despite spending my whole life in, amongst and surrounded by those of various minorities. A conscious rejection of Christmas, yes, along with other elements of white Western culture, but I haven't known anybody to express actual offense at, for instance, the fact that there's a load of Christmassy stuff on the TV and Christmas trees on the High Street and stuff. People just...ah...change the channel if they don't want to watch...

Decolonize The Left

24th December 2011, 22:06

If you're upset about the whole religious thing just say "happy holidays." No biggie.

- August

Philosophis Pony

24th December 2011, 22:18

I can relate to what TheGodlessUtopian is saying, sometimes it does get annoying when everyone is obsessed with the concept of the "bring jesus back into chrismas mentality" as said before. As a youth with my undeniably developing mentality and change there was many times where I would be offended.
I see no reason at all why people cannot merely wish people a merry X-mas as a simple act of consideration, not only does it show kindness but it shows acceptance of other's beliefs.

The Dark Side of the Moon

24th December 2011, 22:28

Half of my family is Jewish, 2 are atheist, and the other half is Lutheran.
We celebrated Christmas at my Jewish uncles house once:laugh:

TheGodlessUtopian

24th December 2011, 22:30

Half of my family is Jewish, 2 are atheist, and the other half is Lutheran.
We celebrated Christmas at my Jewish uncles house once:laugh:

Sounds tense...and slightly wild.lol

Nox

24th December 2011, 23:40

Sounds tense...and slightly wild.lol

If you think that's wild, you should see Christmas at the Cossack estate.

Misanthrope

24th December 2011, 23:49

Who the fuck gets offended when you wish them a merry Christmas?

Me.

NewLeft

25th December 2011, 00:08

I actually got offended when someone wished me a merry "christ" + "mass" when they KNEW that I didn't celebrate Christmas.

TheGodlessUtopian

25th December 2011, 00:09

I actually got offended when someone wished me a merry "christ" + "mass" when they KNEW that I didn't celebrate Christmas.

That guy sounds like an asshole.

Was he a militant Christian or just pushy?

Susurrus

25th December 2011, 00:33

Ah, perfect:
http://i.imgur.com/r5WtV.jpg

A Revolutionary Tool

25th December 2011, 02:51

Muslims, Jews, Wiccans, Satanists, and even denominations of Christians who do not believe in the traditional Jesus story (such as the Jehovah's Witnesses).

Also, I am looking at things from a spiritual perspective when I say people are offended. Cultural only comes into play when I have up my own tree or exchange gifts.
But who actually gets offended? I've asked people what they're going to do on Christmas and they say they don't celebrate Christmas, they celebrate Hanukkah. I asked a girl who I work with what she was going to do on Christmas and she said she never did anything on Christmas, that they didn't celebrate Christmas in Afghanistan and that she hasn't been here very long. Nobody got offended.

If someone is going to get all booty-tickled because someone says Merry Christmas instead of Happy Hanukkah or Kwanza I couldn't care less. "OMG You said the wrong holiday", don't care, have other shit to worry about then you getting offended over small shit.

Rafiq

25th December 2011, 03:37

So this jerk wished me a merry Christmas, so I spit on him and flicked him off... Damn consumerist choking me in his pagan holiday

Veovis

25th December 2011, 03:52

Me.

Precisely. Wishing a stranger Merry Christmas is awfully presumptuous.

I say happy solstice everyone! Enjoy the little bit of extra sunlight!

TheGodlessUtopian

25th December 2011, 03:54

My primary point is that some people do get offended due to being in a religious minority and feeling like the nation only cares about the other person's religion and not their own.

I have,at least from my perspective,answered to the best of my abilities of who gets offended.I think the discussion is kinda going in circles some at this point so I won't engage in further debate on this topic.

Good day.

25th December 2011, 04:02

EDIT nvm had a few drinks prolly shouldnt post probably will offend someone

Comrade Samuel

25th December 2011, 04:12

I never understood why people always complain at me for celbrateing Christmas just because I'm an atheist, so what if I don't believe the story does that mean I'm opposed to unity,love and peace on earth?

Also I love how we here in America give our kids the idea of an all knowing authority figure that rewards the good,punishes the bad and has a deal with facial hair

Harmless fun or communist propaganda?

http://www.cinxia.com/afap/images/santa_commie.gif

Ura,Ura,Ura! from Stalin Clause

Â¿Que?

25th December 2011, 05:53

First of all, I celebrate a form of Christmas with family, but not really presents any more. We eat a lot. Most of us are atheist or some form of agnostic.

Anywho, I think people generally don't feel offended hearing "Merry Christmas." What I do think though is that some corporations and businesses started forcing their employees to say "Happy Holidays" in order to appeal to a wider consumer base. This probably pissed off some really uptight and sensitive Christians, and a campaign was started on Fox News.

And that's where we get to the heart of the matter, really. That ultimately, in the final estimation of all things, this whole fucking mess is what's known as a wedge issue, a tactic often used by the religious right to divide the world into good and evil. Therefore, simply talking about this in any terms other than as a fabricated debate, plays right into the trap, which is accepting this debate on reactionary terms.

Kitty_Paine

25th December 2011, 06:05

Harmless fun or communist propaganda?

http://www.cinxia.com/afap/images/santa_commie.gif

Ura,Ura,Ura! from Stalin Clause

Oh! That totally reminded me of another santa picture I posted a while back... let me see if I can find it...

COMMUNIST SANTA!!!

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/342/4/2/communist_santa_by_darksdaemon-d34hn9h.png

With the strength of Soviet steel and the mind of Marx himself, Communist Santa delivers the workers the means of production for Christmas and crushes the Capitalists with a mountain of coal mined by the proletariat.

Comrade Samuel

25th December 2011, 06:24

Oh! That totally reminded me of another santa picture I posted a while back... let me see if I can find it...

COMMUNIST SANTA!!!

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/342/4/2/communist_santa_by_darksdaemon-d34hn9h.png

With the strength of Soviet steel and the mind of Marx himself, Communist Santa delivers the workers the means of production for Christmas and crushes the Capitalists with a mountain of coal mined by the proletariat.

Your christmas and your life are not complete until you see this video, also I'm sure people don't appritiate us filling this thread with jokes and what not so I'm done
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NKHJ64qRR8

;D

:D

Agent Ducky

25th December 2011, 06:35

I have a friend who is Christian, but trolls people who wish him a "Merry Christmas" by acting offended and saying "I'm JEWISH."

I'm atheist and I celebrate Christmas, pretty much. Although I wish people Merry Christmahannukwanzaakah or Christmahannukwanzayulewintersolsticikah. Because they're jelly that I can pronounce said words and they can't.

Kitty_Paine

25th December 2011, 06:43

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NKHJ64qRR8

;D

:D

That link brings me to a crazy place... can you not just post the video? Cause I would totally watch it... I promise :)

I'm super jealous of your skillz Ducky :rolleyes:

Share with me please!

Comrade Samuel

25th December 2011, 07:07

That link brings me to a crazy place... can you not just post the video? Cause I would totally watch it...!

http://youtu.be/9NKHJ64qRR8

Well I can't post the video because my iPod hates flash more than conservatives hate people who don't say "merry Christmas" but this link should work, now I really should be done spamming this thread of real discussion up merry athiestmas to all and to all an indifferent night!

Zostrianos

25th December 2011, 09:29

bcbm

25th December 2011, 09:33

EDIT nvm had a few drinks prolly shouldnt post probably will offend someone

thats the best time to post

Admiral Swagmeister G-Funk

25th December 2011, 09:38

I say 'happy holidays' then proceed to eating a lot, drinking my weight in whatever alcohol is available and explaining to everyone that their presents are in the post (though I haven't brought any yet).

I'm not 6 any more so I can't get my head around the hype but any day that it is socially acceptable to drink in the manner that I do is certainly welcome. I say happy holidays too as none of my friends are christians but some of them are of other creeds. I myself am not a christian either so I prefer 'happy holidays' to salute this weird, distorted, godless day of excessive consumerism and consumption that actually leads me to see a lot of incredibly miserable, distraught people charging through shopping centres with screaming, greedy, loud children at their sides - its not really 'christmas' is it? Although I'm very sure that some proper christians do celebrate it in a more religious way. My brother made the point that the holiday is meant to bring out the best in people (in religious terms) but in its modern form, it brings out the worst in us. Not all of us, I don't want to insult you people here or other people, but in general I mean.

Its not a particularly jolly time really, when you think about it. Its consumption, excessive consumerism, greed and false-consciousness to an extreme, scary level. All I see are the usual miserable souls I see, with badly decorated houses and a bank balance that has been quite severely hurt due to their snotty, spoilt, ignorant little children that are force-fed rocket fueled consumerism on television in the months up to xmas (I remember it when I was a kid, me and my brothers were horrible little bastards who demanded every little thing).

'appy 'olidays Revleft.

hatzel

25th December 2011, 09:45

So Moshe walks into Hershel's house and sees a Christmas tree in the living room. "Hershel!" he says, "why do you, a Jew, have this in your house? You are no Christian!" "Oh please," says Hershel, "the tree is nothing Christian! It is an ancient Germanic pagan symbol!"

Just a quick jape to tell you my house is a Christmas-free zone. Long may it continue!

bcbm

25th December 2011, 09:48

US fundies, who are all uppity about the "War on Christmas", finally came out with a movie on the subject, where - as expected- the Christians are the good guys who are bullied by the evil atheist who wants to destroy Christmas :laugh::

PtchvB-D5SI

got a link to a torrent that looks like a pretty cool movie

'this is the only time the entire world has a shared experience of peace and hope for the future' the whoe world is christian now lol

Franz Fanonipants

25th December 2011, 09:50

celebratin' chrimbo in jakarta c. 1800 - transhistorical christmas

25th December 2011, 09:58

I wish everyone a merry Christmas.

bcbm

25th December 2011, 10:05

I wish everyone a merry Christmas.

fascist

bcbm

25th December 2011, 17:09

UV8x7H3DD8Y

Os Cangaceiros

25th December 2011, 17:22

gsZu3A7hlm0

No, I'm just kidding, I like Christmas. Didn't really mark the occasion that much this year, though, I spent my Christmas in an eastern european night club.

Franz Fanonipants

25th December 2011, 17:24

my christmas had gunshots, saint processions, two-story tall bonfires, and deer jerky.

it owned bros.

Sasha

25th December 2011, 18:42

Jeremiah 10:1-5 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jeremiah%2010:1-10:5&version=KJV)
Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

god is waging war on christmas :lol:

Sasha

25th December 2011, 20:34

http://chzdailywhat.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/08df71df-2d18-4a50-993b-bfebf8f769af.jpg

: A Chilean demonstrator clad in a Santa costume clashes with riot police during a student protest in Santiago against for-profit education (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Chilean_protests).

Â¿Que?

26th December 2011, 02:06

https://chzdailywhat.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/08df71df-2d18-4a50-993b-bfebf8f769af.jpg

: A Chilean demonstrator clad in a Santa costume clashes with riot police during a student protest in Santiago against for-profit education (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Chilean_protests).
"Mommy,what are those policemen doing to Santa?"

Comrade Samuel

26th December 2011, 02:22

"Mommy,what are those policemen doing to Santa?"

Why they are punishing him for not accepting the capitalist system Billy, now eat your cheeseburger and pray to Regan.

26th December 2011, 02:46

Even Santa Claus has to answer to the IMF.

Jennifer

28th December 2011, 07:07

So everyone had a good Festivus then? "Festivus for the rest of us!"

dodger

28th December 2011, 07:52

dodger

29th December 2011, 02:00

PEACE and GOODWILL TO ALL MEN !!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16346002

Xmas would not be Xmas without these shenanigans at festive time.....all over now ...the fuss has died down,,,,,until EASTER!!!!

HAPPENS EVERY YEAR WITHOUT FAIL.......no broken bones this year glad to say.

Rodrigo

29th December 2011, 02:02

Merry Isaachristmas

(in homage of Isaac Newton)

Tim Cornelis

29th December 2011, 02:30

Yeah, yeah, and saying "happy Holidays" is offensive to Jehova's Witnesses.

why use a word,in public, that could be offensive to some while you yourself don't even call your self christian?

And that's their problem. If we're going to be considerate to every sensitive person I must always write 'god' with capital 'G', do not wish anyone anything, not swear or cuss, or work on the sabbath.

You take offense, so the problem lies with you, you are not given offense.

hatzel

29th December 2011, 02:31

PEACE and GOODWILL TO ALL MEN !!

...and what about the ladies? Shocking!

I'm looking forward to new year because it will finally mark the transition from my saying two-thousand-and-eleven to twenty-twelve. Presumably because London 2012 has drilled that concept into my head. In my life this is considered relatively exciting. Feel free to pity me.

Ã‘Ã³ẊÃ®Ã¶ŉ

2nd January 2012, 23:55

My holiday period wasn't too bad, especially considering my poor finances over the season. I got one or two gifts and had a massive fry-up on Christmas day instead of the more traditional (and bothersome) Christmas dinner.

Maybe it's different for you Antipodeans and Equatorials, but I definitely feel the winter solstice would be a much duller time without festivities of any kind. When it starts getting dark at 3pm, it's good to have some decorations and rich food to offset the cold and the gloom.

I definitely prefer the more interesting pagan-style trappings for the season, the purely Christian stuff is so dour and morbid (but what else to expect from a death cult?), and it's hardly like they were the first to come up with a winter festival.