Atheist Celebrating Religious Holidays

Guide to Christmas in Dallas, TX

2010-04-15 12:00 AM

Sweet Southern Atheist
San Antonio, TX
Posts: 18

I am an Atheist that celebrates Christmas and Easter.

Is that odd?

I don't celebrate Christmas for the birth of Christ, or Easter for the resurrection of Christ....

I celebrate them both as family holidays. I buy gifts and give gifts. I take my daughter Easter egg hunting in a beautiful little dress.

Am I the only atheist that keeps up with religious holidays?

2010-05-10 05:18 PM

MrWonder
Medium City, TX
Posts: 226

Hi,

I don't know the answer to your question, since I'm not an atheist and don't know many, either.

Christmas is celebratory of the first advent of Christ, but we don't know when He was actually born. Easter takes place at the approximate time of His resurrection, but it's not really Christian in its traditions, like egg hunting. A lot of churches participate in that, but it has zero to do with the Lord's resurrection or any celebration of it. It's more in line with religions from long ago, and I really don't know why churches get involved at all, unless it's the same reason you do - just to have some fun.

MrWonder

2010-08-24 08:59 AM

Tedwin
Chicago, IL
Posts: 3

No it's not odd.
Don't forget that Christianity was pretty much a large leech on other traditions and beliefs. It has been already said that there was no way in Hell "Jesus" was born in December, however it is said that "Christmas" was and Is celebrated in December to correspond with other winter traditions, Such as the burning of the Yule log. So if you exchange gifts around a fire on a snowy or warm day in December (wherever fits your climate) with your family, it doesn't necessarily mean your celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday is sort of difficult, I don't know for sure if it has been written that he was crucified that day, but if you celebrate giving jelly bean hunts and chocolate bunny eating contests in April, it has nothing to do with Christ. Seriously your free to do what you want, it doesn't mean it has to be associated with anything Christian. when Americans celebrate the fourth of July are they giving God a light show? I don't think so! They are celebrating their independence. The same logic could be said about Gift exchange in December! Is Exchanging gifts with family and friends around the same time as a Christian holiday mean I'm trying to associate my Atheist self with Christian holidays? HECK NO! it just means your exchanging gifts! It's not like if you have celebrations around EED for the Islamic belief that your trying to associate yourself with Islam. Have no fear, and keep up your traditions.

2010-09-18 05:59 PM

archaeologist
Seoul, South Korea
Posts: 79

Sweet Southern Atheist Wrote:
I am an Atheist that celebrates Christmas and Easter.

Is that odd?

I don't celebrate Christmas for the birth of Christ, or Easter for the resurrection of Christ....

I celebrate them both as family holidays. I buy gifts and give gifts. I take my daughter Easter egg hunting in a beautiful little dress.

Am I the only atheist that keeps up with religious holidays?

justso you know, christmas and easter are NOT christian holidays. the only two items true christians are to observe are baptism and communion and the latter covers Christ's birth, life, death and ressurrection.

the story goes that the RCC priests or powers that be wanted to make christianity more attractive to non-believers so they 'christianized' many secular festivals except for Hallowe'en. for that they instituted all saints day on Nov. 1.

now different people will have different sources for the advent of chrisian holidays and they will or probably disagree with the above. i do not care, it doesn't matter the reason for the source of such days as they are not biblically supported nor commanded to observe. this doesn't mean that the believer cannot participate in gift giving or other nice activities of those days or be with family etc. they just need to keep in mind that the real days are found in the gospels not the RCC history books.