Non-Christians Celebrating Christmas

[Ree]

I also doubt that Jesus would like his followers to segregate non believers from the celebration of his birth. *shrugs* Didn't he preach tolerance and understanding?

I don't think anybody is segregating non believers from celebrating his birth. I certainly am not.

My point was that a large majority aren't actually celebrating his birth, because there is nothing even remotely resembling a celebration of the birth of Christ, yet they call it celebrating Christmas.

If a non-believer wants to put up a nativity scene and play religious themed Christmas Carols, I have no problem with that.
I would probably wonder why, but if that's what they want to do, and that's their tradition, then fine.
"Hypocritical" is such a nasty word, with negative connotations, but, yes, it does seem at odds to say you are a non-believer but then put up an image of, or sing about something you don't believe in, but if that's what you want to do, then that's your right.

It's even your right to refuse to have Christ anywhere near your celebrations.

As has been said many times, who are we to judge?

But, again, if you do that, then it's my opinion that it's not really a "Christmas" celebration.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I also doubt that Jesus would like his followers to segregate non believers from the celebration of his birth. *shrugs* Didn't he preach tolerance and understanding?

[DesignFox]

This thread has officially entered the WTF? territory. LOL!

My other point in bringing up Futurama was that it shows how the ideas of things change over time. Granted, most of what changes according to the show are absolutely ludicrus, but language, traditions, etc. can and do change.

Christians may not like it, but it seems to me that Christmas is becoming more secular. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that, in certain areas of the country, not everyone is turning to religion as much as they used to OR they are members of religions other than Christianity. It could be for a variety of reasons. *shrug* I just "grew out" of my religion. I don't agree with a lot of what the Catholic church does or says...so, despite having been raised Catholic, I can't affiliate myself with the church, anymore. I'm not changing the name of my holiday just because someone else doesn't like what I'm calling it. It's been Christmas to me ever since I was born. I don't feel I should have to change the name of the holiday because 15 years later I stopped going to Church.

Not to mention that, everyone else calls it that, just get over it and let it go. And people on the opposite end of the spectrum who get offended when someone says, "Happy (insert holiday here)" need to get over themselves as well. If someone says something nice to you in an effort to be good-willed, just say thank you! Take it in the spirit it was intended, rather than be offended that someone thought you were Christian or Jewish or whatever when you aren't.

Granted-
I don't like the commercial whore-ism that the retailers and businesses seem to have programmed into everyone over the years....but I like the ideal spirit of the season. As long as the core of the holiday remains as part of someone's celebration, who the hell cares if they call it Christmas but don't worship Jesus?

I don't think it's fair to make someone have to explain themselves every holiday season.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I'm pretty partial to this guy.

[BroomJockey]

I've since realized that I meant "Greek" not "Latin."

[Lachrymose]

Shall we call it Z-mas then?

Then this guy can go around delivering presents.

[Flyndaran]

There was also the usage of Chi-Rho to represent Jesus, as those were the first two letters of Cristos. The interlaced Chi-Rho is used to this day in many Christian churches as a symbol of Jesus, with the Chi crossed over the tail of the Rho (both capitals).

Isn't that what was really on crusader's shields rather than the modern cross as symbol of Jesus?

[Arcade Man D]

Chi is simply the first greek letter for Christ. Two possible christians when meeting surreptitiously made two marks on the ground that together drew a fish symbol.

There was also the usage of Chi-Rho to represent Jesus, as those were the first two letters of Cristos. The interlaced Chi-Rho is used to this day in many Christian churches as a symbol of Jesus, with the Chi crossed over the tail of the Rho (both capitals).

[Flyndaran]

From what I understand, it didn't mean it but was used to represent it.

That said, it's been the best part of three decades since I did this stuff in school. I've slept since then.

Rapscallion

Chi is simply the first greek letter for Christ. Two possible christians when meeting surreptitiously made two marks on the ground that together drew a fish symbol.

[Rapscallion]

Except "X" comes from the old "Chi" symbol in Latin, which meant "Christ." So it's still Christmas.

From what I understand, it didn't mean it but was used to represent it.

That said, it's been the best part of three decades since I did this stuff in school. I've slept since then.

Rapscallion

[Lace Neil Singer]

Futurama also has a scary robot Santa, remember?

Shall we call it Z-mas then?

[DesignFox]

Except "X" comes from the old "Chi" symbol in Latin, which meant "Christ." So it's still Christmas.

Party pooper.

Many Christians don't acknowledge that. They complain about laziness or some such thing.

*shrug* Can't win, apparently.

[BroomJockey]

I think we need to go the route they did in Futurama. They call it X-mas.

Except "X" comes from the old "Chi" symbol in Latin, which meant "Christ." So it's still Christmas.

[DesignFox]

I think we need to go the route they did in Futurama. They call it X-mas.

Christians can keep their Christ. The rest of us can just keep the holiday.

In all seriousness, I can see the point of view that it's hypocritical to call the holiday Christmas when you aren't really celebrating Christ or keeping the religious part of the holiday.

I, personally, couldn't care less what anybody calls it. It's been Christmas for as long as I can remember (I was raised Roman Catholic, but myself and my family are no longer active members of the church). So, to me, it'll always be Christmas, even though I haven't celebrated the religious part of the holiday since I was probably 15 or so.

I think there are lots of people like me out there.

I guess you could call me hypocritical, because I will still set up a nativity scene alongside the Tree. It's not worship so much as just tradition. Our nativity set has been in my family since at least my Dad was a kid...And even though I don't follow the tenents of the religion anymore (for various reasons I won't threadjack for) I still enjoy the story of the baby Jesus, and get a lot of joy out of putting our family's nativity set together.

I love the magic surrounding the idea of Santa, and I have many fond memories of the magic I used to feel during the season when I was a child. I love seeing that same light on the faces of the kids I encounter.

My dad used to do a Santa act many years ago while my mother was still alive. His best friends would go out with him as his driver and his elf. He went to the houses of various friends and family members and surprised the kids with gifts (left on the stoop by mom and dad for "Santa" to bring in with him) and also goodies that he would put together- such as candy canes, small, age appropriate toys (he visited kids of all ages) and holiday related cups, mugs or treats. At one point, he was so popular that he was visiting 75 houses over the course of 3 nights. He had *me* fooled for years.
When I was older, I got to participate and help pick out the goodies for the kids and pack them for him.

I don't care that non-religious people call it Christmas. If they are celebrating it with good intentions, I see no reason to get my panties in a wad.

[Ree]

I'm very taken aback that you would call me selfish and self-centered for celebrating Christmas. I'm also taken aback at being called hypocritical, but at least I can understand the point of view there. I cannot understand your point of view at all, to be honest.

I don't understand the "selfish" comment either in regard to non-Christians celebrating "Christmas".

While I still stand behind my argument that it's hypocritical to call it "Christmas" if "Christ" isn't a part of the celebration, I never once implied that there isn't a spirit of love and sharing in the way most people choose to celebrate.

As I said earler, though, some people see the holiday as an opportunity for an orgy of greed gluttony, and commercialism.

Just yesterday, there was a discussion going on where I work, and one of the guys was talking about how Christmas is so awesome because he gets to see his whole family, and they pretty much spend the whole time getting wasted.

That's not a "Christmas" celebration, in my opinion. It's a winter celebration, and I'm sure it's a lot of fun with a family together having fun, but in my opinion, it's certainly not "Christmas".