Non-Christians Celebrating Christmas

[Boozy]

We're going to give crashhelmet the benefit of the doubt. Let's allow him time to come back and clarify who he meant by "these people". I'm sure he did not mean you or any other member specifically, since personal attacks are against the site rules.

[Kalli]

I feel it's hypocritical as well. ESPECIALLY if it's someone that gets all butt hurt when someone says "Merry Christmas" to them. ... how many of you that claim it's okay for you to celebrate Christmas go apeshit when some cashier or customer wishes you a Merry Christmas?

This is absolutely absurd! What on earth makes you think we would do that? Obviously we like Christmas, or we wouldn't be celebrating it now, would we?

Not only are these people hypocrites, but they're also obviously selfish and self-centered as they celebrate the holiday out of greed and convenience.

Now, hang on a sec. What about celebrating the holiday out of love and excitement for something that brings me in touch with the innocence of my childhood, brings me together with my family, allows me to celebrate festive, fun meals and rituals and is generally a fantastic time? What exactly do you mean by greed and convenience?

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.

[Boozy]

I mean, I've met idiots who claim to be offended by the sight of a Christmas tree display. Because they don't celebrate, they are offended.

Christmas trees are non-religious enough that I think people are crazy to be offended by the mere sight of them.

But people who get upset about nativity scenes in their public courthouses (just to throw out an example) have a point.

It depends on how religious the display is and where it is located.

That makes about as much sense as me being offended by the sight of a pair of men's extra large jeans because I don't wear men's extra large jeans.

I only find extra-large men's jeans offensive when I see them on a plumber who should have bought the double XL.

[kiwi]

Why do people have to get all upset over how other people choose to celebrate? [snip]I don't use up my emotions on such silliness.

100% totally agree there. I don't understand it at all myself, espeically as Dec 25th or "christmas" is totally misappropriated holiday anyway.
To take a line from my "theme" song "go ahead with your own life, leave me alone".

[AdminAssistant]

I just don't understand. To me...Christmas, heck, the entire holiday season, is just Christmas trees and Santa Claus and baby Jesus and presents and family and.....It's just happiness, y'know? Why do people have to get all upset over how other people choose to celebrate? It's like people who get mad about Kwanzaa. Why? It doesn't affect me. Ditto with Hanukah, Ramadan, Winterval.....It's your celebration, why would I even care? I don't use up my emotions on such silliness.

Then again, I am of the general opinion that as long as you are not causing detriment to others, you can do/believe whatever you gosh darn well please.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I'd say we have equal number of hard core Christians who get offended when you tell them anything BUT Merry Christmas, and athiests and people from other relligions who get offended when you DO say it.

It's not even about being nice anymore. It's about making sure people are on their team and punishing them if they are not.

I mean, I've met idiots who claim to be offended by the sight of a Christmas tree display. Because they don't celebrate, they are offended.

That makes about as much sense as me being offended by the sight of a pair of men's extra large jeans because I don't wear men's extra large jeans.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I feel it's hypocritical as well. ESPECIALLY if it's someone that gets all butt hurt when someone says "Merry Christmas" to them. How many of these people... how many of you that claim it's okay for you to celebrate Christmas go apeshit when some cashier or customer wishes you a Merry Christmas?
CH

Not in the slightest. If someone said "Happy Hannaka", I'd return it as well with a smile. The people who get butthurt over that are usually, in my experience, the hard core Christians who want Christmas to be all about them and hate any other belief systems or atheists celebrating it as well, rather than those who don't believe in god who celebrate Christmas. While it is true that there are hardcores in every group, it seems to be the hardcore religious who get the most bent out of shape. Like the people who bitched about Santa decorations in the Sunday School room at the local church. -.-

[crashhelmet]

I feel it's hypocritical as well. ESPECIALLY if it's someone that gets all butt hurt when someone says "Merry Christmas" to them. How many of these people... how many of you that claim it's okay for you to celebrate Christmas go apeshit when some cashier or customer wishes you a Merry Christmas?

Not only are these people hypocrites, but they're also obviously selfish and self-centered as they celebrate the holiday out of greed and convenience.

CH

[Slytovhand]

I would have thought some sort of records from the Romans about who they executed?? (given the thousands they executed through crucifixion all the time, no, I don't actually expect that - even if they did keep records!)

Someone's diary?

Oh, btw Flyn, if JC was real, and actually was the son of god with all those powers, what he did wouldn't be impossible... So, that sort of sets up a contradiction in itself, no?? Asking for a Jesus who didn't do miracles??

[Flyndaran]

Maybe historical evidence that doesn't also contain other impossibilities and contradictions?

[Ree]

I've heard that before... but what evidence, exactly, would you expect there to be?

Little baby booties embroidered with the name, Jesus?

[HYHYBT]

I've heard that before... but what evidence, exactly, would you expect there to be?

[Flyndaran]

Though, just to consider another point, I don't think there's much doubt that there was a Jesus or at least a Jesus-like person who lived in the Middle East approximately 2,000 years ago. I guess a non-Christian could just think of it as a celebration of the birth of a very influential man, even if they didn't see him as divine.
...

Actually there is very little real evidence that a single individual Jesus existed. If this guy wasn't the center of a religion, no one would consider the scant evidence as in any way remotely conclusive of existence. He was most likely a sort of retconning for the nascent christianity to create a unified leader out of the multitudinous outgrowths of judaism that eventually became christianity. They made this guy, so he could fulfill all the prophesies set forth by judasim, and other miracles that gods of the day did. Virgin births were a dime a dozen back then for example.

[Fryk]

Right on, Kali! That's what I was trying to say. None of this rises to the definition of the word hipocrisy, which gets bandied about far too often, whether or not the situation fits it.

[Ree]

Personally I feel that it is a sucky thing to just remember Jesus on two days of the year.. the day he was born and the day he rose.

How is it any more sucky than honouring a wedding anniversary or birthday, or having one day out of the year to honour Mothers and Fathers?

Just by having that special day, it doesn't mean that, on the other 364 days, the marriage isn't important, the birthday person isn't any less valuable, or Mothers and Fathers aren't any less deserving of respect.

These are just 2 days out of the year that started as a recognition of the life of Christ. I don't think it was ever the intent to only recognize Christ on those days, and on the rest of the year, to just do whatever.
Unfortunately, though, the focus did start to become more on the fun and secular stuff and the holiday did lose its original meaning.