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Discussion: Why do atheists celebrate Christmas...
Member Since: 7/23/2010
Posts: 6,705
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Quote:
Originally posted by Grumpy Gills
A better question is why do Christians celebrate a pagan holiday jesus wasn't even born in December
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Before Christ, the world was essentially pagan. There were too many pagan holidays that it would be impossible to schedule a Christian holiday on a day without a pagan holiday.
The original intent of selecting December 25 to be Christmas was to take over the holiday from the pagans, to set back paganism and make their conversion to Christianity easier. And it worked.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 5,905
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Quote:
Originally posted by Matthew
But for those of you saying it's not about religion now, it really still is. There's just a lot of atheists that don't want to acknowledge such references. Some athiests don't even understand why it's called Christmas
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To say that it's not really a religious holiday now obviously acknowledges the references. All people are saying is, at no point during the standard Christmas observation is it even necessary to think of religion. You get a nice lengthy vacation from school, a day off work (or holiday $$$), or stay in and have bonding time with your family (which we so rarely get as we get older), buy and give presents, decorate a nice tree, and maybe eat a nice dinner. If Christmas was something you had to celebrate in a church, maybe less people would do it.
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Member Since: 9/6/2012
Posts: 46,465
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Even if Jesus was real (which we have no proof of), we don't know if he was the son of God (another no proof-based theory). Too much ifs tbh. But I digress, Christians are believers and celebrate Christmas for their belief. Non christians just do it for the togetherness or joyous spirit of it.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 23,375
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If there's no proof then why do scholars of history all agree that he was a jewish rabbi
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Member Since: 7/23/2010
Posts: 6,705
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Quote:
Originally posted by Kavish
Even if Jesus was real (which we have no proof of), we don't know if he was the son of God (another no proof-based theory). Too much ifs tbh.
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Jesus' existence is a universally accepted historical fact.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historicity_of_Jesus
Him, being a Son of God, is a matter of faith.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 23,375
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Quote:
Originally posted by fabbriche
Before Christ, the world was essentially pagan. There were too many pagan holidays that it would be impossible to schedule a Christian holiday on a day without a pagan holiday.
The original intent of selecting December 25 to be Christmas was to take over the holiday from the pagans, to set back paganism and make their conversion to Christianity easier. And it worked.
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That was rhetorical
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Member Since: 4/25/2011
Posts: 41,661
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Quote:
Originally posted by Sam Jay
So the bible says.
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You think he's fictional? The Bible and the Quran detail his existence.
He's depicted differently. In the Bible as the son of God, In the Quran as a prophet.
There's also historical evidence of his existence. You may call the Bible BS but Jesus existed and that's a fact.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 12,760
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Because I want presents hihi
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Member Since: 9/12/2012
Posts: 15,562
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Who would turn down free gifts?
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Member Since: 1/2/2014
Posts: 18,038
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I don't see what the problem is, didn't Jesus come into the world for everyone, atheists included? The day isn't exclusively for Christians because there were no Christians at the time of Jesus' birth. Of course I do agree that the holiday has been commercialized as well as glamorized, I mean the discounts on sales, special offers etc during the holiday and the mistletoe, the christmas tree, the lights and decorations.
The holiday as mentioned is obviously no longer just a religious day but a cultural event where billions of people throughout the world participate in, knowingly or unknowingly.
It should also be noted that there is no Christmas day given in the bible unlike other holidays like the Pentecost and the Passover, Christmas has always been a secular event from day one.
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Member Since: 11/4/2010
Posts: 34,287
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Quote:
Originally posted by IsidoraMarí
Why do Christians Celebrate Santa, Rudolph and Frosty instead of Jesus?
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Basically.
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Member Since: 4/4/2014
Posts: 1,474
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Christmas might be worldly known as a Christian holiday, but actually it was originally a Pagan holiday/sabbatt. Even if people celebrate Christmas, it doesn't necessarily mean they're celebrating christ. It's now mostly just a special occasion spent with loved ones.
It's also a time to celebrate Taylor Swift, whose birthday is 12 days before Christmas.
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Member Since: 4/4/2014
Posts: 1,474
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Quote:
Originally posted by fabbriche
Before Christ, the world was essentially pagan. There were too many pagan holidays that it would be impossible to schedule a Christian holiday on a day without a pagan holiday.
The original intent of selecting December 25 to be Christmas was to take over the holiday from the pagans, to set back paganism and make their conversion to Christianity easier. And it worked.
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Yep this.
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Member Since: 10/22/2010
Posts: 3,722
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Quote:
Originally posted by Alejandrawrrr
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I agree with this statement.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 4,038
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Quote:
Originally posted by iHype.
It's become more of a cultural holiday, than religious now.
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Member Since: 9/3/2011
Posts: 22,014
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I get free **** and good food
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Member Since: 9/6/2012
Posts: 46,465
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Quote:
Originally posted by fabbriche
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You may not, but I find a difference between historical Jesus and Jesus (as we know him)'s existence. And since this is not a thread about that, I'm going to respect your beliefs and keep my theories for myself
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 8/1/2012
Posts: 27,547
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Christmas was originally an ancient roman festival called the Saturnalia, in which people gave out gifts to family members, and was used to boost morale during the hard winter times. Christinanity just adapted it, so technically nothing has changed about Christmas whatsover and Jesus was born around spring, no one sees sheep during winter
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 3,240
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No one actually celebrates it as a religious holiday + it's pagan anyway
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Member Since: 1/2/2014
Posts: 18,038
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Quote:
Originally posted by GoddessofLove
Christmas was originally an ancient roman festival called the Saturnalia, in which people gave out gifts to family members, and was used to boost morale during the hard winter times. Christinanity just adapted it, so technically nothing has changed about Christmas whatsover and Jesus was born around spring, no one sees sheep during winter
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Jesus was born in Bethlehem, I don't think there's ever a winter there to begin with but I agree with everything else
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