Non-Christians Celebrating Christmas

[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".

[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.

[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]

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.

[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".

[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.

[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]

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.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Futurama also has a scary robot Santa, remember?

Shall we call it Z-mas then?

[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

[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.

[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]

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?

[Lachrymose]

Shall we call it Z-mas then?

Then this guy can go around delivering presents.

[BroomJockey]

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