Merry Christmas

[xAtheistx]

How is this a struggle, you say?
The moderators ready their fingers on the move or delete options.

It's a struggle because I'm not going to have a Merry Christmas.
I don't want to have a Merry Christmas. I really wish you wouldn't advise me to have a Merry Christmas.
Certain people say that Christmas is now so secular, or unrelated to it's original cause, so it's "OK" for an atheist to celebrate Christmas. I personally of not of that belief-- but even if I was, I still wouldn't pay the day any more heed than October 2nd. (In case you're thinking that's a random day, you're mistaken. Another influential historical figure was born on that day. Look it up if you're so inclined.)

My Christian friends seem to despise the "Happy Holidays" greetings that stores have put up. Why? They're still wishing you a happy holiday. Is it that hard to appreciate a wish, even if it is less specifically oriented?
I still have a holiday that I celebrate in this time in winter. I call it New Year's Day. So if you give me a "Happy Holidays" nod, I'll smile and return it. I just can't appreciate "Merry Christmas" the same way.

~Just a struggle~

 

[janny108]

OK, words and semantics put aside, why do you think you are not going to have a good holiday/merry christmas/ etc. etc. no matter what name you give it? There are lots of things to be thankful for and we can count our blessings and ask God to help us with whatever we need.
Jan

 

[xAtheistx]

OK, words and semantics put aside, why do you think you are not going to have a good holiday/merry christmas/ etc. etc. no matter what name you give it? There are lots of things to be thankful for and we can count our blessings and ask God to help us with whatever we need.
Jan

Oh no, I'll have a happy new year. But honestly, I don't celebrate anything on December 25th. So how can I have a merry Christmas?
If you intend that I'll simply be happy on December 25th, why not wish me a happy week, month, year, or life? Do you simply like me only enough to wish one day's blessing upon me? I don't mind that--so long as there's adequate reason the day was chosen. There is no reason for me to choose December 25th as that day--it means nothing to me. "Happy Holidays" is very encompassing, so how could I refuse such a wish?

By the way, as I'm writing this I have 19 blessings. I don't need to count them, it says so right above this post.

 

[bethdinsmore]

So, happy holidays friend. And a wonderful life.

Aloha in Jesus

 

[OttawaUk]

I think people want to wish you a Merry Christmas because they love you. They're trying to remind you what Christmas is all about.

 

[thepianist]

How is this a struggle, you say?
The moderators ready their fingers on the move or delete options.

It's a struggle because I'm not going to have a Merry Christmas.
I don't want to have a Merry Christmas. I really wish you wouldn't advise me to have a Merry Christmas.
Certain people say that Christmas is now so secular, or unrelated to it's original cause, so it's "OK" for an atheist to celebrate Christmas. I personally of not of that belief-- but even if I was, I still wouldn't pay the day any more heed than October 2nd. (In case you're thinking that's a random day, you're mistaken. Another influential historical figure was born on that day. Look it up if you're so inclined.)

My Christian friends seem to despise the "Happy Holidays" greetings that stores have put up. Why? They're still wishing you a happy holiday. Is it that hard to appreciate a wish, even if it is less specifically oriented?
I still have a holiday that I celebrate in this time in winter. I call it New Year's Day. So if you give me a "Happy Holidays" nod, I'll smile and return it. I just can't appreciate "Merry Christmas" the same way.

~Just a struggle~

To me, what you have said is very sad, my friend. It's sad because I see that the free will our creator gave you is something you have used to disregard Him......and to me, that is quite sad. Then on a more secular side of things, it's sad for your children.....they will never experience the 'magic' of Santa...a terrible thing to take away from a child. May you, one day, find the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, is my prayer.

 

[mybodyismytemple]

To me, what you have said is very sad, my friend. It's sad because I see that the free will our creator gave you is something you have used to disregard Him......and to me, that is quite sad. Then on a more secular side of things, it's sad for your children.....they will never experience the 'magic' of Santa...a terrible thing to take away from a child. May you, one day, find the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, is my prayer.

Sorry if I seem rude because this is not intended to be a rude comment, but I don't believe xAtheistx started this thread becasue she wanted a "Come to Jesus" meeting. She was simply asking why Christians seem to take offence to "Happy Holidays". If you had made this comment to me, I would be quite offended. It is none of your buisness if she chooses it "take away" the belief in Santa from her children. If she was to raise her children in the right environment, they would be indefferent to Santa. If you are not raised to believe in something, I find it hard to believe you would think you were being deprived of that something. For example: I wasn't raise to believe in Hannukkah. I know plenty about Hannukka, but I do not feel that I was deprived of the Hannukka experience. No big deal. But what do I know?

-Sami

 

[heron]

Atheist, "merry Christmas" bothers me too, and I celebrate Christmas! It has turned into the thing to say when you don't know what else to say.

I wonder sometimes what "merry" is supposed to mean, and figure that it encompasses all the santa-reindeer-peppermint things that don't relate to Jesus' birth. We attended a church play one time where the kids had to say "Christmas is all about candy...."

? huh?

So if there are stodgy people like me who get cranky when there's too much fluff covering the religious meaning, then there should be people like you who say that this is not their religious holiday. You hold to your convictions. You are honest.

I don't think Ghandi would have appreciated a Black Friday in his honor.