Whats everyones veiws on this? I know that most Muslims, Buhdists ect dont. However every Aithiest in my year at school does.

Why not, its a British celebration too

Christmas has moved on from the Christian aspect of it for most people ;; being a Christian country, its commonly celebrated in Britain which is why athiests celebrate it too - for most people, it's not about the birth of Jesus anymore.

Christmas is now commercial, not religious. Sad, I know, but true.

Its not really a British celebration. Its like a Christian celebrating Hannikah or a Muslim celebrating Easter.

Christmas as we know it today is a mixture of many different cultures and religions, not just Christianity. I think atheists should be able to celebrate it as much as anyone because it's a festival of giving and receiving, love and understanding etc...

I don't "celebrate" anything at all...
I just eat a Turkey, open gifts and have a good time. Since most of the country is doing it, I might as well too.

But im not celebrating anything what so ever, eg. The birth of christ.

There's nothing most people do on christmas day, that they aren't allowed to do all year round anyway...for example, the turkey/gifts/drinks etc.

If christmas was more about performing sacred rituals, sacrificing animals, offering food to god etc, then id definitely say atheists shouldn't be allowed.

But christmas is generally just an excuse to receive presents, drink, eat good food and make your house look sparkly. Everyone has a right to do that.

Also, most "christians" are just selfish and in it for the gifts anyway, especially those under 18 and living with their parents. I don't think demanding gifts is remotely honouring Jesus' memory.

Its not bad, I mean, Christmas brings everyone together which is good

Yeah, Chewy, there are those benefits, but (as I'm reading EM Forster's "Howards End" at the moment) as Forster says:

"How many of these vacilating shoppers and tired shop assistants realized it was a divine event that drew them together?"

I think it's a very valid point; what is the point in sheer materialism? And the whole mentality of buying presents for each other, particularly friends, is stupid. The same goes for birthdays; the other day I thought "I have to buy (his name is Dan) a birthday present!" but stopped and then had one of my little philosophical moments, lol.

Why do we feel the necessity to buy something? People have said "Oh, it's nice!" and "Because it's tradition" - but if you just bought stuff for yourself on your birthday, instead of wasting money on other peoples', it'd not only save you money and hassle, but has just as much sentimentality.

Atheists claim that Jesus and God don't exist so why do they celebrate Christmas ? They shouldn't of course ! It's a religious day and as they aren't, they mustn't.

Im Atheist and I celebrate it. Who gives a crap if its about religion or not , or how commercial it is. Bottom line is that its a happy , cheerfull time of year.

I don't care really if other religions choose to celebrate Christmas. It's when people of other religions try to change Christmas that it infuriates me...

But you don't celebrate it for the good reasons. Everything is deformed now: people don't celebrate the real traditions, young people don't have any clie of what they are celebrating. This is terrible. Christmas is the day when Jesus was born, so why do atheists, muslims should celebrate it ? Of course they shouldn't.

Not if your atheist its not .

I make what I want of christmas. To me its just a great , happy time of year

But why do you celebrate a religious day if you are an atheist ? This is not logical at all. I know muslims people who don't celebrate christmas because they have their own day. But as you are an atheist you shouldn't do it, you don't belive in God so what does that mean ?
364 days left for having a nice time with your family.

Because I dont see it or consider it as a religious day. i just see it as a happy , cheerfull , great time of year , and I celebrate it for that.

I dont need people telling me if I can or cant celebrate a certain day.

Lol I knew you would have reacted like that. I don't give you any order, I said "you" but it's for all the aithiests you know. Anyway, for me it's illogical but good on you. At least you know my opinion.

St. Patrick never really banished snakes from Ireland but people celebrate it anyway just to have a good time dont they?

Religious or not , a season that manages to actually bring the world together in a small way cant all be that bad. Christmas is for everybody. Anybody should be free to celebrate it.

The question is, should Christians celebrate Christmas. I have corresponded with Christians who do not, because we are not authorised or commanded to celebrate Jesus birth.

Those are extreme christians. Of course christians have to celebrate it. It's like if Muslims don't celebrate their day.

I think the fact Christmas is held on a day when Jesus wasn't actually born, just about sums up how much credit people should give it for being a religious holiday...

It's practically the same as me holding my birthday six months early, in memory of me being born. Even though it's not the actual date I was born.

Would anyone buy me presents on that day? or celebrate my birthday with me six months early? no.

So why should anyone honour the true traditions of christmas on the 25th?
If non religious people turn it into a time of family/friends/presents, they're not going against anything religious.

It's a time for families to get together, take part in all the normal celebrations with presents, the Christmas meal and all the rest of it... I'm not a Christian but I enjoy the run-up to Christmas and Christmas itself. Only true Christian families celebrate the birth of Christ.

Plenty of atheists/people of other religions take part in it because that's a major part of what it's about these days, rather than treating it as a celebration.

I don't see christmas as a way of celebrating christianity, but a way of being able to show the people closest to you just how much you love them by giving them gifts and enjoying the unity you have over these weeks.

Everyone to there own, i have Indian friends who celebrate christmas and then we all join in with the celebration of diwali where we worship (excuse the spelling) Lashmia and Ganesha by lighting candles and lamps. It's a great way of integrating society.

I agree with retroman completely on each of his posts

Im glad you think the same Supernoodles...

Tanser_Man, do you believe in Lashmia and Ganesha? Or do you just take part in it because it brings people together?

Im not trying to prove any points or anything, dont worry. Just plain curiousity really.