God save our queen

Christmas long ago stopped being about Christ. I'm atheist and I celebrate it. It's such a cultural holiday nowadays that even some jewish people celebrate it.

I've actually never ever heard about this from anywhere else than on the internet. It could be because I live in Sweden though, and we're not really that religious...

people don't like being happy i guess

A lot of Christians get buttmad when non Christians say merry Christmas. How people even believe that this holiday was ever about Chris is beyond me, tho.

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Holy crap, it's not like they open up a new Bible class and force everyone to take it and learn about the Christian origins of Christmas in December.

If a teacher puts up a few lights and says merry christmas, get over it. I've never seen anybody say, "Hey! That student is an athiest! Let's exclude him from every bit of fun we have this holiday season."

Tl;Dr: Get over yourself.

I don't mean to say it shouldn't be practiced in public schools because it alienates me specifically- it's because it lends preference to once group of people over another. I can care less about the extent to which it's practiced or what group it is or anything like that. In principle, I personally find it morally incorrect to include one group of people (religion, race, sex, etc.) and not another in a public facility.

Not like the issue would lie in me being discriminated against since it's hard to identify atheists aren't preaching their lack of belief and even it that weren't the case I'd be about as intimidated being told I'd burn in hell for eternal damnation as I would be for a hippie threatening to punch me in my aura

So, what I got out of that, was that people who say Merry Christmas in public places are excluding athiests and other non-Christians?

Christmas is widely accepted as a holiday about joy to others and general kindness. Why does it bother you if people are happy about Christmas in public places? You're just as accepted as a part of Christmas as any Christian.

People inclusively saying merry christmas in public places is good imo, but having public schools or governments support a specific religion, even if only through the promotion of that religion's holidays, is not. The difference is that having a government that's tied to one religion or another conflicts with the good 'ole principle of separation of church and state, which is bad for a number of reasons. Just to name a couple, you now have one religion that unfairly is preferred over others, and you start equating religious principles with political ones.

"morally incorrect to include one group of people (religion, race, sex, etc.) and not another in a public facility."
I guess I should have worded that better. Not saying you can't say merry christmas while in a public facility (freedom of speech ftw)- I just don't think public schools and stuff should include one religion over another.

In public schools, the teachers celebrate Christmas. I understand your concern about people not feeling included, but Christmas is more of a red-and-green Santa Clause fest in school than a Jesus's birthday type holiday. I don't know if you live in America or whatever, but religion is kept out of public institutions to the fullest extent of possibility.

MOST PEOPLE IN AMERICA CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS. The government/people are not out to get you. You are not that important to them. Let people celebrate Christmas and stop being a little bitch about it. You know you don't have to celebrate it,but stop bitching because 9/10 people do. Marry christmas.

Regardless of my importance to US governors, the idea of separation of church and state is among the most fundamental principles of the US. Not including religious celebration in public institutions in no way impedes on people's rights to celebrate them independently. I'm not against letting people celebrate Christmas, in fact I'd oppose any oppression of people's freedom of religion. Without a problem I annually celebrate Christmas with my relatives, but when it comes to public schools and the like, there's no reason for it to be present- it's not a christian institution.

Also merry Christmas to you too ho ho ho!

yeah since atheism is just not belonging to a religion (or lacking belief in all religions- something like that), atheism isn't really a group per se, it's just the collective sum of all people not belonging to any religious group. so I guess what I'm saying here is that it's hard to make generalizations about people which aren't in a religion because that doesn't really describe the people, that just eliminates things that could describe them. There isn't really so much a thing as an 'atheist agenda', atheism isn't a group- everyone's atheist by default starting from birth. so I don't even know if all atheists have a problem with it, that's just my two cents

Just a quick fix. Atheism is not just not belonging to a religion. There are atheist sects of Buddhism. Atheism is the lack of a belief of a god.

Ah- thank you for the correction.

An argument on FJ where both sides are being logical and both sides are being thumbed up? I don't know what my emotions are doing right now!!

Christmas is a part of Western culture and society. If you don't believe in God, that doesn't mean you can't celebrate a thousand year Western tradition. I don't believe in the Easter Bunny, the Old Norse Gods, but I still celebrate Easter and Yule Goat/Julebukk. It's a part of the culture of my society and just because the tradition with roots from a Religion doesn't mean celebrating that tradition make you a member of it.

It's not like me wishing somebody a happy Christmas is going to kill them, force convert them or anything like that.

Yes, unfortunately. Around the U.S., there are a bunch of retards who just freak the fuck out when anybody mentions anything having to do with Christmas. For example, there are some people (I forget who exactly) who want to rename the Christmas tree a holiday tree. There are tons more examples on the news here in the US. It's quite fucking embarrassing.

In high school, I knew a kid that got in trouble for saying Christmas tree. The principal told him to say "holiday tree" because saying Christmas would offend people who don't celebrate it.

The kid is Muslim.

I really want to know what the kid's reaction to that was.

HAHAHAHAH...ohh, I hate this country sometimes.

I'm sorry the kid got in trouble but that is absolutely hilarious.

Wow, I'm sorry? Knowing that makes me kind of sad, I feel for you man, give me a hug.

Thanks, man.

Here in America some people want to make it illegal to say Christmas on tv

What makes you think it's the christian right fucktard anon?

It gives me massive butt hurt. I talk to people of all other religions in my school, Jews and Muslims mostly, and whenever I say 'Merry Christmas' they don't threaten to bomb a god damn church. When I call it a Christmas tree nobody smacks me a cross the face. Changing Christmas tree to HOLIDAY tree is like changing Menorah to Holiday Candles. No other religions have a problem with Christianity, even if it is mentioned a bit more in the US or favored if you think. It's a bunch of dick heads fighting a battle no one wants to fight except them.

In America anything you do is offensive. You can be forced to take down a nativity scene on YOUR property if it offends someone and they complain enough. Even if it's at a church. If you work at Wal-Mart or something similar, you say "happy holidays"; It's offensive to some to say Merry Christmas. Oh, and Christmas Trees? Yeah, we had those renamed to "Holiday Trees".

I don't like my country sometimes.

we don't have Christmas trees in the Washington state capitol building any more, it is a "holiday tree"

I'll call my property whatever the fuck I want it

^That one's more questionable.

^That's a lie!

^ that, we may never know if its a lie or the truth

So who's lying, and who's telling the truth?

He is.

It was done because the display is funded by tax payers and shows a clear religious bias from the government. Truthfully, I don't see much of an issue, but if someone doesn't complain, it could literally be kept up in later years because people didn't complain in previous years. This happened with a 10 Commandments display in Texas.
Things like Christmas trees, Christmas lights, and Santa, on the other hand, are pretty damn secular. Put those up instead.

can you please explain what happened ?

what shitstorms ?

Some towns have assholes Atheist groups that are trying to take down Nativity scenes from public areas, and Christians are being butthurt faggots that don't know how to fucking take call-outs like civilized adults.

It is a violation of the constitution, I don't know why Atheist groups get so butthurt over it and why Christians don't know how to admit they're wrong.

Butthurt Atheists and Christians aside, why is it a violation of the Constitution?

"It is a violation of the constitution," what is ?

Having religious symbols on display on public, government-owned property.

It's a violation of "separation of church and state" meaning the government cannot endorse any religion

"Separation of church and state" is not written into the Constitution or any American law. It comes from one of Thomas Jefferson's letters.

And I believe in the letter he was very vague about it, which is why there is so much argument over it. Because it's not a law

The constitution says that the US government may not favor or disfavor any religious institution or church. By funding a nativity scene with taxpayer money, they are favoring a specific religion, Christianity.

Nativity scenes on public property are not taxpayer-funded. The property itself is taxpayer-funded, but the scenes are put on display by private groups or individuals with permission from the local government. As long as the government does not show explicit favoritism to any religion when granting permission, these displays are Constitutional.

This doesn't mean there have to be displays from other religions alongside the Nativity scenes, only that such displays must be equally allowed should anyone want to put them up.

Ah. I was misinformed then. As long as the nativity scenes aren't funded by taxpayer money, I'm OK with it.

There have been a few times where religious displays have been put up in public schools so they had to take them down because of separation of church and state.

Public displays are the same thing.

This is what I came to the comments for...I was not disappoint.

Why are there not more people out there like you and me?

We can eat turkey and get presents for doing nothing.

Yes they are. What I think this joke is referencing is, everywhere in the states liberals are trying to make everyone more politically correct (which is horse shit) and banning everything that relates christianity to christmas (seriously). So now people are no longer allowed to say anything that might offend someone, like Merry Christmas or God Bless You. It's actually hilariously sad.

Christmas (Old English: Crīstesmæsse, meaning "Christ's Mass") is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ - Wikipedia

Atheists don't believe in God or Jesus. So why would they want to celebrate the birth of someone that doesn't exist in their opinions.

But its a cultural thing. Many Non-Christians still celebrate Christmas. This is probably to do with Santa replacing the Three Kings, and Santas Magic being more family friendly (For children etc)

Even if you don't believe in Jesus.....and don't celebrate the birth of him
I think everyone can celebrate some of the messages like love and friendship, peace on earth and good will towards man

Well said, random stranger on the internet

you too stranger

I'm saving this quote if u dont mind...that was awesome

um....ok

I wasn't against Athiests doing Christmas.
I was just pointing out that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the giving of gifts derived from the Three Kings. ( For galkawhm :Even though theres been arguments about Jesus being born in April, I don't know whats happened there. As for the decorating of trees, things have moved on: Christianity also forbids the cutting of hair and the decorating of the body (Piercings and tattoos etc) but people do that anyway.)

I agree with the love and friendship, thats what I was trying to explain though Santa replacing the three kings etc. (I did have something wrote down about the idea of giving gifts to commemorate friends and family but I was having problems wording it and deleted it)

Except Jesus was born sometime around April.

Also, Jeremiah 10:2-4 forbids decorating trees.

No, that warrants a death sentence according to national law.

in what Nation?

The Atheist Nation, of course!

yeah, even though I'm not atheist myself, I can't stand it when people say Happy Holidays.

yeah exactly. if they celebrate christmas great, and if you don't celebrate it, then why give a damn if someone wishes you well on it or not?

Sorry to hear about that. Anything I can do to cheer you up?

Nah. Nothing really can be done. Thanks, though. : )

Erotic massage?

It might be a little Takei, I hope you're alright with that

Hey, all because you can't enjoy a normal Christmas doesn't mean that others shouldn't be able too..............

here, sorry about your butt

says the faggot who's about to get $500 and a new i-product from mommy and daddy.

Op's favorite cereal.

"Pay for my own presents" Do you wrap them for yourself too? From me, love me.

Either you're a dweeby little liar, or the worst forever alone I have yet to meet.

Still a faggot, however.

**cerealisticbeing rolled a random image posted in comment #21 at maximumWANT **no I just buy what I want and use it, why the fuck would I wrap it if I bought it fuckhead.

"Pay for my own presents" I actually had to point it out to you again?

Kids are really dumb these days.

**cerealisticbeing rolled a random image posted in comment #22 at party memes **at least I dont write a goddamn paragraph about my butthurt tendancies from a fucking holiday of all things. you must be in you're 70's gramps, get a fucking wheel chair already and rot in a home

**cerealisticbeing rolled a random image posted in comment #140 at Well... it´s quite impressing ** fuck you too stranger

**cerealisticbeing rolled a random image posted in comment #2009730 at Item Discussion **

you should say 'in that case can you spare a moment for our lord and savior jesus christ..."

I'd reply with "Thanks for the thought, but I'm athiest.".. But nobody ever gives a fuck if I sneeze.

Same with me. No one likes me :D

Whenever someone sneezes. The whole class will say "Bless you"

Two minutes later, I sneeze. and not a single word.

achoo

Look down.

I know. I lied.

It's ok I still like you.

I've made this account mere seconds ago for the express purpose to reply and say that I am glad that made you happy and hope that things go better for you. Oh and happy holidays.

Thank you. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukaah(sorry if I spelled that wrong.) and happy Kwanza. (That too.)

Thanks, also I don't think you spelled them wrong.

god i wish i lived in canada

Well... I live in the northern part of Norway on a little island with no minorities on them, so we still celebrate christmas in school.
When it comes to our minority-politics; it's so fucked it's insane.