Charlie WRXSTI

Christmas is mainly quite depressing for me as my brother died shortly after christmas 15 years ago..... I don't do pressies and I often just go down the pub and get drunk with my mates!!

I have dinner at home with my parents on Christmas day but thats about it

Don't believe in god or gods, doesn't make me a bad person

Bug Eyed Peas

I have mixed views on this. Christmas? To celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A special child is born every minute, to his/her parents. Why should this be anything different?? Flamesuit on
Christmas is just all an overrated shopping spree where honest people just want the best for their kids and so fore go and spend a fortune on them. High street retailers must rub their hands with glee at this time of year. I for one as a parent aren`t condoning Xmas in the least at all. Its just, it just seems to come earlier every year. I know that companies have to make their margins etc, but stop shoving it up our noses in September
Christmas is what you want to make of it, love it or hate it.
Sorry for the rant.
Anthony
P.S Santa, can I have a Scalextric?

_RIP_

And Christmas probably brings more misery to those that cannot afford it, get into debt because of it, have no family, are homeless, come from broken homes etc etc. Oh, and the Wizard of Oz is **** and I doubt the selfish brats would be happy if all you give them is a sock with a tangerine in it and no Xbox. Bah humbug

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Hmm stop being devil's advocate you!

ScoobLou

iTrader: (21)

Well I love Christmas

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Good I'm glad someone appreciates the Christmas spirit.

Bug Eyed Peas

I`ll be enjoying some after the spirits have worked their magic, fingers crossed

Anthony

Apparition

Yule be sorry !
Yve

Maz

iTrader: (34)

One doth live in hope.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

I'm almost wanting to sing Christmas carols with all this talk of Christmas! Tis the season to be jolly tra lala la la......

Bug Eyed Peas

Deck the halls. . . . . . with loads of new toys for my Scoob

Anthony

lozgti

In Birmingham near Selfridges last year exactly the same thing.Shopping centre was heaving to claustraphobia point.Hate shops at the best of times

The only space was a nice clearing created by the Salvation Army playing the festive stuff and about three of us listening.Very Christmassy

Summed it all up for me though watching the chaos in the background

Leslie

It is important that we are all entitled to follow our own beliefs as our consciences dictate, whether it be religious or atheist or whatever as long as it does not cause adverse problems for others.

We are supposed to live in a tolerant society, so why do so many atheists feel it is necessary to denigrate those who believe in a religion. How many times do you see the opposite happen with criticism of atheists by the religious fraternity? Why are atheists so touchy and unpleasant towards those who are religious?

How about winding your necks in and practising the good old British principal of "Live and let live" That is one of the good things this country was famous for.

Yes it is true that Christmas is celebrated at around the time of the old pagan winter festival. So what, it was instituted by a majority of the people at the time who felt that this time of the year was the best time to have a religious appreciation of God and what he did for the people of the world. I see no harm in that. If you want to have a pagan festival as well-go right ahead. But don't try to ban Christmas in what still is a Christian country.

Better by far if you just get on with your atheism and stop the direct criticism and innuendo about those who are doing you no harm whatsoever and who are not going to bother you either.

Les

OllyK

Frequently, far too damn frequently, people trying to force their views down my throat, telling me I'll burn in hell for all eternity. Asking why I hate god so much. Try it Les, tell a few people you are an atheist and see how you get treated.

When the religious do so, I'll be happy to do the same.

Wasn't aware that anybody was, I'd like to see the commericalisation banned till the first of Dec though!

If they aren't bothering me why do they knock on my door demanding I listen to their message, why do they knock on my door demanding money, why do the harrase me in the street expecting me to be happy and join in with their festival? Atheists are very much in the minority, some of us just push back a little in the hope that the religious may actually do some naval gazing and realise that they DO bother other people and they do force their views upon others.

Fantom

Also that fact that to be religeous you have to actually be mental in the head.

Christmas is just a good idea, it has no other significance to me.

Geezer

People can believe whatever they want Les, I have no problem with it. I just find it hard to bleieve that people can believe such a weak ,contradictory story, but like you say, live and let live.

There is nothing wrong with getting a healthy debate on the matter though.

I don't think Atheists get concerned when you question them, everything they say can be backed up, and to a certain extent, re-created by expeirment for the doubters.

I certainly am not touchy about it, but it is just so frustrating to ask perfectly logical questions, and get such refusals to answer them, or get an answer that does not invole the phrase "I have faith" or "it's Gods way" etc.

You don't damn me to eternal damnation personally, but just by believing in God and the bible, you are subscribing to that thought process. If you do not, then you do not believe in the teachings of the bible, so why believe at all?

I think it's fair to say that on the whole, atheists give less grief to theists than the other way round. Like OllyK says, I don't ever remember an aheist knocking on my door and asking me to accept Einstein into my life, or give money to fund a new space station

Geezer

Fantom

Perfectly worded Geezer

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

However

PMSL

Jerome

Les,

I usually find myself in agreement with your posts. You are the voice of common sense and I believe you to be a man of great moral fibre.

However, I'm not aware of believers being harrangued by atheists, neither on the street, nor in the media. Even this thread could hardly be considered that bad compared to some of the religious threads on SN. I wish I could say the same for the Jehovah's Witnesses and Quakers (amongst others) that have given me grief for being a non-believer over the years.

Although I don't believe, I have a significant respect for religion and peoples beliefs. In fact, RE was one of my best subjects at school simply because I find it very interesting. Most of our laws are derived from the 10 commandments, which has served society well over the centuries.

Who was advocating the banning of Christmas anyway? I think people want the media and retail crap that has hijacked Christmas banned, but not the festival itself. Many of the non-christian people I've worked and socialised with, do not want Christmas banned. In fact most of them appreciate a bit of extra time off work. In Canada though, everyone wishes people a "Happy Holidays" for fear of upsetting non-christians. This PC gone mad IMO.

I agree wholeheartedly about the "Live and let live" sentiment.

lozgti

In 38 years Olly I have probably met 2 Jehovah's Witnesses and apart from that a mad chap in a shopping centre preaching from a soapbox suggesting people convert.Seriously.

Maybe you are seen as a challenge and a half or they have a bet on

Apart from that,no one ever forces their religion on me and I am very surprised at the statement.I do however get letters everyday from credit card companies etc offering me cards which does bother me.

I agree to with live and let live.I still see more vehment arguments coming from non believers than more laid back believers though.

Still think it is odd to try and have it both ways at Christmas though

Brendan Hughes

Depends on where you're coming from. You see it as a religious celebration with a bloody commercial aspect tacked on. They see it as a commercialised party with a bloody religious aspect tacked on. I don't see them as mutually exclusive.

Hanslow

I had a very good 45 minute chat with some religious believers who came round canvassing a while back. I was in an open talkative mood and we discussed each other's beliefs (well, my general lack of). I never felt I was being converted, and I was pleased that they listened to my opinion and point of view. They did say they would come back, but never did. They were very pleasant and came across as generally 'nice'.

I do wish sometimes though that when you open the door, that they would say "I'm so and so from so and so and wish to talk to you about whatever, would you be willing to talk to us for x minutes", and if I politely say "no thankyou", smile politely, thank me anyway, and move along on their way. Too many I have found start straight into a pitch not giving you much opportunity to be polite and let them know if you are busy, have the time to talk, or just don't want to.

I've nothing against them particularly, but sometimes it does bug me if I'm not in the mood for strangers visiting, and I do wonder why they feel the need to convert me. I know where the local church is, if I feel the need, I will turn up.

If it's your bag then fine, I think what is running through a lot of these threads is the need to impose their thoughts and beliefs door to door, making you feel like they are encroaching on your territory and putting you on the back foot.

Geezer

Yup, the way I see it is that people like Les don't push it down your throat, nor most people on here.

But, this is a discussion forum, so it's slightly different.

I don't think for one mionute that Les ot Lotzgi or whoever would try and shove it down my throat were we to meet outside of here, and I would not do it either.

I do however think that generally on the outside on forums like this, theists tend to be more pushy about their beliefs than atheists.

So there

Geezer

AudiLover

If you belive in jesus being white, and there being a existence of a god you are a fcukin moron. Use yur brain, put it into gear, and use some common sense. There is no such thing as a god.

wez_sti

Sounds bad but I do generally think when I meet someone and they believe in God they are either Naive, gullible, dum or all of these...

Got handed a leaflet at the train station saying Bananas prove there is a God as they are such a perfectly formed food, good for you, the right size, are yellow when they're ready, black when they're out of date etc..

I think Atheists are just baffled why apparently intelligent people are willing to believe in something so ridiculously far fetched based on an inaccurate book over 2 thousand years old...

Do they not think there beliefs are more to do with where they were bought up and by whom rather than just happening to believe in the same God as their parents/teachers...?

Never understood how someone can say, right I’m Catholic, this is my God, Seeks, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists etc... have all got it wrong, lucky I was born to a Catholic family eh...

To me believing in God is as sensible as believing David Copperfield can actually fly...actually less sensible as I actually know David Copperfield exists! (well fairly certain!)

Not having a go, just airing my views....


Wez

speedymonkey

Christmas is top, office parties, turkey comin out ur ears, christmas pud and pressies
Like someone else said its a time to chill out from work, drink plenty and have a laugh with the family Im not at all religious, but its good old tradition and i for 1 love it
Have to say tho its ****e having to go back to work in the new year, long cold days and crap weather for ages (till holiday time in July )

Fantom

Couldn't agree more!!!

AudiLover

good post.

lol at seeks.

where is suresh that seek

Fuzz

WTF has God got to do with Christmas in the 21st Century...
Nothing but a media frenzy nowadays.

Good things to happen.
People feel the need to help the less well off all of a sudden.
Family get together.
One or two weeks off work paid.
Work pays for a meal and a **** up.
You get to cop off with the office tart.
Shops are open late.
Atmosphere seems "jolly"

Bad points
God botherers out in force with leaflets in hand and a money tin.
Town is rammed with blinkered "that's mine" shoppers.
Deadlines before the break.
Adverts for Christmas starting in September FFS !

Bored now, probably loads more if I could be bothered to think.


Andy

Trout

iTrader: (1)

God is a conundrum.

God is faith

Faith is not tangible

If there were ever to be proof of God then it would be tangible

So there would be no faith

Then God would not exist


So the only thing you can do to prove God does not exist is to prove he does exist and then Murphy's Law kicks in followed closely by Occams Razor.

Rannoch