Forum Home Forum Home > Topics not related to music > General discussions
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - How do other atheists/agnostics view the holidays?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

How do other atheists/agnostics view the holidays?
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
mathman0806 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 06 2014
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 6830 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mathman0806 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 23 2019 at 18:32
Originally posted by Logan Logan wrote:

Speaking of Jesus and Santa Claus, when I was in Japan one of the malls had as a Christmas display Santa Claus on a Cross. Not sure if it was a joke in very poor taste or confusion. Bearded baby Santa Claus in a manger, okay, still weird, or had it been the Easter Bunny on a cross on Good Friday, then, okayyy....

Did it look like this?




I had to Google "Santa Claus on a cross" and this is one of the images that came up.
Back to Top
Catcher10 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: December 23 2009
Location: Emerald City
Status: Offline
Points: 17973 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 23 2019 at 17:04
Originally posted by Atavachron Atavachron wrote:

^ I'd like to think it was a joke in poor taste, as the Japanese seem pretty savvy about American culture.   Friggin' hilarious though, especially the baby Jesus Claus... or maybe Kris Christ.

I did giggle pretty good......honestly laughed pretty hard.LOL
Back to Top
Atavachron View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: September 30 2006
Location: Pearland
Status: Offline
Points: 65676 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Atavachron Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 23 2019 at 16:26
^ I'd like to think it was a joke in poor taste, as the Japanese seem pretty savvy about culture.   Friggin' hilarious though, especially the baby Jesus Claus... or maybe Kris Christ.






Edited by Atavachron - December 23 2019 at 17:08
"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."   -- John F. Kennedy
Back to Top
Logan View Drop Down
Forum & Site Admin Group
Forum & Site Admin Group
Avatar
Site Admin

Joined: April 05 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Status: Online
Points: 37422 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Logan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 23 2019 at 16:10
Speaking of Jesus and Santa Claus, when I was in Japan one of the malls had as a Christmas display Santa Claus on a Cross. Not sure if it was a joke in very poor taste or confusion. Bearded baby Santa Claus in a manger, okay, still weird, or had it been the Easter Bunny on a cross on Good Friday, then, okayyy....
Back to Top
Catcher10 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: December 23 2009
Location: Emerald City
Status: Offline
Points: 17973 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 23 2019 at 15:45
Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

^^ I don't have any surviving family or a partner either, so Christmas means nothing to me any more. I just treat it like any other day, alone at home again, naturally, to paraphrase Gilbert O' Sullivan. The good members of Prog Archives are my family now, which is why I'm here each and every day and I'm planning on sticking around for a long time to come. Smile

To me this sounds pretty sad (PA is ur family??), you should go out and experience real people (good or bad) does not matter. I am sure its not true but you make it sound like you are hermit.......When is the last time you got a haircut?? LOL
Christmas time can also mean a time to get together with other people and just talk and laugh....it's not 100% about Jesus and Santa Claus.
Go out and have some fun I say!! Clap
Back to Top
dr wu23 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: August 22 2010
Location: Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 20671 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote dr wu23 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 20 2019 at 10:52
Didn't see a Christmas thread..so Merry Xmas to everyone....only 5 days away.
If you aren't into the 'reason for the season', and I suspect most are not.....then enjoy the great holiday food, drink, and good cheer.
Thumbs Up
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin
Back to Top
SteveG View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: April 11 2014
Location: Kyiv In Spirit
Status: Offline
Points: 20617 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 18 2019 at 03:56
Ozzy Osbourne just released a new single titled "Under The Graveyard". Just in time for X-mas. Nice.
This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State.
Back to Top
kenethlevine View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Prog-Folk Team

Joined: December 06 2006
Location: New England
Status: Offline
Points: 9093 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote kenethlevine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 17 2019 at 09:12
Originally posted by HackettFan HackettFan wrote:

I do it for the cats. They wake me up first thing in the morning anyway. "Hey let's see what's in this box. Oh, look. Catnip!" "Okay, go roll around in the wrapping paper." "What's in this egg nog?"




Clap
Back to Top
SteveG View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: April 11 2014
Location: Kyiv In Spirit
Status: Offline
Points: 20617 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 17 2019 at 07:07
Originally posted by ExittheLemming ExittheLemming wrote:

I've never even remotely understood the idea that we are somehow obligated to others solely on account of us being related to them. Yes, I have family and relatives that I do love or at the very least, am very fond of but as for the vast remainder of my kin, I would gladly never see them again in perpetuity. We love people for the feelings they are able to produce in ourselves, and no other reason is necessary.

“They are playing a game. They are playing at not playing a game. If I show them I see they are, I shall break the rules and they will punish me. I must play their game, of not seeing I see the game”
― R.D. Laing
I don't know that it's so much an obligation as it's more a case of being forced into it. My kids and grandkids stop by and, generally, I'm happy to see them, but it's not paramount to making my holiday. Hanging out with a few old friends and downing a few drinks is much more to my liking. But as they say, you can pick your friends but not your family.
This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State.
Back to Top
HackettFan View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 20 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Status: Offline
Points: 7951 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HackettFan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 17 2019 at 00:21
I do it for the cats. They wake me up first thing in the morning anyway. "Hey let's see what's in this box. Oh, look. Catnip!" "Okay, go roll around in the wrapping paper." "What's in this egg nog?"
A curse upon the heads of those who seek their fortunes in a lie. The truth is always waiting when there's nothing left to try. - Colin Henson, Jade Warrior (Now)
Back to Top
Jeffro View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 29 2014
Location: USA
Status: Offline
Points: 2201 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jeffro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 16 2019 at 08:30
Also, I consider it a successful holiday season if I can make it through December 25th without hearing that stupid ass Dominic The Donkey song. 
We all dwell in an amber subdomain, amber subdomain, amber subdomain.

My face IS a maserati
Back to Top
Jeffro View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 29 2014
Location: USA
Status: Offline
Points: 2201 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jeffro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 16 2019 at 08:26
Not sure what category I fall into these days. Never had much use for organized religion but was raised Roman Catholic. I hated going to church every Sunday. Ironically, I enjoyed Christmas Mass, probably because of the music. I love Christmas music. O Holy Night is one of my favorites. 

I had an experience once as a teenager that led me to believe there might be some sort of higher power but I have trouble believing that it's what Catholicism wants me to believe that it is. 

Christmas to me is a time for family. Family is very important to me. 
We all dwell in an amber subdomain, amber subdomain, amber subdomain.

My face IS a maserati
Back to Top
Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: September 16 2019
Location: Nottingham, U.K
Status: Offline
Points: 43644 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 16 2019 at 01:36
Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

^^ I don't have any surviving family or a partner either, so Christmas means nothing to me any more. I just treat it like any other day, alone at home again, naturally, to paraphrase Gilbert O' Sullivan. The good members of Prog Archives are my family now, which is why I'm here each and every day and I'm planning on sticking around for a long time to come. Smile
 

I've always been a 'loner' and quite happy to spend any day other than Christmas Day on my own. At least now with decent streaming services you don't have to put up with the crap TV programmes and endless repeats of The Great Escape Tongue
I don't even have a TV license any more. I stopped watching TV about nine years ago when I first went online. I get all of my entertainment now from the Internet and from listening to CD's and watching DVD's. By the way, I just bought The Great Escape recently on DVD and watched it again for the umpteenth time. Smile
Back to Top
richardh View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 29585 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 16 2019 at 00:12
Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

^^ I don't have any surviving family or a partner either, so Christmas means nothing to me any more. I just treat it like any other day, alone at home again, naturally, to paraphrase Gilbert O' Sullivan. The good members of Prog Archives are my family now, which is why I'm here each and every day and I'm planning on sticking around for a long time to come. Smile
 

I've always been a 'loner' and quite happy to spend any day other than Christmas Day on my own. At least now with decent streaming services you don't have to put up with the crap TV programmes and endless repeats of The Great Escape Tongue
Back to Top
ExittheLemming View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: October 19 2007
Location: Penal Colony
Status: Offline
Points: 11420 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ExittheLemming Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 15 2019 at 05:49
I've never even remotely understood the idea that we are somehow obligated to others solely on account of us being related to them. Yes, I have family and relatives that I do love or at the very least, am very fond of but as for the vast remainder of my kin, I would gladly never see them again in perpetuity. We love people for the feelings they are able to produce in ourselves, and no other reason is necessary.

“They are playing a game. They are playing at not playing a game. If I show them I see they are, I shall break the rules and they will punish me. I must play their game, of not seeing I see the game”
― R.D. Laing
Back to Top
Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: September 16 2019
Location: Nottingham, U.K
Status: Offline
Points: 43644 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 15 2019 at 05:32
^^ I don't have any surviving family or a partner either, so Christmas means nothing to me any more. I just treat it like any other day, alone at home again, naturally, to paraphrase Gilbert O' Sullivan. The good members of Prog Archives are my family now, which is why I'm here each and every day and I'm planning on sticking around for a long time to come. Smile
Back to Top
richardh View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 29585 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 15 2019 at 01:35
Originally posted by Blacksword Blacksword wrote:

I don't like Christmas and have not really enjoyed it since my father died when I was 16. The holiday season means little to me, but a welcome time off work. We get the best part of two weeks off, so it's a chance for numerous lie ins and taking it easy.

I don't have any family so that aspect of it is fairly meaningless to me. We spend time with my partners family, and I've nothing against them, but I would rather it just be me and my partner and some friends every now and then. The concept of family is not something I really understand or appreciate as I don't have siblings or children and my parents are dead.
 

That's a bit of a sad story to say the least . It's easy to forget that many people don't have a family and this can be for a number of reasons. It's good though that you have someone special to be with . I know what you mean about spending time with family that you don't really know. Occasionally my Brother In Law will have his parents over on Christmas day and that can be a bit awkward even though they are nice.
On a personal level , as a confirmed batchelor of many years with no girlfriend (or kids) , I'm very lucky that I have such a nice Sister and can always be with her and her family around this time . She has 3 grown up children and we all enjoy each others company. Also happily our parents are still alive and together. Christmas day is a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to it. As far as the religious aspect of it I couldn't give two hoots. I'm just glad I can get away from the stress and pressure of work and have a bit of fun with the family. 
Back to Top
SteveG View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: April 11 2014
Location: Kyiv In Spirit
Status: Offline
Points: 20617 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SteveG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 14 2019 at 10:24
Originally posted by ExittheLemming ExittheLemming wrote:

It's 2019 yet they still celebrate this Christian death cult? (and why do we continue to count time from the speculative birth date of an individual that no-one can prove even really existed?) Confused
Well, it's hard to break with tradition. Be it fact based or not. LOL
This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State.
Back to Top
ExittheLemming View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: October 19 2007
Location: Penal Colony
Status: Offline
Points: 11420 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ExittheLemming Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 14 2019 at 04:25
It's 2019 yet they still celebrate this Christian death cult? (and why do we continue to count time from the speculative birth date of an individual that no-one can prove even really existed?) Confused
Back to Top
Davesax1965 View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Davesax1965 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 14 2019 at 02:56
Being from Macclesfield, I spend most of my time helping the other villagers build the enormous Wicker Man we use to deter tourists with. 

Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.633 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.