Atheists at Christmas: Eat, drink and be wary

[Kadie]

Atheists at Christmas: Eat, drink and be wary

By PATRICK CONDON, Associated Press Writer Patrick Condon, Associated Press Writer – Wed Dec 9, 5:17 pm ET


MINNEAPOLIS – Angie O'Neill recently moved into a new apartment complex for seniors and she's trying to make new friends. But Christmas is a tough time of year for an atheist.

"All the planned activities at this time of year revolve around the church," said O'Neill, a retiree and an atheist for decades.

O'Neill sought an escape this week, joining a group of her fellow nonbelievers for a weekly "Atheist Happy Hour" at a suburban Mexican restaurant. The group, Atheists for Human Rights, is active year-round but takes it up a notch this time of year with a Winter Solstice party, a charity drive and good attendance for the weekly gathering at Ol' Mexico.

For one thing, it's a chance to share coping techniques during this most religious time of year. They range from the simple, like warning about certain stores that blare religious Christmas songs, to tougher tasks like how to avoid certain topics with certain family members. These atheists describe adjusting some customs to make them their own, like Nancy Ruhland, a pharmacist who sends out Christmas cards to friends and loved ones — but makes sure to find ones without a Christian message or subtext.

Even as they chafe at the omnipresence of Christmas, many of the atheists here are quick to stress their belief in the pagan roots of a yearly celebration near the winter solstice. Before Christianity and other organized religions, many cultures would mark the point where days started getting longer again with a "festival of light" that included parties, gift exchanges, even placing trees in homes. Some of those rituals were religious, but usually in a polytheistic way.

"What we're celebrating this year is the promise of the sun returning. That's S-U-N, not S-O-N," said Bill Weir, a retired marketing executive from Plymouth.


more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091209/ap_on_re/us_rel_religion_today

[MineralMan]

1. Lame. The atheists I know just enjoy the food and gift-giving and

pass on the Jebus stuff. I don't care what other people believe. It's irrelevant. I just like all holidays that involve eating and gifts.

[malaise]

7. That simple

We live and let live and avoid the Jebus 'business' literally and figuratively.

[JI7]

2. i'm an atheist who celebrates CHristmas and there is no church involved

[Toasterlad]

8. Seriously. People Were Celebrating This Holiday Long Before Jeebus.

I find christmas music very pretty, enjoy giving and receiving presents, love putting up and decorating a tree, and enjoy the seasonal eating and drinking. Why should I ascribe any religious significance to any of those things, just because other people do?

Christmas, like anything else, is what you make it.

[wtbymark]

3. Just another day in paradise....n/t

[KansDem]

4. Anyone up for "AHH?"

"Atheist Happy Hour?"

I was amused by the acronym; "Is it 5pm? Then it's time for AHH!" :beer:ahh!

[Bigmack]

5. No word yet from the Festivus or FSM people?

[starroute]

6. This seems kind of lame

What's the point of being a non-believer if you're going to spend your time obsessing about other people's beliefs? It seems like the worst of both worlds -- the obsession part without the faith.

Either feel free to participate in a spirit of good cheer in the quaint folk customs you see around you or just ignore them and get on with your life. But what's with this dithering over how to avoid hearing Christmas carols* or where to find the right non-Christmas Christmas cards?


* That's assuming the story is actually referring to Christmas carols and not to stores where they blare out "Here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus lane" 24/7. That's something *I'd* pay to avoid.

[comrade snarky]

9. Does this mean I have to take down my tree?

I just got the damn thing finished.

Better cancel my holiday party and plans with two families on Christmas day. Crap, what am I going to do with all these baking supplies?

Oh, wait... I forgot, just because I don't believe in funny stories doesn't mean I cant enjoy the holidays with my family. Whew!

[Raine]

10. Why sweat it,

they are getting their panties in a twist as much as the fundies do. I just enjoy the season, I don't care what other's believe or don't believe.

[FarCenter]

11. The modern Christmas is mainly an invention of department store owners and other retail merchants

Many of them were Jewish.