First Christmas as an Athiest.

Icehawk · Post by **Icehawk** » 2002-11-22 01:14am

Ive been thinking about this a lot recently. The past 19 years, My family and I have always gone to the church on Christmas eve for the service they have. But since I no longer follow faith or christianity, I am kinda torn on what to do.

My main concern is that If I don't go, it would likely hurt my family deeply. Even though I have already told them I'm an athiest, I wouldn't want to hurt them especially on that day.

On the other side, they should technically be supportive of me regardless of what I believe, and it shouldn't be a problem for them because its my choice and they should respect it as such. But still, I'm kinda leaning towards the choice that I should probably still go along with them, not for religious reasons but for a family bonding during the holiday.

What do you think? Has anyone else had a dilemma like this?

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2002-11-22 01:17am

Just suck it up and go, man. I'm agnostic, my dad's agnostic/deist, but we still go because being with the family is just more important that religious preference, or lack thereof in our case.

Post by **Vympel** » 2002-11-22 01:24am

I refuse to go. It's damn boring and a waste of time. Christmas' is about the Winter Solstice anyway (or summer solstice in Australia's case I guess hehe)

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2002-11-22 01:24am

My Christmas experiences as of late have not been so nice. My father asked me why I even bother celebrate Christmas if I am an Atheist.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2002-11-22 01:28am

I go every year just to be with my family..for all the religious worship behind it, I do it because of family and less out of whatever meaning some people feel to put behind it.

Besides I get all sort of goodies and free home cooking...and get to scare the beejeebers out of my mom and da by annoucing I'm probably(insert whatever shocking secret)

Post by **Vympel** » 2002-11-22 01:28am

Alyeska wrote:My Christmas experiences as of late have not been so nice. My father asked me why I even bother celebrate Christmas if I am an Atheist.

Depends on how you celebrate it. Christmas' trees etc etc of course have nothing to do with Christianity at all- it's purely pagan tradition. I certainly don't do much on 'christmas' day except have lunch and get/give presents. No religion involved.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2002-11-22 01:39am

I attend all Christmas functions. I just don't join in if somebody wants to sing religious songs, that's all.

You don't have to be a Christian to enjoy Christmas, also known as the Winter Solstice. It's been celebrated for thousands of years by cultures all over the world.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2002-11-22 01:41am

Hmm. I would go, just because it is something the family wants. Though I wouldn't do the religious stuff involved or even pretend to. I would stand when necessary though. However, I would also want them to do something related to atheism.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2002-11-22 01:44am

neoolong wrote:Hmm. I would go, just because it is something the family wants. Though I wouldn't do the religious stuff involved or even pretend to. I would stand when necessary though. However, I would also want them to do something related to atheism.

Most families already do. It's the part where they open the presents

Icehawk · Post by **Icehawk** » 2002-11-22 01:50am

Yeah, I think Im just gonna go along with it. Theres no harm being done, and I don't have to sing along or anything. It seems the more mature thing to do at least for the first year.

Most families already do. It's the part where they open the presents [icon_smile.gif]

Damn straight!

Damaramu · Post by **Damaramu** » 2002-11-22 01:52am

Christmas, hah!

How about a Festivus for the rest of us!

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-11-22 03:22am

My family hasn't gone to church on Christmas in two years. We just couldn't be asked.

Post by **haas mark** » 2002-11-22 03:26am

It'll be my first Christmas as a pagan...and I'll be spending it with a pagan friend out of town. Some worries here, because I assume my family will want me to go to Midnight Mass and all, and I will particularly *not* want to go. No worries here.

Sardaukar · Post by **Sardaukar** » 2002-11-22 04:56am

Damaramu wrote:Christmas, hah!

How about a Festivus for the rest of us!

Hahahaha
Now where's that aluminium pole?

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2002-11-22 09:51am

Vympel wrote:I refuse to go. It's damn boring and a waste of time. Christmas' is about the Winter Solstice anyway (or summer solstice in Australia's case I guess hehe)

I agree. Before I even thought of myself as an atheist/agnostic/whatever, I hated going to church anyway.

I still go to the funeral services, and I've gone with my mother to mass for the 1st anniversary of the death of any important relative (grandma, my uncle), but there's no way I'd go in Christmas or any other non-exceptional ocassion (Christmas comes each year, so in a way it's routine).

About being atheist, thought, it's not like I stood on some podium and yelled at the world: I am an atheist! but when somebody talks about God in any argument I do chalk it up to superstition, and say so.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-11-22 01:37pm

If, for some reason, my parents want to go to church this year, I guess I'll drag myself along. My dad and I usually just stand there and make fun of the priest, anyway.

But, if I'm in a bad mood, I'll just tell them I'm not going and leave it at that. However, odds are there will be lots of girls wearing their best Sunday dress there, so therein lies the dilemma.

GrandMasterTerwynn · Post by **GrandMasterTerwynn** » 2002-11-22 03:17pm

Icehawk wrote:Ive been thinking about this a lot recently. The past 19 years, My family and I have always gone to the church on Christmas eve for the service they have. But since I no longer follow faith or christianity, I am kinda torn on what to do.

My main concern is that If I don't go, it would likely hurt my family deeply. Even though I have already told them I'm an athiest, I wouldn't want to hurt them especially on that day.

On the other side, they should technically be supportive of me regardless of what I believe, and it shouldn't be a problem for them because its my choice and they should respect it as such. But still, I'm kinda leaning towards the choice that I should probably still go along with them, not for religious reasons but for a family bonding during the holiday.

What do you think? Has anyone else had a dilemma like this?

Haven't been to a Christmas mass ever. Religion was never a big deal in my family. In fact, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've been to church in the last two years.

- Wedding of a friend of mine.
- Funeral of one of the people in our neighborbood
- Funeral of a good friend of mine.

If it is a tradition your family cherishes, then you probably ought to go, because of the family bonding thing. If they've been going to church on Christmas yearly, they're not likely to understand or support your refusal to go. That kind of stress during the holiday season would suck really bad (as the holiday season tends to be stressful enough as it is.)

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2002-11-22 10:32pm

I have to go every year, and I don't mind, because it makes me more eager to open presents at home, and it's no different from any other mass, time-wise.

There's something more fun than making fun of a priest at church: Going around and telling kids that Santa doesn't exist.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2002-11-22 10:49pm

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi wrote:I have to go every year, and I don't mind, because it makes me more eager to open presents at home, and it's no different from any other mass, time-wise.

There's something more fun than making fun of a priest at church: Going around and telling kids that Santa doesn't exist.

What? He doesn't exist? And I'm only finding this out now?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2002-11-22 10:54pm

[Fundie]It actually takes more faith to believe there is no Santa Claus than it takes to believe in the possibility of Santa Claus. You anti-Santa people pretend to be logical, but you're really no more logical than people who have faith in Santa[/Fundie]

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2002-11-22 11:01pm

Aaagh! My eyes! The goggles do nothing!

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2002-11-22 11:01pm

There, there neoolong...Santa does exis...but well he's a man eating alien who preys upon your precious bodily fluids

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2002-11-22 11:11pm

Ghost Rider wrote:There, there neoolong...Santa does exis...but well he's a man eating alien who preys upon your precious bodily fluids

Great, that makes me feel so much better.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2002-11-22 11:19pm

Don't worry, Judgement Day is upon us, when the forces of Good will triumph over Evil, and in the final battle, Santa will face off with his unltimate enemy:

Ted Turner.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2002-11-23 12:16am

I always thought it would Bill Gates or Jerry Lewis.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

First Christmas as an Athiest.

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