Comments on: There goes Santa Clause http://atheists.org/blog/2008/12/14/there-goes-santa-clause A Blog of Atheist Thought Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:40:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: pixel http://atheists.org/blog/2008/12/14/there-goes-santa-clause/comment-page-1#comment-92384 pixel Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-92384 Well, I finally made it!! I'm back in the fold and a full-fledged member! I finally was able to log in. Sometimes I think I know what I'm doing with computers and sometimes I think I'm a complete idiot!!<br /> <br /> I am glad that the holiday most Americans observe at this time of year is a big mix of pagan/heathen/Christian/secular traditions. It's kinda like the American people - a big mix of a lot of traditions, languages, cultures, etc. Maybe we could think of a national motto that would reflect that idea - hmmmm! Maybe something like, oh, I don't know - E Pluribus Unum???<br /> <br /> :-) Well, I finally made it!! I’m back in the fold and a full-fledged member! I finally was able to log in. Sometimes I think I know what I’m doing with computers and sometimes I think I’m a complete idiot!!

I am glad that the holiday most Americans observe at this time of year is a big mix of pagan/heathen/Christian/secular traditions. It’s kinda like the American people – a big mix of a lot of traditions, languages, cultures, etc. Maybe we could think of a national motto that would reflect that idea – hmmmm! Maybe something like, oh, I don’t know – E Pluribus Unum???

:-)

]]> By: Anonymous http://atheists.org/blog/2008/12/14/there-goes-santa-clause/comment-page-1#comment-92389 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-92389 Today, thousands of people across the world helped keep Santa from being too dependent on Christianity:<br /> <br /> http://santacon.com Today, thousands of people across the world helped keep Santa from being too dependent on Christianity:

http://santacon.com

]]> By: atheistgoddess http://atheists.org/blog/2008/12/14/there-goes-santa-clause/comment-page-1#comment-92394 atheistgoddess Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-92394 Listen, I am new here and I do not want to ruffle any feathers... but being an Atheist and celebrating a holiday borne of religion seems like you do not fully embrace your belief system. It looks to me like my Atheist friends who celebrate Christmas are more Agnostic, or simply do not care. I've got 4 children and we not only do not celebrate christmas but they are aware there is no Santa. Wy teach your children more BS than is already out there? Listen, I am new here and I do not want to ruffle any feathers… but being an Atheist and celebrating a holiday borne of religion seems like you do not fully embrace your belief system. It looks to me like my Atheist friends who celebrate Christmas are more Agnostic, or simply do not care. I’ve got 4 children and we not only do not celebrate christmas but they are aware there is no Santa. Wy teach your children more BS than is already out there?

]]> By: NotSoFast http://atheists.org/blog/2008/12/14/there-goes-santa-clause/comment-page-1#comment-92395 NotSoFast Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-92395 Welcome aboard, atheistgoddess. Ruffle away. First Amendment spoken here.<br /> <br /> Now, to practise what I just preached --<br /> An atheist embracing a belief system seems to me like an oxymoron. And the Santa Claus tradition has evolved a long, long way from its religious origin in the tale of St. Nicholas. As Dave pointed out, it's a secular activity that anybody can share.<br /> <br /> It's still BS, of course. Santa is an imaginary supernatural critter just like the X Child. But not all BS is bad. Everybody likes to indulge in a little fantasy once in a while, and I don't think there's any harm in it as long as we don't take it too seriously. I look forward to the time when the whole Nativity shtick, the Resurrection, and all the rest will just be a pleasant children's game like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Welcome aboard, atheistgoddess. Ruffle away. First Amendment spoken here.

Now, to practise what I just preached –
An atheist embracing a belief system seems to me like an oxymoron. And the Santa Claus tradition has evolved a long, long way from its religious origin in the tale of St. Nicholas. As Dave pointed out, it’s a secular activity that anybody can share.

It’s still BS, of course. Santa is an imaginary supernatural critter just like the X Child. But not all BS is bad. Everybody likes to indulge in a little fantasy once in a while, and I don’t think there’s any harm in it as long as we don’t take it too seriously. I look forward to the time when the whole Nativity shtick, the Resurrection, and all the rest will just be a pleasant children’s game like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

]]> By: tony miller http://atheists.org/blog/2008/12/14/there-goes-santa-clause/comment-page-1#comment-92419 tony miller Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-92419 Why not celebrate Christmas?<br /> <br /> Trees and gifts can be fun. You don't have to teach Christian beliefs to enjoy the holiday. Call it a Winter Celebration instead of Christmas if the name is an issue for you.<br /> <br /> You don't have to include Santa but isn't it fun? As the kids get older they can Play Santa for the younger kids.<br /> <br /> Imagination is not always BS and I encourge my son to use his imagination every chance he gets. <br /> <br /> We enjoy Easter as well and could care less about the Holy Zombie aspect of it but decoration eggs and eating candy is fun. It's a celebration of life, fertility and the passing of Winter.<br /> <br /> Remember, a lot of the Holy Holidays come from Pagan roots. Look for the roots. Why not celebrate Christmas?

Trees and gifts can be fun. You don’t have to teach Christian beliefs to enjoy the holiday. Call it a Winter Celebration instead of Christmas if the name is an issue for you.

You don’t have to include Santa but isn’t it fun? As the kids get older they can Play Santa for the younger kids.

Imagination is not always BS and I encourge my son to use his imagination every chance he gets.

We enjoy Easter as well and could care less about the Holy Zombie aspect of it but decoration eggs and eating candy is fun. It’s a celebration of life, fertility and the passing of Winter.

Remember, a lot of the Holy Holidays come from Pagan roots. Look for the roots.

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