Happy Newtonmas to all...

[buggi]

Why is it socially acceptable that atheists think they can change the name of Christmas but they would never dream of saying I don't believe in Divali or Ramadan so I'll call it something else. so basically you can offend Christians but not Muslims or other religions?. Muslims and other religions respect it so why can't atheists? My Muslim, Hindu and Sikh friends take part and call it Christmas.

Stop calling it something else bcoz you don't believe in it. If you don't believe in it, don't celebrate it... like you don't celebrate Ramadan or Divali. Simples.

 

[winjim]

Why is it socially acceptable that atheists think they can change the name of Christmas but they would never dream of saying I don't believe in Divali or Ramadan so I'll call it something else. so basically you can offend Christians but not Muslims or other religions?. Muslims and other religions respect it so why can't atheists? My Muslim, Hindu and Sikh friends take part and call it Christmas.

Stop calling it something else bcoz you don't believe in it. If you don't believe in it, don't celebrate it... like you don't celebrate Ramadan or Divali. Simples.

You are making the mistake of thinking that Christmas is a Christian festival. Anyway, don't worry, we're only having a laugh. Nobody wants to do away with Christmas.

 

[Mark1978]

Its not like Christians hijacked a pagan/Roman festival (Saturnalia) or anything and called it Christmas...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

And an alchemist...

spent almost as much time study theology as he did science.

 

[buggi]

You are making the mistake of thinking that Christmas is a Christian festival. Anyway, don't worry, we're only having a laugh. Nobody wants to do away with Christmas.

It is. It may have evolved but its still a Christian religious festival and my point still stands. If you don't believe it you don't have to take part and if other religions can respect it then so should atheists.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

and of course neither Newton nor Jesus were born on 25th December. Newton would be a January baby under the modern dispensation.

 

[Spinney]

Stop calling it something else bcoz you don't believe in it. If you don't believe in it, don't celebrate it... like you don't celebrate Ramadan or Divali. Simples.

I don't notice Ramadan or Divali being the excuse for massive overconsumption (in terms of money, food and alcohol).
Not the fault of christians, but perhaps explains why more people complain about it.

 

[winjim]

It is. It may have evolved but its still a Christian religious festival and my point still stands. If you don't believe it you don't have to take part and if other religions can respect it then so should atheists.

I do take part.

 

[srw]

I don't notice Ramadan or Divali being the excuse for massive overconsumption (in terms of money, food and alcohol).
Not the fault of christians, but perhaps explains why more people complain about it.

That might be because you don't live in Turkey or India - or Leicester or Southall. Okay, Eid won't be celebrated with boozing (at least not openly), but it and Diwali are every bit as much an excuse for a party or a bit of conspicuous consumption as Christmas.

 

[Spinney]

That might be because you don't live in Turkey or India - or Leicester or Southall. Okay, Eid won't be celebrated with boozing (at least not openly), but it and Diwali are every bit as much an excuse for a party or a bit of conspicuous consumption as Christmas.

Maybe, but do they have Diwali/Eid decorations all over the supermarkets, play Diwali/Eid songs endlessly on the radio/supermarket/shop tannoys, have adverts on the telly aimed at selling lots of booze/toys/tat to celebrate Diwali/Eid?

 

[srw]

Maybe, but do they have Diwali/Eid decorations all over the supermarkets, play Diwali/Eid songs endlessly on the radio/supermarket/shop tannoys, have adverts on the telly aimed at selling lots of booze/toys/tat to celebrate Diwali/Eid?

I was in India around the time of Diwali this year, and the answer is - most emphatically - yes.

 

[Spinney]

Fairly nuff
But I still reserve the right to be grumpy exclusively about Xmas in the UK!

 

[winjim]

Christmas
Newtonmas
winjimmas
My mate Benmas
Humphrey Bogartmas
Annie Lennoxmas

Take yer pick. It's a great big festival to cheer us all up in the middle of winter, and to remind us that the sun's on its way back and spring is on the way. If you want to associate it with your religion then fair enough. Me, I can appreciate the sentiment of the Christmas story without literally believing it and I can enjoy the festival with my loved ones without buying into the rampant commercialism of it. I hope I can teach my daughter to do the same.

 

[machew]

Now where is that water that I'm going to turn into wine?

Cant do that, but I can turn Wine in to water

 

[GrumpyGregry]

It would still have been Christmas Day the day he was born.

But now it would be the ?4th? January. And we live now.