An Atheist Christmas

[AAFitz]

I don't celebrate Christmas. I celebrate Jul, which happens to be an old Norse word. We have a tree in our home, an old Norse tradition. We give each other gifts, an old Norse tradition. We drink and celebrate, an old Norse tradition.

f*ck Jesus.

___
* =(f)ind happiness and enjoy a beautifully cooked du(ck)

Its an ancient Norse blessing I believe.

[john9blue]

The real irony of the situation is that as an atheist, you realize it is your responsibility to change the world and help its people, where as many a religious believer, simply leave it to their God, and in no uncertain path of logic, are obviously far less holy, than the atheists themselves.

how are atheists obligated to change the world and help people? who are they being held accountable to?

many of them are nice people and many others are not. but there's nothing about atheism that makes people nicer.

[Timminz]

The real irony of the situation is that as an atheist, you realize it is your responsibility to change the world and help its people, where as many a religious believer, simply leave it to their God, and in no uncertain path of logic, are obviously far less holy, than the atheists themselves.

how are atheists obligated to change the world and help people? who are they being held accountable to?

many of them are nice people and many others are not. but there's nothing about atheism that makes people nicer.

The understanding that only we, mere humans, have the power to affect the world we all share*, might be said to have inspired an atheist or two to be nicer people.



* for the most part. I mean, natural disasters, and meteors, and whatnot, aside.

[Army of GOD]

Very well put,I believe in the historical Jesus,as a guru,and as a messianic apopalyctic preacher,if only more Christians tried to live as Christ taught this world might be a tad better for all,..

DISCLAIMER: not all atheists are this moronic.

[oVo]

how are atheists obligated to change the world and help people? who are they being held accountable to?

many of them are nice people and many others are not. but there's nothing about atheism that makes people nicer.

Sorry john, but you continue to be hung up on stereotypes. As a Christian you seem to ignore the simple fact that people are people are people. Nice or not is rarely a condition formed exclusively by anyone's beliefs or lack of them. We are only accountable to ourselves for the choices we make.

I don't believe in Hell and I do believe there is no vengeful entity behind our creation. You possess the gift of Free Will and can make use of it how ever you like. Your God will forgive all races, all nationalities, all beliefs or lack of them, all horrendous transgressions against others and if there is an everlasting life in Heaven? We will all be there.

Sometimes I think there is no Heaven above or Hell below, because quite simply they already exist right here. If you look closely at the world around you --globally and locally-- you will probably find examples of both.

btw... just for the record, there's nothing about Christianity that makes people nicer.
Anyone is capable of being a self centered asshole and faith doesn't fix that flaw.

[chang50]

Very well put,I believe in the historical Jesus,as a guru,and as a messianic apopalyctic preacher,if only more Christians tried to live as Christ taught this world might be a tad better for all,..

DISCLAIMER: not all atheists are this moronic.

Complex,nuanced ideas go right over your head,don't they?On second thoughts you probably have difficulty with simple ones as well.
Look,you can keep this stupid vendetta up if you like but you will lose,on your own you just ain't got the ammunition,believe me,son.

[CreepersWiener]

Did Jesus poop?

[Army of GOD]

Very well put,I believe in the historical Jesus,as a guru,and as a messianic apopalyctic preacher,if only more Christians tried to live as Christ taught this world might be a tad better for all,..

DISCLAIMER: not all atheists are this moronic.

Complex,nuanced ideas go right over your head,don't they?On second thoughts you probably have difficulty with simple ones as well.
Look,you can keep this stupid vendetta up if you like but you will lose,on your own you just ain't got the ammunition,believe me,son.

No, shut the f*ck up.

One reason why I hate identifying with atheists is because a lot of them have the same thought process that a lot of Christians do (specifically Christians only because I only know Christians).

You are so far up your own ass that your take a cheap shot at Christians while atheists go completely unscathed. Stalin and Mao surely were peaceful and nice people, right?

I know you guys will never admit it, but neither you nor the belief group you're a part of (this just in: atheism is a belief [I'm an atheist]) is perfect. Instead of taking potshots at groups that oppose your own worldview, try attacking your own group as well as all of the others. One reason why I respect Symmetry and Haggis more is because they're not the aggressive "Christians suck" atheists like you are.

And I love how this, to you, is about me not being able to understand simple ideas. If I wanted to read unintelligible garbage, I would've had a conversation with the poop I just took.

Seacrest out.

[chang50]

Very well put,I believe in the historical Jesus,as a guru,and as a messianic apopalyctic preacher,if only more Christians tried to live as Christ taught this world might be a tad better for all,..

DISCLAIMER: not all atheists are this moronic.

Complex,nuanced ideas go right over your head,don't they?On second thoughts you probably have difficulty with simple ones as well.
Look,you can keep this stupid vendetta up if you like but you will lose,on your own you just ain't got the ammunition,believe me,son.

No, shut the f*ck up.

One reason why I hate identifying with atheists is because a lot of them have the same thought process that a lot of Christians do (specifically Christians only because I only know Christians).

You are so far up your own ass that your take a cheap shot at Christians while atheists go completely unscathed. Stalin and Mao surely were peaceful and nice people, right?

I know you guys will never admit it, but neither you nor the belief group you're a part of (this just in: atheism is a belief [I'm an atheist]) is perfect. Instead of taking potshots at groups that oppose your own worldview, try attacking your own group as well as all of the others. One reason why I respect Symmetry and Haggis more is because they're not the aggressive "Christians suck" atheists like you are.

And I love how this, to you, is about me not being able to understand simple ideas. If I wanted to read unintelligible garbage, I would've had a conversation with the poop I just took.

Seacrest out.

Thats the best you can muster?"Shut the f#ck up'passes for an intelligent critique of the atheist position?You are way out of your depth boy...Go away and read some books and then you can join an adult discussion.

[Army of GOD]

[nietzsche]

Relax you two. Remember Tom Cruise.

[chang50]

Relax you two. Remember Tom Cruise.

lol

[Aradhus]

Atheism is the best y'all. You guys just don't even know, this shit is wheelie good.

[BigBallinStalin]

I finally had one bourbon one scotch and one beer. It was good. I highly recommend quality specimens of each. I had buffalo trace, bowmore 18 year and by then the beer didn't matter so I had a Lethbridge Pilsner which oddly enough is now a lager.

I love 18yr bowmore, Have one in my cabinet but I foolishly chose the 10 yr glenmorangie which Im sipping now. Its fine and cheap..but it so cant compare.

I almost ordered a 25 glenlivet at an xmas party the other night too, but since I was crashing it...it just seemed wrong.

18 year old Bowmores certainly are the tighest

[AAFitz]

The real irony of the situation is that as an atheist, you realize it is your responsibility to change the world and help its people, where as many a religious believer, simply leave it to their God, and in no uncertain path of logic, are obviously far less holy, than the atheists themselves.

how are atheists obligated to change the world and help people? who are they being held accountable to?

many of them are nice people and many others are not. but there's nothing about atheism that makes people nicer.

That is the biggest problem of many so called believers and you are certainly showing yourself to be fully naive in this area.

I never said they were nicer, only, often, more responsible, and realistic and thereby more ethical than the believers themselves. Atheists are accountable to themselves. They are accountable to their conscience. They are accountable to their families. They are accountable to their communities, their countries and mankind in general. In fact, since they do not believe there is any supernatural force that will protect or help those people they are accountable, they very much must take it upon themselves to make the world a better place.

If you are only doing good in this world because you believe in God, and feel that you would stop doing good, and stop living by the principles of your religion, if you somehow stopped believing, or somehow realized God was a man made idea, then you are simply an evil person, devoid of actual good, and there is no doubt an actual God of Good, would be impressed. While you may think only religion and a fear of God inspires people to act passionately towards others, then you are simply wrong. In fact, since so many in religion act hostile to others that are of other religions, are often racist, and homophobic, I have found the atheists I know to live far more by the word and ideals of Christ than many believers.

Some of the worst things I have seen on these forums have been by believers, who posted them, under their veil of self-righteousness simply because they used some words in a book, and therefore justified them, instead of really using their human emotions to translate them, to see the real "light". I do understand it having been a believer for quite some time, how one can be clouded as you blindly follow arbitrary rules, and mistranslated text.

However, as an atheist, I am far more worried for other people, simply because now that Ive shed the idea of a great creator and protector, I fully accept that we are responsible for the survival of our race ourselves. Its much, much easier to hide behind the idea of a creator, and follow those few rules, and never be responsible for the actual path of the human race, but it is always easier for a child to just follow the advice of their parents and never think for themselves. Its why children are children, and men are men.

[john9blue]

The real irony of the situation is that as an atheist, you realize it is your responsibility to change the world and help its people, where as many a religious believer, simply leave it to their God, and in no uncertain path of logic, are obviously far less holy, than the atheists themselves.

how are atheists obligated to change the world and help people? who are they being held accountable to?

many of them are nice people and many others are not. but there's nothing about atheism that makes people nicer.

That is the biggest problem of many so called believers and you are certainly showing yourself to be fully naive in this area.

I never said they were nicer, only, often, more responsible, and realistic and thereby more ethical than the believers themselves. Atheists are accountable to themselves. They are accountable to their conscience. They are accountable to their families. They are accountable to their communities, their countries and mankind in general. In fact, since they do not believe there is any supernatural force that will protect or help those people they are accountable, they very much must take it upon themselves to make the world a better place.

If you are only doing good in this world because you believe in God, and feel that you would stop doing good, and stop living by the principles of your religion, if you somehow stopped believing, or somehow realized God was a man made idea, then you are simply an evil person, devoid of actual good, and there is no doubt an actual God of Good, would be impressed. While you may think only religion and a fear of God inspires people to act passionately towards others, then you are simply wrong. In fact, since so many in religion act hostile to others that are of other religions, are often racist, and homophobic, I have found the atheists I know to live far more by the word and ideals of Christ than many believers.

Some of the worst things I have seen on these forums have been by believers, who posted them, under their veil of self-righteousness simply because they used some words in a book, and therefore justified them, instead of really using their human emotions to translate them, to see the real "light". I do understand it having been a believer for quite some time, how one can be clouded as you blindly follow arbitrary rules, and mistranslated text.

However, as an atheist, I am far more worried for other people, simply because now that Ive shed the idea of a great creator and protector, I fully accept that we are responsible for the survival of our race ourselves. Its much, much easier to hide behind the idea of a creator, and follow those few rules, and never be responsible for the actual path of the human race, but it is always easier for a child to just follow the advice of their parents and never think for themselves. Its why children are children, and men are men.

it's indeed debatable whether acting nice due to fear of divine punishment even makes you a "good person" at all. i guess instead of "nice person" i should have said "do good things".

i would guess that the only reason atheists are more concerned with the survival of our planet/race is because they tend to be more intelligent. there's nothing about religion that makes people angry or hateful; religion is used as a vehicle for hatred that already exists. if there was no religion then people would find some other reason to be assholes.

[b.k. barunt]

Any educated person knows that Christmas is a pagan holiday that was recycled by Constantine when he merged the pagan and Christian religions and created Roman Catholicism. It's pretty much a time to celebrate with family and/or friends and has very little to do with anyone's religion. I think that basically the only thing an atheist misses out on is the hypocrisy of the whole thing.

[Symmetry]

Any educated person knows that Christmas is a pagan holiday that was recycled by Constantine when he merged the pagan and Christian religions and created Roman Catholicism. It's pretty much a time to celebrate with family and/or friends and has very little to do with anyone's religion. I think that basically the only thing an atheist misses out on is the hypocrisy of the whole thing.

Pretty much my view, although I kind of like the church services sometimes, even as an atheist. My sister was over from the US this year, and she really liked the church bells ringing in Christmas at midnight.

[b.k. barunt]

I must say i hate the church services myself and try to avoid them whenever possible. I follow the Lord Jesus now but i find Him in the Bible - the organized church has very little to do with the Bible. An odd thing about the churchgoing folks is that while they put in the obligatory comments about it being the Lord's birthday and all, they cancel any Bible studies or home groups for the holidays. Go figure.

[chang50]

I must say i hate the church services myself and try to avoid them whenever possible. I follow the Lord Jesus now but i find Him in the Bible - the organized church has very little to do with the Bible. An odd thing about the churchgoing folks is that while they put in the obligatory comments about it being the Lord's birthday and all, they cancel any Bible studies or home groups for the holidays. Go figure.

You sound like the type of religious person I have respect for..

[Army of GOD]

I must say i hate the church services myself and try to avoid them whenever possible. I follow the Lord Jesus now but i find Him in the Bible - the organized church has very little to do with the Bible. An odd thing about the churchgoing folks is that while they put in the obligatory comments about it being the Lord's birthday and all, they cancel any Bible studies or home groups for the holidays. Go figure.

You sound like the type of religious person I have respect for..

[thegreekdog]

Wait. I thought atheists all got together and toasted each other with bottles of scotch to discuss how intelligent and reasoned they were, while at the same time mocking Christians? Isn't that what atheists do at Christmas? At least, that's what I think my atheist friends do.

Or do they eat Chinese food and see a movie? Is that just Jews? Do atheists mock Jews? How about Muslims? Is it just Christians that they mock at their dinner party/scotch drinking/orgies?

You seem to have a lot of animosity towards atheists.

In any case, no true GOOD God would disallow His followers to drink a good scotch, so if you have the means, I highly suggest, picking one up.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. Regardless of their deep held beliefs, enjoy the day, and make the world a better place. That's really all its about in the end anyways.

I have no animosity towards atheists in general. I have some animosity towards certain atheists.

In other news - I didn't drink scotch, but I did drink plenty of beer.

[oVo]

Raised a Lutheran... Christmas Eve midnight services are the best
and IF I were to go? That would be the one. It has the best tunes
and vibe of any church gathering.

I do find Atheists preaching the intelligent argument about what they don't believe
as tiring as any Religious group imposing their beliefs on others.

the Week

[AAFitz]

The real irony of the situation is that as an atheist, you realize it is your responsibility to change the world and help its people, where as many a religious believer, simply leave it to their God, and in no uncertain path of logic, are obviously far less holy, than the atheists themselves.

how are atheists obligated to change the world and help people? who are they being held accountable to?

many of them are nice people and many others are not. but there's nothing about atheism that makes people nicer.

That is the biggest problem of many so called believers and you are certainly showing yourself to be fully naive in this area.

I never said they were nicer, only, often, more responsible, and realistic and thereby more ethical than the believers themselves. Atheists are accountable to themselves. They are accountable to their conscience. They are accountable to their families. They are accountable to their communities, their countries and mankind in general. In fact, since they do not believe there is any supernatural force that will protect or help those people they are accountable, they very much must take it upon themselves to make the world a better place.

If you are only doing good in this world because you believe in God, and feel that you would stop doing good, and stop living by the principles of your religion, if you somehow stopped believing, or somehow realized God was a man made idea, then you are simply an evil person, devoid of actual good, and there is no doubt an actual God of Good, would be impressed. While you may think only religion and a fear of God inspires people to act passionately towards others, then you are simply wrong. In fact, since so many in religion act hostile to others that are of other religions, are often racist, and homophobic, I have found the atheists I know to live far more by the word and ideals of Christ than many believers.

Some of the worst things I have seen on these forums have been by believers, who posted them, under their veil of self-righteousness simply because they used some words in a book, and therefore justified them, instead of really using their human emotions to translate them, to see the real "light". I do understand it having been a believer for quite some time, how one can be clouded as you blindly follow arbitrary rules, and mistranslated text.

However, as an atheist, I am far more worried for other people, simply because now that Ive shed the idea of a great creator and protector, I fully accept that we are responsible for the survival of our race ourselves. Its much, much easier to hide behind the idea of a creator, and follow those few rules, and never be responsible for the actual path of the human race, but it is always easier for a child to just follow the advice of their parents and never think for themselves. Its why children are children, and men are men.

it's indeed debatable whether acting nice due to fear of divine punishment even makes you a "good person" at all. i guess instead of "nice person" i should have said "do good things".

i would guess that the only reason atheists are more concerned with the survival of our planet/race is because they tend to be more intelligent. there's nothing about religion that makes people angry or hateful; religion is used as a vehicle for hatred that already exists. if there was no religion then people would find some other reason to be assholes.

Ill agree with you there. The question may then be would they get so many to follow them on their path to assholeness, and while its speculative, the safer answer is probably yes as Im sure most would unfortunately agree.

[john9blue]

but atheists tend to ignore both the positive effects of religion and the negative effects of a lack of religion.

not saying other worldviews don't do the same thing, but it's too idealistic. there's a reason religion has been a feature of many different civilizations across many millennia. and it's not because of people in a smoke-filled room looking to control the uneducated masses. religion benefits society.