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December 6, 2005
Weighing in on the "War on Christmas". . .
As an atheist, I occasionally get drawn into discussions/questions about the "War on Christmas" debate which seems to raise it's head every year round about this time (go figure?).
I'm not a Mike Newdow atheist, screaming to high-whatever to have "In God We Trust" removed from money and I certainly don't advocate the elimination of the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States (and to the Republic for which it stands). I'm more of an atheist who realized long ago that there were significant failings with regard to the belief in a supreme diety, this led to an examination of most of the major religions and then finally a rejection of the concept of a God-construct in general. I'm more of a "common sense" atheist, who realizes that I'm part of a team, and that team just so happens to have ALOT of Christians on it. I like my Christian teammates and while I don't necessary agree with their God-construct, I don't begrudge them for it, I don't want to try and convince them of my views on the subject, and generally, I just leave well-enough alone and work on my own belief system about what's right and what's wrong.
BUT. . . invariably when the "War on Christmas" debate popps up, people ask for my position, as an atheist, on it.
So here it is. I DIG CHRISTMAS, I mean, I really, really dig Christmas. I like the cheesy lights, I like the fun, family oriented movies (although we don't have any this year *frown*), I like Christmas sweaters on chicks, I like getting Christmas cards, I like the idea of putting a dying tree inside my house, wrapping it in lights, and trying to keep it from spontaneously combusting for a month as it dries out.
I also like Hanukkah, and the concept of the "Hanukkah Bush", I like the idea of Kwanza (although honestly I have no real idea what it's all about), I like the idea of Christmas carollers freezing their butts off going door to door singing off key. I even like the rampant consumerism and insane traffic at malls and department stores. I dig the chaos of the season in general.
I also like the Christmas "spirit" that puts more smiles on peoples faces and the random acts of kindness from total strangers. I like the Christmas stories and their messages of peace, love and joy. I like mistletoe and eggnog.
Ok, so do you get it now??? I'm and atheist and I DIG CHRISTMAS!!!!!!
So what's the point of this post? Ok, well here it is.
When people ask me for my opinion on the whole "War on Christmas" thing. I usually begin by asking the following question:
ME: Well, lets see, hmmm, well, what would you call a Christmas Tree if you didn't call it a Christmas Tree?THEM: Um, well. . . . A "Holiday Tree".
ME: Well, you see, AS AN ATHEIST, I have to strenuously object to the term "Holiday Tree".
THEM: Wha Wha Waht?
ME: It's simple really, you see, "Christmas Tree" means a tree you put up for Christmas, which is a day. That day happens to be December 25th, and to some people, that's an important religious date, and to others, it's a day off from work and a good opportunity to hang out with family you normally avoid, BUT the term "Holiday Tree" means alot more, and what it means is offensive to me.
**At this point I have to be very careful, because there's a real danger of the questioner's head exploding.**
ME: You see the word "Holiday" means "Holy Day" and I'm atheist. I can't support a "Holy Day Tree" or a "Holy Day Anything" because I don't believe in the concept of "Holy".
So there you have it, and I'm not afraid to say it. Those that want to make issue of "Christmas" and choose instead to use the terminology "Holiday" are the most hypocritical of hypocrits in my book. Many of these so-called-atheists are merely attention-seekers or people pushing an agenda that they don't want to admit openly. So they hide behind a "multi-cultural" or "atheist" label and make proclamations that "Christmas Tree" or "Merry Christmas" should be changed to "Holiday Tree" or "Happy Holidays".
I'm sorry, but AS AN ATHEIST, the term "Holiday" is FAR MORE OFFENSIVE than the term "Christmas". Christmas means alot of things to alot of people, and it means different things to different people. For some it's all about Christ in the Manger, for others it's a Pagan Winter Solstice Festival, for some it's just a day off from work, and for others it's about a guy in a red suit who comes down your chimney and trades you a new bike for some milk and cookies.
But the word "Holiday" means "Holy Day", there's no other etymology for the term, and as a REAL atheist, I just can't support that.
So there you have an atheist's view on the "War on Christmas", now you can tell all those fake wannabe atheists and multi-cultural warriors to shut up, chill out, have some eggnog, love thy neighbor, be merry, wrap presents, smile and LEAVE CHRISTMAS ALONE!
--Jason
UPDATE: Welcome, Riehl World View, SondraK and Cake or Death readers, thanks for stopping by. The main page is here, and maybe, just maybe you'll be interested in my Katrina Photos and Posts and the Taliban Bodies Story.
-JC
ANOTHER UPDATE: Due to spambots, comments on this entry are closed. If you have something you'd like to add about this, please email comments to comments [-AT-] jasoncoleman.com. --Thanks
Posted by JasonColeman at December 6, 2005 1:26 PM
Comments
Im not an atheist, but christmas means the Mass of Christ lol.
Posted by: Melissa at December 6, 2005 9:17 PM
And Holiday really means vacation for that matter.
hmmmm
Posted by: Melissa at December 6, 2005 9:19 PM
Actually, Melissa, the etymology of "holiday" is "holy day" and "vacation" comes from the latin "vacare" meaning to be "empty or free (from activity)" or more formally "suspension of activity".
As for your "mass" of "kristos"? Well, there's all kinds of ways to skin that cat, but I'll stick with Christmas meaning different things to different people and holiday actually being more "offensive" to atheists than Christmas.
Happy Christmas Melissa, and a Merry New Year too.
--Jason
Posted by: Jason Coleman at December 6, 2005 10:17 PM
Frequent reader, infrequent commenter here...
I'm so glad you wrote this post. My husband and I were just discussing this recently and the very point you make was brought up: holiday, at the very root of its meaning, is more offensive than christmas. At some point, this will come to light and people will backtrack. Next year, we'll be fighting off something rediculous like "Santa's Day" or "The Day of Rupdolph"...
Posted by: Chez at December 7, 2005 8:44 AM
As an atheist I am also aware of the need to respect the customs of my fellow humanity.
The use of religious symbolism does not offend me because I am secure in my beliefs and I can tolerate those who do not agree with me.
Posted by: Freedom Now at December 7, 2005 1:54 PM
I think Christmas is old english-Christ Festival. I don't celebrate because I'm Jewish and I don't try to make Hanukkah resemble christmas, hence the absence of a hanukkah bush in my home. But it is a season of lights and family and giving. It ain't exactly evil. multicultural warriors: get your dirty paws off of christmas!
Posted by: Shosh at December 7, 2005 3:00 PM
Christmas to me is a secular holiday, period. It's okay until the holy rollers try to shove it down my throat. Happy Holidays !!!
Posted by: Larry at December 7, 2005 4:33 PM
Well said.
Posted by: Ron at December 7, 2005 9:47 PM
Great Post! I followed Sam's link over here, and being an atheist myself, I love this perspective. My family and I trim a tree, put up lights, snowmen, reindeer, etc. because I just can't argue not celebrating a time of year that encourages so much benevolent feeling and peaceful interaction amongst people. I had never considered the inherent hypocrisy in forcing Holiday instead of Christmas. As for me and mine, we shall keep it Christmas in our home.
Posted by: MisterBixby at December 9, 2005 10:34 AM
Christmas is a Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Christ. Period. Don't you see that Christmas is cheapened and diminished by people who celebrate it just because they "dig" it? The same thing is happening to Easter. Instead of a celebration of the resurrection of Christ, it is a day of Easter bunnies and chocolate eggs. Do you think it is some sort of cosmic coincidence that the two most important events on the Christian calendar have been so commercialized? You may not think you're a part of the war on Christmas, but from my viewpoint, you're right on the front lines.
Posted by: Lone Ranger at December 10, 2005 2:35 AM
Right on Jason! This is an excellent post. I don't consider myself an athiest mainly because I don't know enough about christianity to claim the non-existance of a higher being (I do have my doubts though!) but the idea that holiday means holy-day just shows how stupid these PC, ACLU lovin' morons are. I don't take offense to it, I find it comical! Thanks for this post.
Posted by: tesco at December 11, 2005 9:09 AM
Get over it people. I grew up in a fairly non-religious family (we didn't even go to church Christmas and Easter), and we said Merry *Christmas*, and put up a *Christmas* tree, and listened to traditional carols. It was just part of growing up in America and had no religious overtone to it. "Merry Christmas" was just what you said, and my sister and I woke up Christmas morning and got lots of presents.
Posted by: Victoria at December 18, 2005 11:30 PM
I just wanted to say that even atheist should celebrate Christmas.GOD wants you to.His sons whole purpose was to be born so he could die for our sins.
Posted by: Merry Christ-mas{s} at December 20, 2005 11:40 PM
I really enjoy reading your articles. Keep up the great work.
TBoardenson
Posted by: Tom at March 6, 2006 11:15 PM
