...to have a nativity scene on display when we are atheists?

[MackerelOfFact]

Just that, really. It belonged to my GM before she passed away, it's quite a funky one from Mexico (a bit like this but kind of purple and gold) and it looks quite cute and festive.

DP however is appalled that as staunch atheists we have it on display and it sends the wrong message to the DCs and guests about our beliefs. I don't believe in God but I think it's a nice story and don't see why we can't depict it.

Am I being unreasonable?

You can celebrate christmas and still object to religious iconography, if you want. christmas isn't necessarily a religious festival, for the majority it isn't at all.

I'm an atheist and it doesn't bother me. You are allowed to have things up in your house depicting stuff which may not be literally true.

I'm also an athiest, but I think you should put it up, after all it's of sentimental value to you, and you will have a little something to remind you of your GM during your Xmas celebrations.

Um, Christmas may not be celebrated by the non-religious as a religious festival - but I think you'll find it most definitely is a religious festival. It is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus. You can choose not to believe that, but it would be very hard to argue that CHRISTmas isn't a religious festival! I'm not religious, but I'm not going to try and pretend I don't know that Christmas isn't all about the birth of Jesus.

Another nativity-scene toting, devout atheist here. Joggling for space with snowmen, reindeer, zhu-zhu hamsters, sylvanian families and flying santas.

DH rolls his eyes a bit, but like others have said, christmas decorations do not have to be taken either as literal truth or as a statement about your religious beliefs.

I think you'll find it isn't, unless you choose it to be. We all know there was a festival at that time long before the Christians hijacked it and assigned it as a totally inaccurate birthday for their jesus. Almost all of the traditions associated pre-date christianity as well.
Christians say its all about the birth of Jesus. I can assure you an awful lot of people don't even consider himself when thinking about christmas. It's more a cultural festival than religious one now. Less than 15% of the UK population will go to a church on christmas day.

tell him to get a grip .

You could believe that the nativity was an actual event. But not that Jesus was the son of god.
You could believe its the birth stout of a bloke a long tine ago. It doesn't have to have religious meaning.

Or it could be just a family ornament that means nothing religious.

Atheist here. I would put it out. It doesn't mean that you agree with what Jesus came to represent, just that his birth is relevant to the Christmas celebration. I have a tableau of Santa and the reindeer out but it doesn't mean I worship them. If your child came home with a candle holder she/ he'd made at school for Diwali, by displaying it it wouldn't mean that you were sending the wrong message if you weren't a Hindu.

It's not about BU but I'd find it a bit odd.

It's as much of a story as santa.

Jesus the person wasn't even born until Jan/Feb or something. All nonsense.

YANBU

We're atheists and we've got a nativity on our hearth - DD made it several years ago. Its underneath a carving of the Buddha on the mantlepiece.

Now that is wrong - poor old Siddhartha made his followers swear not to make images/idols of him and turn him into something worshipped.

Yes, MissC but the festival before it was called Christmas, was about something else and was called something else!!!!!!!!

CHRISTmas is about Christ being born - just because you don't believe it or choose to recognise that, doesn't mean that that is not what Christmas is about. There is a difference.

So, if like Makeral's other half you are taking a stand & saying nativity figurines are embarrassing & barely tolerable, then you it surely follows you have to be a bit consistent and eschew all the other Christian related Christmas stuff too?

Otherwise, you just accept that it is a Christian religious festival & yes, you don't believe it, but you think it is all good fun & you'd like to join in the festival bit!

I can see why he might not like it but equally I can see why you would want to put it up. Is there a compromise? Another room you could put it up in?

I'm pagan, was raised Catholic and I wouldn't put one up. Santa and reindeer don't have any deeper/more meaningful symbolism, but a Nativity scene does.

we are staunch atheists yet have a nativity for the children to play with (the absolutely gorgeous Haba Nativity set)- Christmas is a Christian festival, and we want our children to understand its meaning and importance. Our atheism certainly isn't under any threat by the presence of 'christian iconography' in our home!
It's important our children learn about many beliefs so that they can make informed decisions about what they believe themselves (when they're older... I don't think my 3yo makes many informed decisions about anything!).

Don't be so arrogant PostBellum. "this is a christian festival about jesus and you may join in but you have to acknowledge its ours"...what a load of bollocks. It's about whatever anyone wants it to be about, and a very small minority are in church at christmas celebrating the birth (on the wrong day of the wrong month in the unlikely event in occurred at all) of jesus.
The rest of us are celebrating a SECULAR holiday with little to no regard to what you want everyone to think it is about. I celebrate the secular holiday, and your prophets don't come into it at all. Thats the norm for most people. Look at the threads on here, christmas is about shopping and food and family, hardly a single one mentions church or religion or jesus.

I've already said I'm not religious MissC!!!!!!!!! Did you mean to be so rude?

I'm an athiest but I like looking at nativity scenes. I don't believe in father Christmas but it doesn't stop me makes cakes with him on for my nephews.

I believe jesus existed, I just don't think he was the son if god, as I don't believe there is a god. It isn't always a case of you believe or you don't.

We have a Nativity scene. It's a lovely, lovely story; just like Santa Claus the Movie.

I bought one we're both atheist. I also have santa crap everywhere. Don't believe in him either.

Another nativity-displaying-atheist here.

Ours is a little colourful felt one - indestructable and Baby Jesus enjoys rides in various cars .

We live in a society with a strong Christian tradition and culture and whether I believe in a Greater Being up above or not, I think the Christmas story is an important one.

I also think that Mary's blue is v pretty and the donkey is v cute, so ner!!

Yes. Did you? Because you were. Not being religious makes your stance all the sillier.

It's no more appalling than having images of Santa and Rudolph dotted about the house ie not in any way appalling.

It's a nice story with nice ornaments portraying the story available, so enjoy your deco and boo to DH being sniffy about it.

I haven't been rude at all. It is not rude to say that Christmas is a religious festival. I don't believe I am silly either. What a shame you have to resort to a personal attack on me.

It is rude to say that it is only a religious festival and the non religious have to accept that. And what personal attack?