To wonder why people who appear to dislike religion enjoy Christian celebrations

[Cupcake1985]

I know that most people enjoy Christmas, Easter etc with no regard for the actual Christian basis and meaning of the celebration, but aibu to think that those people should then not get all offended by the religious aspects and sometimes be downright rude about it?? The nativity play, spreading the word of god through carol singing etc..... Dare I mention operation Christmas child?! If you enjoy Christmas then at least try to accept it is actually about the birth of Christ or at least respect that others will celebrate this fact and may try to share that with those around them with the best intentions.

Basically cheer up, be accepting, be kind.

I don't think it was rude, Knights, particularly since the person in question seriously overstepped the lines of courtesy...I think it was a perfectly valid point and one I have, on many occasion, wanted to say to some of the people I am no longer in touch with.

jellyboatsandpirates are you a believer by any chance?

I'm not particularly religious, no. I just don't feel the need to go dismissing other people's beliefs, laughing at them and calling it a load of 'fairy stories.'
You believe that then that's fine, that's up to you, but other people are entitled to believe without being ridiculed.
Jumping into a religion as and when it suits in order to be able to swap chocolate Easter eggs or whatever does come across as hypocritical though, however much you beg to differ.

What have Easter eggs got to do with religion?

jellyboatsandpirates ok you really ought to read the thread. Then you would understand that the tree, the fairy lights, the turkey and at easter the eggs and such are nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity. If we actually cared we could complain that christians use them.

Now as you respecting religion (and there's a recent thread on that too) do you respect belief in the god Thor and his mates?. How about werewolves, pixies and ghosts?.

Is there anything that you regard as too silly to take seriously. Talking apples, frogs flying kites? anything at all?

Wasn't Santa based on a Pagan god, as well?

It's the bunny that confuses me. A bunny that delivers eggs to comemorate the death of the messiah? Can someone explain that?

I mean, a bunny? Delivering eggs?

No, Santa is based on Saint Nicholas.

Father Christmas, OTOH, is one of the many embodiements of the Green Man.

Yes, I mean the guy that climbs down your chimneys. I wasn't he amalgamated with St Nick to form the modern Santa / Father Christmas?

Jumping into a religion as and when it suits in order to be able to swap chocolate Easter eggs or whatever does come across as hypocritical though, however much you beg to differ

Be as indignant as you like. You are wrong, and staggeringly ignorant about history. Educate yourself.

And why, exactly, is this particular set of beliefs so precious no one else is allowed to discuss them? No one has the right to demand respect - no one. I

Oh - and if you're "not particularly religious", you'll be giving Christmas & Easter a big miss then, will you? Or is it OK to be a hypocrite if you're nice about Christianity?

And so far, no one has told me why God needs carried in a tarbanarcle. To quote a wise and famous person, "what does God need with a starship?"

I totally agree with you. Its all about how much people spend on each other and having the best and biggest toys etc etc. A lot of people get in terrible debt for it. Christmas is about the birth of the little bubby Jesus and a lot of people have lost sight of that. I am not religous at all but do take my ds to church every Christmas just so he knows the true meaning of it.

I do know some people, though, whose religious choices have surprised me. Perhaps especially those who join evangelical churches which preach against gay love and recommend very traditional roles for men and women. I know some highly educated, I would have said personally liberal people who nonetheless go to such churches. So that can be a bit of a mystery.

Ceding all authority for yourself appeals to a lot of educated, intelligent, powerful people. Look at all those powerful men who see dominatrices! I think sometimes people just need to lay it all day and get someone else to take over for them and tell them what to do.

Friday16 - chill out its Friday. So serious and so rude. We do not need a history lesson. You sound like a boring Uni lecturer telling people off. Lighten up ffs

Oh, and eggs and bunnies at Easter? Eostre (spell it how you will) is about rebirth. The year used to start in spring in many cultures, which is why our months are named as they are - September was the 7th month, then Oct, Nov, Dec. The world was reborn then, all fresh and new. It also starts the breeding cycles. Nothing is better known for breeding than bunnies..... And eggs also symbolise this.

The Christian Easter symbolising rebirth of Jesus was placed at the same time to the actual celebrations did not have to change much. People do not willingly give up a traditional, fun celebration!

(Fun partly because of the sex that went on..... there are a lot of rural traditions involving sex in fields to ensure a good harvest etc)

Seriously, what's with the personal attacks just because people dare to disagree?
"Thick as mince?" What a charmer.

Sirzy has got it pot on

sorry spot on

Viking you are funny

I am not religous at all but do take my ds to church every Christmas just so he knows the true meaning of it.

If the true meaning is about Jesus and you think that is important then how do you manage to not be religious?

I work with several very religious people.

They aren't Church of England or Catholic. They are members of a particularly conservative Christian cult group.

They don't 'celebrate' Christmas as such. They aren't allowed to exchange gifts or come to the works party or sing christmas carols even religious ones. This is seen as ungodly and excessive.

They are most definitely Christians though and by their standards, the OP is a heathen who doesn't do Christmas 'correctly'.

And I'm out...Hettie, beast and Oxrod - thank you for an interesting discussion and Hettie, I will answer your questions via PM. This discussion is devolving into mud slinging and I really can't be bothered to try to not ignore insult throwing.

bollocks, ignore not not ignore

I also just realised I probably wasn't clear as to who I thought wasn't being rude, Knights...that would be you...you weren't rude, the man who thought it was ok to prevent you from closing your own front door just to tell you that you're "doing it all wrong" was.