Out of interest if you are secular, do you celebrate Xmas rather than Christmas?

[Marmiteandjamislush]

Just for background, our family is modern traditional Christian, that is to say we observe all of the rules as they relate to the individual, so food, dress, personal actions, hygiene etc. but we do not impose our views on others or encourage others to join the faith. God gave people choice and we cannot influence that, we can only show our best selves. We do not believe in creationism, we believe God gave us the capacity to understand and practice science so science and God cannot be mutually exclusive, though we do believe that the process began with God. We are most definitely Not homophobic (really annoys me that a lot of Christians are automatically tarred with this brush) God made all people in his image and that includes people of all orientations. We accept that the Bible was of it's time and the language used expresses views that do not always hold true in our time, because God has revealed information to us that changes our understanding. We use it as a guiding hand rather than a rigid stick.

Anyway, to my point. I've seen quite a few threads on the site generally where people will say they celebrate Christmas, but then follow it up with something along the lines of 'but we don't do any religious nonsense.' I have no problem with people wanting to do the commercial/family aspects, but I do have an issue with people talking about Christmas, but having nothing to do with or even basic respect for Christ or Christians. Especially when a secular term exists. So as I said, out of interest do any of you do Xmas rather than Christmas?

From my OP

We do not believe in creationism, we believe God gave us the capacity to understand and practice science so science and God cannot be mutually exclusive

I have to say that your religion sounds rather insular and dictatorial, which possibly explains why you are finding this thread hard going, if you are not used to robust and questioning debate within your church. And the fact that your leaders are referred to as Authorities, rather than ministers or suchlike, I find rather disturbing.

Genuinely Katie, I don't know what you mean by this we all know what each other means could you explain?

Are you going away for Christmas that family time around 25 December ?

Everyone knows what eachother means by using the word Christmas - it's part of our language - what other word Do you suggest we use

What space station said > perfect sense

I am atheist but we celebrate Christmas as a cultural family time. I would remind OP that in all probability Jesus was not born 25th Dec (if he existed at all) and that early Christians appropriated winter solstice to encourage adherence to Christian festivals. Christmas pre-dates Christ!

Ministers is equally disturbing to me. Ministry is about going out and telling people the religion to us this is wrong. authorities is not used as a title, titles do not belong in religion authorities are group of scholars who devote themselves to studying the texts and can assist others.

How can the word Christmas predate Christ??

What word do you use instead of Thursday, seeing as you don't believe in Thor?

Using the word is not a problem, calling it fairy tales and being derogatory to those who believe it is a problem.

Marmite - she means the festival celebrated in December predates Christ, but I am sure you already know that.

It happens very often on MN, in respect of Christianity more than other faiths.

Lady, if you read the thread, we've addressed that.

Sorry I got distracted halfway through posting.

I know that there was/ is a Pagan -- do you capitalise the letter P? But the only point I want to make is that people can be quite rude when they speak about religion and then belittle people when they feel upset about it.

Actually marmite I think you have been quite rude and disrespectful in calling posters full of pride.
I am an atheist and therefore what you believe makes no sense to me, but I respect your choice.

I think Marmite already knew the answer to her original question, but the answer annoys her, she doesn't want us to call it Christmas, its her word. Language, like culture is evolutionary.

hmm it kind of depends on what is being said. i agree that people shouldn't go around belittling other people for their religious beliefs, but in terms of criticisms of religions themselves it really depends on what degree of irreverence you're objecting to, because you can't insist that people don't challenge religion. as i said above - people are rightly wary of religious groups that are not open to questions

actually, if we're talking about being offended, it offends me that your particular group teaches that women are not clean enough for prayer during menstruation and after sex. that is not a criticism of you OP, but of your religious teachings. it really, truly, makes me unhappy that that is what you have been taught, and i would say the same of any other religion or group that taught the same thing. i do understand that you follow this teaching and want to live your life that way and i'm not going to try to persuade you otherwise. but i'm not prepared to apologise for this view or be reverent about something that i think is nonsense and frankly harmful.

i'm sorry for the derail here

Think you've hit the nail on the head there katiekatie.

sorry i shouldn't have said that, it's not pertinent to the thread

Full of pride in the religious sense. Katie Katie, I think you are annoyed that I am religious. I was interested in the paradox, but project away, it's your right.

Not being religious, I have no idea what 'full of pride in the religious sense' means, and I suspect I am not alone in that.

I think Katie not KatieKatie is full of pride because she has belittled my teachings and practice against hers. I have not done that. I f you'd read the thread Diva that has already been explained. Though you all just want a row now so go ahead. I'm off to a playgroup with my kids.

it's prideful as opposed to proud

Petula I think your post was entirely pertinent. The OP can not expect us to tip toe around her feelings and ignore ours. I also find those kinds of teachings around womens' sexuality offensive.

Like SpaceStation I try to respect people's feelings (even if I consider them irrational) but I really can't respect their beliefs.

And to answer the OP - Christmas is the most commonly used and understood term for the winter holiday so of course we all all use it, whatever our religion (all hail the FSM and his noodly appendages!) or lack thereof! It's just a name, just like most people call the Spring holiday Easter without believing in that god (goddess?) either!

Using the word is not a problem, calling it fairy tales and being derogatory to those who believe it is a problem.

I still think you have these two things conflated. I think it is entirely possible to have no respect at all for a religion, but not want to be derogatory to those who believe it. I think you are confusing disrespect for a religion for disrespect for the religious. They are different things.

I do have an issue with people talking about Christmas, but having nothing to do with or even basic respect for Christ or Christians.

So what?

The religious treat "respect" as a one-way street. They're perfectly happy to,. for example, tell us that they have "an issue" with the rest of us, but get all snitty when people have "an issue" with the evidence-free stories collected from bronze-age middle-eastern tribes being treated as fact.

OP, you believe in a load of stuff for which there isn't the slightest evidence. That's fine: whatever makes you happy. But no-one else is under the slightest obligation to tip-toe around your fantasies, or to pretend that your believe is any more concrete or coherent that people who learn Klingon and dress up as Lt Spock.