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Christmas

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

347 replies

Marmiteandjamislush · 03/10/2014 09:37

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?

OP posts:
Lottapianos · 03/10/2014 09:51

I'm an atheist and I write Xmas. I don't really celebrate it at all apart from eating mince pies! I would be happy if Xmas was ditched entirely as a public celebration - I think its a total racket (unless the religious side is meaningful for you of course). I think it should be treated like other religious festivals like Eid or Diwali - celebrate it in private if you choose but its largely ignored in public.

Marmiteandjamislush · 03/10/2014 09:53

I take others points, but I was always taught Xmas is separate and not to use it. I just don't understanding linking Christ to anything or having Christenings as a cultural thing, UK is supposedly secular so I just don't get why people keep doing things they don't believe in I guess. Why not claim it as something you do believe in. Very interesting to me.

OP posts:
ArcheryAnnie · 03/10/2014 09:53

Same as tarka here, too. I do have a faith (not Christianity) but Christmas is part of my cultural heritage, even if it's not part of my religious one, so that's what we have.

PetulaGordino · 03/10/2014 09:54

the uk isn't secular at all

xmas has been used by christians (or xians if you like Wink) for centuries as an abbreviation

Pootles2010 · 03/10/2014 09:55

I don't think UK is secular - our monarch is head of Church, most schools have an act of worship, our history is deeply Christian (relatively recently anyway).

Are you Seventh Day Adventist OP? Sorry again ignore if you want - theology geek Blush

atticusclaw · 03/10/2014 09:55

But people don't necessarily want to reject any christian element. Many are happy to sing a few carols and tell their children about the baby jesus (and I would have thought Christians would be happy about that). What they don't want is to be forced by extraordinarily religious people (and anyone who had to sleep in a different bed whilst on their period because the bible says so is extraordinarily religious) to call a cultural celebration something different to what it is called.

Everyone knows why Christmas is called Christmas but you can't ban people from calling it that because they are not Christian.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 03/10/2014 09:56

petula is right.

I'm mildly offended by the idea of 'xmas' as a secular term. Wink

scaevola · 03/10/2014 09:57

Britain isn't a secular country, legally or by the amount of the population who self-identify as Christian. Now that number is way ahead of regular church attendees, but it shows the enduring role of Christianity in the population.

atticusclaw · 03/10/2014 09:57

I agree Britain is not a secular country.

Lottapianos · 03/10/2014 09:58

I agree with you Marmite - the 'Christ' part of Christmas and Christening is significant to me and as an atheist I prefer to use Xmas. I'm not sure we are a secular country although I certainly think we should be!

elQuintoConyo · 03/10/2014 09:59

Christmas is for real life.

Xmas is for whatsapp.

Marmiteandjamislush · 03/10/2014 10:00

I don't define that way Pootles, but it's quite similar. Ok then, I take your views on Xmas, but would you not consider a less religious term for what it you celebrate? I'm just interested not judging. Just can't get my brain round the importance of Christmas as a term if Christ is not important to you, if you understand.

OP posts:
pinkbear82 · 03/10/2014 10:00

I remember my first school head teacher telling us 'Xmas is crossing Christ out of Christmas' altho not overly religious myself, I have always remembered that. CHRISTmas is and always will be the full word for me.

PetulaGordino · 03/10/2014 10:01

Grin jeanne

the thing is though lotta, you're not actually using a non-christian abbreviation, except for according to the OP and your own feelings about the word. christians have been using the words interchangeably for a long time. obviously you should use whatever word/spelling you're comfortable with, but it's not a secular term at all

Pootles2010 · 03/10/2014 10:02

Its precisely because Christ is not important to me that I don't mind using the term. It's irrelevant. Its the name of what I celebrate, and has been for centuries.

PetulaGordino · 03/10/2014 10:03

do you think that non-christians should not call their children christopher, christina, christabel, christian etc?

Marmiteandjamislush · 03/10/2014 10:03

Atticus, I'm quite offended at being called extraordinarily religious. Make me sound like a freak. Please don't, I respect the right of people to be none religious so could you do the same please.

OP posts:
RabbitsarenotHares · 03/10/2014 10:04

I've debated something similar with myself the last few years, seeing as how I'm not a Christian but still enjoy celebrating the midwinter festival commonly called "Christmas" in this country. I particularly enjoy the pagan aspects of it (decorated trees, mistletoe etc).

I concluded that when Christians stop calling their spring celebration after a pagan goddess I'll stop referring to Christ at midwinter.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 03/10/2014 10:04

OP I am curious as to how your religion affects your levels of hygeine......could you elaborate?

JeanneDeMontbaston · 03/10/2014 10:05

I concluded that when Christians stop calling their spring celebration after a pagan goddess I'll stop referring to Christ at midwinter.

Grin

I have no intention to stop using 'Christmas,' but I feel this is a fair argument.

Marmiteandjamislush · 03/10/2014 10:06

It's none of my business to comment on other people's children Petula. I only asked this question because of something I saw as an interesting paradox on here.

OP posts:
PetulaGordino · 03/10/2014 10:06

there will be non-christians who attach significance to the word "christ" and will avoid it because they don't want to associate themselves with christian belief

there will be non-christians who attach no significance to the word "christ" and won't actively avoid it because it's just another word that has been used in our culture for centuries and in their view has no particular power

Marmiteandjamislush · 03/10/2014 10:07

I've done that upthread, Think Don't want to bore everyone.

OP posts:
PetulaGordino · 03/10/2014 10:08

marmite i'm curious as to how much ownership you feel christians have over the word christ - all those names i listed directly link to the word christ in the same was as christmas

PetulaGordino · 03/10/2014 10:09

Grin rabbits

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