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?

Pootles i bet the members of your mum's church would recognise both the Cho-Ri and INRI if they saw them. And since the OP has internet access, she could just google this matter for herself and see that she was taught the wrong thing. I'm sure we all have misconceptions about things in life and have to admit that something we once cherished as a truth is wrong. Accepting this does not change the OP's faith - really, although Xmas irritates me, as i think it is lazy - it hardly changes her belief in the birth of Christ.

I need time to make a decision to abandon my teaching

Why? The person who taught you was quite simply wrong. Numerous posters have told you that and explained exactly why they were wrong. It's a little strange you cling to this person's teaching.

As a Christian surely you believe that no human is infallible and that we all make errors? "Thou shalt have no Gods before me." Accept this person was wrong, be pleased you've learnt some stuff about Christianity and use that information to move on in a constructive way.

Thanks Beast, that was what I was asking.
Redhead I am defensive as I have recieved a lot of negativity, not necessarily here but in RL. KateKaye Judged me too. It's neither of our faults we were taught differently but she made me sound like an idiot, when I have accepted there is a difference there. I read and study a lot about my faith and will of course as my practice lead (not their title but don't want to use that here), we don't have ministers.

KateKaye, I need to read up, no offence, but you could be anyone. I always consult texts in these kinds of situations.

Blimey I've just realised that DS1's middle name is Christopher. DS1 is nine and goes to a school which has christianity as its foundation so whilst the school is very multicultural they celebrate Christian festivals and sign hymns everyday in assembly. DS1 however is 9 and "believes in dinosaurs" because he's seen the bones and fossils. He knows that some people believe in various gods but doesn't personally think that any of the religions in the world that he has come across provide any proof. Do I have to remove him from school and change his name from Christopher and because you've claimed a right of ownership over the word?

I referred to you as "extraordinarily" religious because you are. The vast majority of Christians do not have such beliefs and practices. They have an underlying faith and beliefs. Therefore they are "ordinarily" religious. You are "extra ordinarily" religious in that your beliefs and practices go much much further.

I'm not meaning to offend you (and have curtailed my wish to talk at length about religion as form of control of the masses) but I think views such as yours don't help practicing Christians.

I'm not a Christian. I use the terms Christmas and Xmas interchangeably - actually I normally write Xmas because I'm lazy. Christianity is part of the cultural history of the uk and lots of English words have roots in religious concepts - to try to eradicate these from our language would be an odd thing to do imo.

Out of interest, if you count yourself as a 'modern' christian and accept that the bible was written in a way relevant to it's time, doesn't it make sense that traditional dietary rules were made to stop people from eating food which was likely to make them ill (pork, shellfish), and therefore don't make sense now that we have modern refrigeration facilities? Why do you still follow these? (apologies if this is too nosy - like you I am genuinely interested in why other people believe the things they do)

Anyway, I wish I'd never asked. I feel quite battered to be honest. I never meant to offend but I obviously have and I apologise unreservedly. Though I stand by the fact that no body had to answer.

'She was taught the wrong thing' - Thats gob-smackingly rude. Religion is not that simple. There are plenty of different strands of religion, and the OP is allowed to believe what she wants.

I'm atheist - I don't go round telling Christians - or Muslims or Jews- that what they were taught is wrong.

We are all very vulnerable to forming our ideas through the language we are most fluent in. You wouldn't even have this dilemma if your first language was say Swedish, though you would perhaps instead be worrying why you don't call it a Christian name like countries further South .

Even little things- when I live abroad I sometimes find my sense of humour changes because all the jokes I know are in that other language and they are just...different.

X is definitely a Christian thing, it's like that little fish that ppl put as part of their signatures. But I wouldn't rush to adopt Xmas, OP, because to me it is something I associate with commercialisation.

I agree very much with what beastofburden says.

The commonly used term for the midwinter celebration in English happens to include the word 'christ', as the festival has been overlaid with a lot of Christian trappings, but fundamentally all the elements I practice have pagan rather than Christian roots (feasting, gift-giving, lighting up the house, decorating with evergreens etc).

I'm an atheist, not a pagan or a Christian, but it is part of my cultural heritage, so of course I celebrate 'Christmas' without the religious elements, and if I were in Germany or France or Sweden I would be doing the same things, with minor cultural variations, under a different name.

I'd be happy calling it Yule in English, but that tends to sound rather pretentiously olde-worlde or self-consciously pagan.

I was always taught Xmas is separate and not to use it

then I think you were taught by someone who didn't know what they were talking about. How any Christian can not know about the Greek X/Chi is beyond me. The X is all over Christian iconography.

Also, for those talking about celebrating the pagan festival whilst simultaneously calling themselves secular (not necessarily on this thread but I've read it on many a Christmas thread), paganism is/was a religion too, and a pretty unpleasant one at times (human sacrifice, anyone?).

Atticus, if you read upthread you'll see my response about names. Also, why do I need to 'help' other practicing Christians? We do not believe in conversion and as I said, I asked here because noone had to answer. What other Christians or non Christians do is up to them, why should I change my beliefs for them?

Being defensive suggests to me that you are not 100% comfortable in your faith. We all have times like that and it usually means that you need to do some serious thinking and praying about it. i don't think katie did judge you, but because you are defensive, it seemed that way to you. If you really believe in your faith, then i think you need to start accepting that people are going to judge you all the time and get over it. It happens to everyone who professes a belief. being calm about it usually takes the wind out of the sails of anyone who does that.

You are unwilling to believe that someone taught you something that was wrong. It probably wasn't intentional, but its time to grow up, accept that it was wrong and move on. Thinking that Xmas is a secular term and learning that it isn't is hardly life-shaking news. Get over yourself.

OP - if you didn't want people questioning/criticising you about the way you practise religion, why did you put all that background in your OP? It was all totally irrelevant to the question you asked.

I am atheist too so when I say I like the pagan festival, I dont mean I practice any faith, pagan or otherwise.

but yes, my natural way to celebrate it is the Northern way- lights, greenery, feasting, gifts- not so much the more southern way of religious processions, etc.

I would love to say Yule but it died a death in Victorian times. We could reclaim it? as a celebration with no religious content, but also as a rejection of the commercialisation and rampant money spending that goes on among ppl of all faiths and none, and a return to simpler values.

You now know you are wrong about Xmas.
the origins have been explained to you, along with the prevalence of the symbol in Christianity.
You refuse to change your point of view.
Because you cannot "abandon your teachings".

Oh - and I have no idea what your reference to homophobia is about. I've not said a word about that. As you have no idea of my sexual preferences/lifestyle etc, I find that a very peculiar remark to make. In fact, it sounds very judgemental indeed, along with proceeding from a lack of information.

Mrs Bug, it's not as simple as that, but I can't explain properly here. PM if you like though

I'm sorry you feel battered OP and have been the OP on threads where I have felt that way. I think though that Christmas has become a cultural thing rather than a religious thing for many people and for those people the carols and religious aspects are looked upon fondly still. I still want to sing Away in a Manger with my DCs even though I am not religious.

KatieKatie did not you. I don't refuse to change, just refuse to without understand why for myself, God must reveal it to me. If I read up he will. Goodness, why are you so touchy with me?

Atticus, in singing those songs though, you are giving Christ some space in the celebrations so I understand why you would call it Christmas. I just don't understand the rationale of really strident atheists.

Religion is not that simple.

But the etymology of Xmas is simple. Which is what this thread is about, rather than theological debate. The OP had a complete misunderstanding of the origins of the abbreviation but is reluctant to accept her teacher was wrong. That is actually quite sad, as it suggests that person had/has a lot of influence over OP who is struggling to get past the fact this person is fallible. Although its a small thing maybe it has caused OP to doubt many other things this person "taught" her?

To be fair, so many peope are misinformed about 'xmas' that the OP would very likey find people were offended by her using a term they thought was secular/antireligious. It's annoying, but it is a really common thing.

A quick google sorts it out, though.

Well, I'm not religious, I'm an atheist, but I accept that Jesus existed and I believe he was a truly remarkable, altruistic and unique person. I think this is something worth celebrating and that's how I as a non-believer rationalise Christmas being more than just food and presents.

Expat, I was using it to explain why I asked. Anyway, people can have any opinion about mt practice they want. Though, they could express them politely.

Thing is, "Christmas" is the name of the festival. It doesn't make any sense for anyone to call it something different, just because they aren't Christian.

I usually celebrate Diwali, although I am not Hindu, because I have Hindu relatives who want us to take part. They know we don't believe, but they'd be baffled if I started calling it Xwali because we aren't Hindu.

When I wish my Muslim friends Eid Mubarak, I don't say Xid Mubarak, etc etc.