Amanda Marcotte notes at AlterNet
We may object to using the holiday as an excuse to push overtly religious songs and prayers on kids in public schools, but the Christmas holiday, despite its religious origins, is accepted by most atheists as a secular holiday and many of us enjoy it as much as the Christians do. In fact, I'd argue there are many advantages to being an atheist, when it comes to celebrating the holidays.
1. Travel flexibility
2. No Christmas mass
3. Sex
4. Creative decorating (a Nativity scene with superhero action figures)
5. Wrapping paper
6. Give me the loot!
7. No praying before the meal
8. "Happy holidays!"
9. Better music. (You can fully admit that "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey is the best Christmas song, full stop)
10. Better movies
I disagree with her best song selection. The obvious choice is "Five Pound Box Of Money" (Pearl Bailey, 1958).
10 Christmas Songs That Atheists Will Love
It's widely assumed that atheists, by definition, hate Christmas. And it's an assumption I'm baffled by. I like Christmas. Lots of atheists I know like Christmas. Heck, even Richard Dawkins likes Christmas. Plenty of atheists recognize the need for rituals that strengthen social bonds and mark the passing of the seasons. Especially when the season in question is dark and wet and freezing cold.
[...]I've compiled a list of Christmas songs that atheists can love unreservedly.
The rules:
Songs cannot have any mention of God, Jesus, angels, saints, or miracles.
Songs must be reasonably well-known.
No song parodies.
Songs have to be good songs.
A song gets bonus points for not mentioning the word "Christmas".
[...]here are my Top Ten
10. White Christmas
9. Jingle Bells
8. Sleigh Ride
7. Silver Bells
6. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
5. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
4. Santa, Baby (gewg_ notes: That's my #2. Eartha Kitt, 1953)
3. Carol of the Bells
2. Winter Wonderland
1. Deck the Halls
[...]Honorable mentions. The 12 Days of Christmas. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Up on the Housetop. Over the River and Through the Woods. Jolly Old St. Nicholas. The Christmas Song (a.k.a. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire). I'll Be Home For Christmas. Frosty the Snowman. Here Comes Santa Claus. Jingle Bell Rock. O Christmas Tree.
She missed my #3: Zat You, Santa Claus? (Louis Armstrong, 1953)
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @11:25AM
The Kinks - Father Christmas
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday December 25 2014, @12:09PM
Hot summer nights [youtube.com]
Home And Broken Hearted [coldchisel.com]
Ho, ho, ho... [news.com.au] mates [wordpress.com]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 4, Informative) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Thursday December 25 2014, @04:35PM
"Christmas"
And Tommy doesn't know what day it is.
He doesn't know who Jesus was,
Or what praying is.
How can he be saved
From the eternal grave?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPmijD6jqHs [youtube.com]
Why is Ken Russel never given credit for having invented the "music video"?
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday December 26 2014, @06:04PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Friday December 26 2014, @07:27PM
Yeah. Parts of "Help" qualify I suppose.
Even that closet case, prison rape fantasy by Elvis Presley...
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 3) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday December 25 2014, @12:43PM
+1 Agree
Honorable mention going to the Pogues for Fairytale of New York.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by theluggage on Thursday December 25 2014, @08:08PM
Honorable mention going to the Pogues for Fairytale of New York.
I think that the line "Merry Christmas my arse lets thank God its our last" (or thereabouts) violates the letter of the rules by invoking the G-word... but maybe not the spirit of the rules.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday December 25 2014, @08:15PM
Yeah, it can probably squeak by being as it'd likely get called blasphemy or something though.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @12:44PM
I Believe in Father Christmass [youtube.com] - ELP
...
They sold me a dream of christmas
They sold me a silent night
And they told me a fairy story
'till I believed in the israelite
And I believed in father christmas
...
(Score: 2) by theluggage on Thursday December 25 2014, @08:22PM
I Believe in Father Christmass - ELP
Yes. How can that song not be at the top of the xmas-for-atheists songs list? In fact, its about the only one I can think of that (arguably) has an atheist message, rather than just failing to mention the sky fairy.
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Friday December 26 2014, @03:36AM
... because this [youtube.com] is the best atheist Christmas song. I'm shocked it hasn't been mentioned already.
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday December 26 2014, @06:26PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @12:45PM
Eläkeläiset - Humpaton joulu
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @01:22PM
Jackson Browne — The Rebel Jesus
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @06:29PM
Two of the prettier ones
"Chistmastime is here" - Vince Guaraldi Trio
"Merry Christmas Darling" - the Carpenters
Karen Carpenter's brother, who wrote the tune, said it was the best thing she'd ever done.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @09:12PM
Both make me sad to think of their short lives.
Vince (a chain smoker) died at age 47 of a heart attack in his hotel room while on tour.
Karen died at age 32 of anorexia nervosa in the '80s before anyone knew how to treat that mental illness.
-- gewg_
(Score: 5, Interesting) by tynin on Thursday December 25 2014, @11:35AM
They close up the first article with this bit of wisdom on the eternal santa debate, which my skeptic nature has struggled with. I think it is the best answer to it yet and gave me some peace of mind on the topic. Here is the blurb:
Most atheists have no intention of bringing their kids up to believe in God, but as many of them celebrate Christmas anyway, they don't know what to do about Santa. Some atheists worry that teaching kids about a magical elf who flies around the world bringing presents to well-behaved children is wrong for the same reason they believe teaching about God is wrong: There’s no evidence it’s true. Others reasonably point out that since part of the Santa tradition is the great debunking, it’s a useful way to teach kids not to believe everything people tell them, even their parents. Which can perhaps inoculate them against religious claims. Everyone makes good points and there’s no research settling the question, so it just gets debated over and over again every year, with no real resolution.
Now, off to make breakfast and get this day rolling.
Merry Christmas everyone!
(Score: 5, Funny) by Hairyfeet on Thursday December 25 2014, @12:14PM
Ahh the Santa debate brings back memories, know how I found out there was no Santa? Waking up in the middle of the night to hear my dad cursing like a sailor as he bashed his knuckles trying to put one of these together [bmxmuseum.com]. I got to learn all kinds of new curse combos every time his wrench slipped and he bashed his hands.
I don't get the "sex" part of the list though, my wife is Christian, as were my last 3 GFs, and the only times I didn't have sex on Xmas was when we were too stuff full of Xmas turkey to do anything but sleep. Are there really couples so hung up on Xmas they don't have sex? As frankly even the most devoted that I know realize and accept that Xmas has nothing to do with the birthday of Jesus (it supposedly happened during census for taxes which in ancient Roman territories would have been June) but is just a ripoff of the old pagan solstice festival stolen by the Holy Roman church just like they stole Easter.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 5, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @01:06PM
Know why Baptists don't have sex standing up?
Someone might think they're dancing.
American Protestant prudery and guilt have no bounds.
-- gewg_
(Score: 5, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday December 25 2014, @01:13PM
There is only one justification for having sinned, and that is to be glad of it. - H. L. Mencken
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 5, Funny) by Snotnose on Thursday December 25 2014, @03:40PM
I live alone, the only sex I get nowdays is of the 127.0.0.1 variety :(
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 5, Funny) by davester666 on Thursday December 25 2014, @07:17PM
Leave your computer's ethernet port alone. That's just wrong!
(Score: 4, Funny) by jimshatt on Thursday December 25 2014, @11:47PM
(Score: 5, Insightful) by jackb_guppy on Thursday December 25 2014, @02:02PM
I learned the Santa thing by getting up at 2am, going down stairs, watching my father setup and play with a slot-car set from Santa. On Christmas morning he sat back and watch the us kids (5) fight over who turn was next and refused to play becuase it is kids toy!
Then my oldest was 4 years old, got her a bike for Christmas, put it together. THEN called my father at 2am and apologized for all the nights he did the same. We laughed and had good talk remembering Christmases past.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @10:40PM
I learned that there was no Santa when I was 5.
My mother's (abusive) boyfriend came through at 10.30 on Christmas Eve, woke me up, woke my brother up, started shouting at us to clean up our messy room, and to go through and tell our mother what we were doing and why.
So, we dutifully (and fearfully) went through, hoping our mother would tell him to leave us alone and let us go back to sleep.
He'd planned it so that we would walk in on her wrapping the presents.
What a cunt.
(Score: 2) by tynin on Friday December 26 2014, @02:31AM
Fuck! That is some sad shit. If he is still alive, I hope you Roshambo him for New Years.
To be clear, just knock on his door, and wait for him to open it. When he does, kick him square in the nuts.
Ta-da!
(Score: 5, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @01:54PM
Atheist (to me) somehow indicates actively rejecting organized religion.
When I first heard the term "post-theological" it clicked for me. Both my parents quit organized religion in their teens, and didn't promote any religion when I was a kid. For anyone interested, here's the first Google hit,
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/our-humanity-naturally/201102/being-post-theological [psychologytoday.com]
In grade school (in a highly Catholic area) I was often asked, "atheist or agnostic" and I had no clue how to answer...
We do have Christmas as a big holiday, but when my siblings and I were little it was about Santa Claus. Later, when we found out there was no Santa Claus ("great debunking" is a great phrase, thanks for that!) it became about making/finding presents for each other.
(Score: 2) by danomac on Thursday December 25 2014, @04:27PM
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @06:36PM
Atheist - Lacks belief in deities
Strong Atheist - Asserts that deities do not exist
Weak Atheist = Agnostic - Lacks belief in deities and does not claim that deities do not exist
From your link, post-theological people "see theology itself as unnecessary". They seem to be people who are weak atheists, but view the existence of organized religion in a negative light. The reason for the term is probably to escape the negative connotation that is associated with the term atheist.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @08:08PM
It doesn't. That's a politically engineered meaning, in atheist is to theist, what amoral is to moral, as opposed to immoral to moral. This language has enough pointless exceptions as it is, the last thing we should do is condone more of them in favor of American fundamentalist crap.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @02:28PM
Today Xmas really has the meaning of good will towards others. It is a good time to get along with others, to realize that we are all sitting on this rock in space and the less we help and care for our fellow man the less likely we will be happy i nthe future. Though materialism is having a good place in Xmas it really is the signal that we care that is important.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @11:45AM
Christmas is actually a pagan holiday that got changed into a Christian holiday. There are really many arguments for that Jesus did not get born at 25:th of December. There is not even one word in the Bible about Christmas and how it should be celebrated, if it should at all be celebrated.
Thus there are no special rules for a Christian for what to do on Christmas as it is not a Biblical holiday. A Christian have the same freedom as an Atheist.
Going through the points of the article:
1. If you feel like you want to travel somewhere, do it. Nothing forbids you to go there were you want except for your conscience as unnecessary travelling in wasting money that could help people in need from not dying.
2. Not all Christian denominations do have a mass at Christmas. Some churches do have only a normal worship service and if you are a Christian, you do not hate going to church. You actually like it. Still I do not know about any denomination requiring you to attend every single service, so you could stay at home even if you want.
3. You can have as much sex as you want with your spouse regardless if you are Christian or not. As Christmas is not even an Biblical holiday there are no rules for that.
4. Decorate your house as you want regardless if you are a Christian or not... This is after all not a Biblical holiday.
5. The same as No 4 for wrapping papers.
6. This one I do not understand at all. I am not a native English speaker and the dictionary says that "loot" is stolen goods. I am sure that regardless if you are a Christian or atheist you do not want to spend your Christmas in jail.
7. Prayer before food is a joy for a Christian and not a burden so I can not see how this is an advantage for an atheist.
8. I suspect there is some more meaning to "Happy Holiday" as it was inside of quotes but anyone regardless of belief can be happy at any moment. It is not like Christians are forced to sit somewhere having boring.
9. and 10. It is all about taste. Again this strange misconception that a Christian life is boring because you would be forbidden to do some things. Actually a Christian gets joy from the right music and videos. A Christian simply have a different taste than an atheist.
I truly wonder how this article at all ended up on SN. SN should be serious and not going low by mocking people and coming with total nonsense.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Justin Case on Thursday December 25 2014, @12:38PM
> I am not a native English speaker and the dictionary says that "loot" is stolen goods.
As one who is learning another language, I appreciate your difficulty and want to help:
While strictly "loot" is stolen, more generally it is something you get without paying for it. Thus, gifts could be "loot" in a not-quite-accurate sense.
> I suspect there is some more meaning to "Happy Holiday"
Yes. In USA (and other places?) it was common long ago to say "Merry Christmas" but people got offended (actually or pretend, who knows?) by the mere mention of "Christ" so now it is more "politically correct" to leave out any mention of Christmas and wish people "Happy Holidays" instead.
Soooo... lesson to you one-language people out there. Learning a language is more than memorizing a dictionary: there is a lot of culture embedded in phrases and customs.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @01:00PM
Yes. In USA (and other places?) it was common long ago to say "Merry Christmas" but people got offended (actually or pretend, who knows?) by the mere mention of "Christ" so now it is more "politically correct" to leave out any mention of Christmas and wish people "Happy Holidays" instead.
Er no. It isn't about offending people, it is about including people. The move to saying happy holidays is about the benjamins. Xmas is denomination specific, Holidays is generic enough to include haunukah, chinese new year, winter solstice, bodi day, id al-adha, yule, zartusht-no-diso and more. When you are a business your goal is to make money, and that means sucking up to everyone else you risk leaving money on the table. You don't hate capitalism do you?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Joe Desertrat on Friday December 26 2014, @02:15AM
Yes. In USA (and other places?) it was common long ago to say "Merry Christmas" but people got offended (actually or pretend, who knows?) by the mere mention of "Christ" so now it is more "politically correct" to leave out any mention of Christmas and wish people "Happy Holidays" instead.
Er no. It isn't about offending people, it is about including people. The move to saying happy holidays is about the benjamins. Xmas is denomination specific, Holidays is generic enough to include haunukah, chinese new year, winter solstice, bodi day, id al-adha, yule, zartusht-no-diso and more. When you are a business your goal is to make money, and that means sucking up to everyone else you risk leaving money on the table. You don't hate capitalism do you?
You might add that the people who got offended for some reason were not the people saying "Happy Holidays", it was the people who said "Merry Christmas", who got offended when "Happy Holidays" was said to them instead of "Merry Christmas".
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @12:56PM
Catholics are required to go to Mass every Sunday.
(Isn't "Keep holy the Sabbath" a thing in other denominations?)
There are also a bunch of Holy Days of Obligation sprinkled throughout the year where Catholics are required to attend Mass; Christmas is 1 of those.
(I grew up in a Catholic household; none of the kids are now Catholic.
I had religion figured out as a scam when I was 13.)
In the USA, Christmas and Easter are big church-going days even among those who typically blow off church.
(There are a lot of folks in the USA who say they are Christian but who never go to church.)
...and I'm quite certain that the Nativity is a big deal in the Bible.
.
There is a very vocal minority in the USA who would like fundamentalist Protestantism to become part of the public school curriculum.
.
Some of the blowhards on Reactionary TeeVee in the USA have claimed there is a "War on Christmas". [google.com]
.
An atheist wants to get to the food and doesn't want to waste any time "talking to" fictional characters beforehand.
.
Yes, "loot" was used very loosely there.
It was a reference to gifts, greed, and consumerism.
Had you clicked the link, that might have become clear.
.
Had you read the entire summary, you would have seen a reference to Richard Dawkins.
His taste in Christmas music is more religious/traditional than a lot of believers.
Had you clicked the link, that might have become clear.
.
I invite you to visit the USA and see just how screwed up a country can be when it was founded by the religious nutballs that other countries couldn't stand and kicked out.
(I can tell that you don't travel or you might understand peak travel periods and the aggravation associated with those.)
-- gewg_
(Score: 4, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @01:58PM
There are really many good Catholics and I am not having a bad word to say about them. However, I would claim that the Catholic church is fallen as a system itself. This does not include all its members. It is somehow based upon Christianity but not a Christian religion anymore as Christianity is all about following the example of Christ and putting him into the center of everything.
The Catholic church basically makes away with Christ (Jesus) and makes him something not needed. Instead of praying to him, you pray to Mary. Instead of asking forgiveness from him, you ask the priest. Instead of having Christ as leader, you put the pope there. Instead of keeping the commandments of Jesus, you invent own. Jesus said that heaven and earth will pass before even one single character in the commandments will change. Still the Catholic church claims it changed the day of rest from Sabbath (=Saturday) to Sunday by own authority.
The Catholic church creates a lot of rules that becomes a burden for its followers, exactly like the pharisees during the time of Jesus. You find nowhere in the Bible support for that there was a mass at each service. Instead the Bible put a lot of weight in explaining the scriptures during the service. They officially say that traditions are the same important as the Bible, so you pick between own created traditions and Bible as you like to form the Catholic religion and then they still call it Christianity.
Real Christianity has Jesus in center, and the only way to get to know Jesus well is to have the Bible in the center rather than own made traditions and rules.
(Score: 0, Troll) by curunir_wolf on Thursday December 25 2014, @07:37PM
Some of the blowhards on Reactionary TeeVee in the USA have claimed there is a "War on Christmas". [google.com]
It is pretty ridiculous to claim that more people using "Happy Holidays" is related to any sort of war on Christmas, but there are legitimate gripes that prompted the push back. There are constant attacks on celebratory decorations and rituals that have gone on for hundreds of years, that suddenly a very vocal and litigious minority has decided is "offensive" or something. Any public area with anything remotely related to some reference to religion or god is a target, and lately anything even visible from a public area or even mentioned by a public official. You can put up a tree with decorations, but if you dare call it a "Christmas tree", hordes of lawyers and indignant atheists will descend upon it and demand it be torn down.
That is where the "War on Christmas" complaints came from, despite the "spin" from the compliant media that there is nothing there to complain about.
I am a crackpot
(Score: 5, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @09:14PM
Start with the 1st Amendment's proscription on gov't bias toward 1 religion.
Now, add in tax money being used in pursuit of that forbidden activity.
Include no opportunity to "voice" an opposing view with equal standing, again, in defiance of the 1st Amendment.
...then add in a loudmouth half-wit like Bill O'Reilly who works for an organization that took a case to the Supreme Court to allow them to lie while calling themselves "news".
(SCOTUS sided with the habitual liars.)
It quickly starts to look like '30s-style Fascism.
-- gewg_
(Score: 1) by curunir_wolf on Monday December 29 2014, @08:52PM
Wow look how much hate for religion there is on this site. Troll, really? And a +5 for your hateful rant full of straw men?
I guess I'm the idiot for trying to take a devil's advocate POV.
I am a crackpot
(Score: 1) by curunir_wolf on Monday December 29 2014, @09:05PM
Start with the 1st Amendment's proscription on gov't bias toward 1 religion.
Inaccurate AND a strawman. There is not "proscription" on "gov't bias". In fact, the First Amendment proscribes ONLY that the government not ESTABLISH a religion, and it ALSO guarantees a non-qualified right to the free exercise of religion. Unless some asshole sues you because he can see baby Jesus while he's riding down the street in his fucking Prius.
Now, add in tax money being used in pursuit of that forbidden activity.
Another strawman. What "tax money" is being used? Go ahead and spend $40 million in state money for your ball park so you can worship the almighty "game day" and hand the profits to the multimillionaire club owner and his non-taxpaying "not-for-profit" pro ball association, but dammit if you spend one dime on a traffic cop so the caroling group doesn't get run down by a drunk driver and we'll sue your ass for "establishing a religion" or some bullshit.
Include no opportunity to "voice" an opposing view with equal standing, again, in defiance of the 1st Amendment.
What the hell are you going on about? You fucking busybodies love going around and telling other people what do to with their own property, but suddenly if you lose a vote you have no voice? Fucking bullshit. No municipality in the US has the litigious power of the ACLU - you're full of shit with this one.
...then add in a loudmouth half-wit like Bill O'Reilly ... '30s-style Fascism.
Aside from complete misuse of "Fascism" (I think you mean "Totalitarianism"), you've now GODWIN'd the thread.
That's what passes for maximum "Insightful" -ness to the mods on this site - make up a bunch of bullshit call everybody Nazis.
Disappointed.
I am a crackpot
(Score: 3, Informative) by dyingtolive on Thursday December 25 2014, @01:44PM
Yeah, I sincerely don't know what the fuck I'm looking at or what it even is trying to articulate? How is that list of things exclusive to atheists alone?
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 5, Insightful) by NoMaster on Thursday December 25 2014, @03:13PM
It's not - but the antitheists like to smugly believe that's how the theists think of atheists (or visa-versa).
Regardless, it's a pretty weak-sauce dumb non-story for SN - at best, it's trolling the theists; at worst, it's outright mocking them. Neither is a particularly mature attitude...
Live free or fuck off and take your naïve Libertarian fantasies with you...
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @05:50PM
What is and is not mature is subjective.
Regardless, I think that mocking people who believe in magical sky daddies when there is no scientific evidence of such a thing is perfectly valid. And I still don't see the point of this article.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @09:04PM
(Score: 5, Funny) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Thursday December 25 2014, @04:43PM
Yes. This list is similar to the one I drafted about the advantages I enjoy on Dec 25th, as a new, reformed Zoroastrian.
Mine goes:
sex
sex
sex
You're betting on the pantomime horse...
(Score: 1, Troll) by FuckBeta on Thursday December 25 2014, @07:18PM
Agree. Good post.
This popular mocking of Christianity is ignorant and boring.
That this got posted here makes this site as bad as the other place for "news for nerds, stuff that matters".
Clickbait nonsense. Next up "8 things you never knew about sex"
Quit Soylent....because its lame.
Quit Slashdot...because Fuck Beta!
(Score: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 26 2014, @11:07AM
Hey! Don't leave us in the dark! Post the link!
(Score: 1) by Fishscene on Thursday December 25 2014, @08:35PM
I want to thank you for your post. Also, not sure why this article exists in the first place. Since when did Soylent promote putting others down?
I know I am not God, because every time I pray to Him, it's because I'm not perfect and thankful for what He's done.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @09:32PM
A lot of what is done on this site is debunking nonsense.
If you hold a viewpoint that is nonsense, prepare to be debunked.
Religion is 1 example of something that doesn't stand up to scrutiny.
Once the believers stop believing in a religion, it disappears.
(Note the thousands and thousands of deities that were once worshiped and are now on the scrap heap of history.)
OTOH, if I stop "believing in Science", Science doesn't just disappear.
.
This site also revels in finding better ways to do things.
Traveling at off-peak times rather than following the herd is an easy example.
-- gewg_
(Score: 5, Informative) by BsAtHome on Thursday December 25 2014, @11:52AM
...despite its religious origins...
Technically this is almost true, but linking it to christian religion as origin is false. The origin, afaik, is from the pagan (and earlier) winter-solstice celebrations where the days become longer again. There are many groups and religions that have used existing traditions for their own good and bad.
It is a matter op opinion whether the pagan roots, and probably even older customs, are actual religious roots. The celebration of an event does not necessarily correlate to the association with any believes in the supernatural. There are many reasons and forms to celebrate, like noted.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @11:55AM
'Money', seems more like you have traded one god for another and are worshipping at the church of consumerism. Which is the actual religion of far too many who claim to be Christian.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @01:14PM
why can't you leave this edgy shit on /r/atheism?
(Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @01:57PM
...or quit your whining.
If every one of the ~5000 people signed up here made 1 submission every second month, the queue would always have lots of stuff from which to choose.
.
Why this?
1. It's Christmas.
2. The queue is running low.
3. Religion is the opposite of science and rational thought.
-- gewg_
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday December 25 2014, @02:08PM
Yep, pretty much the case. On the first two anyway. I don't expect there is going to be much in the way of tech/science news today on account of so many folks celebrating or otherwise having the day off. Someone could probably find something where a guy used a Raspberry Pi to do up a smooth Christmas lights show but expecting hard news today is just silly.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @02:38PM
really? that's your excuse? lack of content shouldn't mean shit articles get published to the front page, it has literally nothing to do with the site and is more akin to edgy reddit-tier trash where they love that atheism circlejerk nonsense. fuck it, deleting this site from my rss before it turns into even more shit.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @03:07PM
You can spot them a mile off.
They clearly haven't noticed that the Select Topic menu dialog has as a choice /dev/random.
You need to pull the stick out of your butt.
It's pressing on your brain.
-- gewg_
(Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Thursday December 25 2014, @07:34PM
deleting this site from my rss before it turns into even more shit.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @03:01PM
The queue is low, better put on my fedora.
Why don't you login?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @03:27PM
Agreed, this is a trash article. Being an atheist doesn't mean you have to act like low class gutter trash. Mariah Carey is an autotuned whore...you really like that song better than, say, anything done by Trans-Siberian Orchestra or Celtic Women?
Being atheist doesn't mean you can't enjoy time with family, the decorations, or the festive spirit. Stop acting like a seventeen year old who just discoverefreedom.
By the way, anybody older than 10 knows the pagan origins of modern Christmas. This isn't a new revelation, so stop trying to sound holier than thou. You really come across sounding like a know it all teenager who just figured out evolution.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @05:48PM
By the way, anybody older than 10 knows the pagan origins of modern Christmas.
Demonstrably false. A lot of people do *not* know that. There are many people of the religious variety who insist that it's always some Christian holiday, no matter how you celebrate it, and mock people who celebrate it and aren't Christians.
Don't try to pretend that they don't exist.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @03:24PM
We don't celebrate Christmas. We celebrate Jul. Jul is the heathen new year. It is the time when days stop becoming shorter and start becoming longer. The word Jul has similar origins to the word Wheel. The calender was often a wheel.
Due to the lack of supermarkets in those times people had to prepare well before winter storing and preserving food. Once the middle of winter was reached people could be certain about surplus. This surplus is use in Jul feast. Practically all of our traditional Jul food is preserved, such as Lutefisk, Juleribbe and many other smaller dishes.
Some religion has made its way into the celebration, but all in all the season is the reason for the season.
Merry Chrismas and a Happy New Year!
(Score: 2) by jimshatt on Friday December 26 2014, @12:13AM
My kids are actually in christian schools, so we got the whole "forget about Santa and think about Jesus" talk.
(Score: 5, Funny) by NotSanguine on Thursday December 25 2014, @05:15PM
As imagined by, well, somebody, back in the day. No, it's not new and many of you have probably seen this (especially those from the old DECNet crowd) But very amusing. Enjoy!
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
December 14
My dearest John,
I went to the door today and the postman had for me a partridge in a pear
tree. What a delightful gift they are. Thank you for the wonderful thought.
With deep love and affection,
Your ever loving Agnes.
****************************
December 15
Dearest John,
Today the postman brought your very sweet gift - 2 turtle doves. I am
delighted, they are adorable.
All my love,
Yours, Agnes
****************************
December 16
Dear John,
Oh, how extravagant you are. I really must protest. Three French Hens. I
don't deserve such generosity, I insist you are too kind.
Love, Agnes.
****************************
December 17
Dear John,
Yet another present. This time 4 calling birds. You really are spoiling me.
Love, Agnes.
***************************
December 18
My dearest John,
What a lovely surprise. Today the postman brought me five golden rings, one
for each finger. You are impulsive, but I love you. Frankly, all those
birds were beginning to get on my nerves with their constant squawking.
Your ever loving Agnes
****************************
December 19
Dear John,
When I opened the door this morning there were actually six bloody great geese
laying eggs all over the front doorstep. So we are back with the birds
again.
Where on earth do you suppose I can keep them all? The neighbours say they
can smell them and I can't sleep for the noise. Please stop sending birds.
Cordially, Agnes.
****************************
December 20
John,
What is it with these sodding birds? Now I have seven bloody swans-a-swimming.
Is it some sort of goddam wheeze or what? The house is full of birdshit
and the racket is such that I am becoming a nervous wreck. It's not funny,
so stop sending me flaming birds.
Agnes.
****************************
December 21
O.K. Buster,
I think I prefer the birds. What the hell am I going to do with eight maids-
a-milking? Apart from the blasted birds, now I have eight bloody great
cows-a-shitting all over the house and mooing all night.
Lay off, you smartarse,
Agnes.
****************************
December 22
Listen, Shithead,
What are you - some kind of nut? Now I have nine pipers-a-playing and CHRIST
do they play. When they aren't playing with their sodding pipes, they are
chasing the maids through the cow-shit. The cows keep mooing and treading all
over the bloody birds, and the neighbours are threatening to have me evicted.
You'll get yours.
Agnes.
****************************
December 23
You rotten bastard,
Now we have got ten ladies dancing. How on earth anyone can call those whores
'ladies' is beyond me. They are balling the pipers all night long and the
cows can't sleep and have got diarrhoea. My living room is a river of shit
and the landlord just declared the building unfit to live in.
PISS OFF
****************************
December 24
Listen Dickhead,
With the eleven lords-a-leaping all over the maids, the ladies and me, we may
never walk again. The pipers are fighting the lords for the crumpet and are
committing buggery with the cows. All the birds are dead and rotting amongst
the cowshit after being trampled in the orgy, but not before they had eaten
my golden rings. I hope you are satisfied, you rotten, vicious, shithouse.
Your sworn enemy,
Agnes Fullbody
****************************
December 25
MACDONALD, FITCH & ABERCROMBIE, Barristers and Solicitors.
Dear Sir,
We are in receipt of your gift of 12 fiddlers fiddling with themselves.
We understand this is merely the latest infliction in your sustained
persecution of our client, Miss Agnes Fullbody, who is at present residing in
the Happy House Rest Home. We are under instructions to charge you with the
destruction of our client's home, sanity and genitalia.
You are warned not to attempt to contact her as she has given the Rest Home
staff instructions to shoot you on sight. A warrant has been issued for
your arrest.
We are, Sir,
Yours faithfully ...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 27 2014, @05:40AM
It's actually worse than that since on each day she gets the new gift plus another set of everything she got on the previous days.
At least, that was the answer we were supposed to come up with first semester CompSci.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 25 2014, @05:27PM
This is the best christmas song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOt_3xoPSls [youtube.com]
(Score: 1) by Refugee from beyond on Thursday December 25 2014, @08:04PM
Still waiting for Ded Moroz here.
Instantly better soylentnews: replace background on article and comment titles with #973131.
(Score: 2) by dcollins on Thursday December 25 2014, @09:10PM
This is what I play every year now:
http://capacitiesnj.bandcamp.com/track/home-for-the-holidays [bandcamp.com]
(Score: 1) by Lee_Dailey on Friday December 26 2014, @06:50AM
howdy y'all,
my two fave christmas songs have been "a five pound box of money" and "santa baby" for most of my adult life. it's really nifty to see someone else who even _knows_ of them, much less likes them lots.
whee! [*grin*]
take care,
lee
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 26 2014, @09:41AM
You have excellent taste in music.
-- gewg_ 8-)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 26 2014, @09:00AM
https://stallman.org/grav-mass.html [stallman.org]
(Score: 1) by cellocgw on Friday December 26 2014, @07:06PM
Speaking as a long-time musician (but w/ a crappy singing voice), let me tell ya that plenty of us atheists enjoy a good Bach -- or Brahms - or Mozart etc., Missa Brevis or Christmas Oratorio, or Russian Easter Overture. Aside from the interesting anthropology behind a lot of the text, the music is great.
Pop Xmas jingles not so much. Sorry, Bob Rivers.
Physicist, cellist, former OTTer (1190) resume: https://app.box.com/witthoftresume