it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

[thefifthchevron]

I have a weird relationship with Christmas. I love it but I was raised in a conservative Christian religion only to discover I am an atheist at heart. I'm not really sure about celebrating a holiday I don't exactly believe in, when all my family and friends are always pointing out: "Remember the true meaning of Christmas!" I enjoy the holiday for

Comments

[black_raven135]

Religious does not totally define belief...it can be defined in part as conscientiousness or dedication to practice, e.g. brushing your teeth every day and many other practices which have nothing to do with faith or lack of it.
It is my belief that many who are brought up in a strict
'religious' home soon walk away.......as they never had anything to hold onto......which brings this topic to me...
I find it very difficult anymore to see myself in a structured environment as my upbringing was in the Roman Catholic Church. While the basics of faith still hold firmly I have rid myself of all its trappings, rules, and suffocating ritual.

[thefifthchevron]

My family isn't strict per se... just faithful and conservative. I'm happy they've found joy in their beliefs. I just never connected to it. It was such an overwhelming relief and sense of peace when I realized I did not need an organized religion to tell me how to be a good person.

And then I go and choose to live in Utah! Glutton for punishment! heh...

[black_raven135]

I realized I did not need an organized religion to tell me how to be a good person.

And that is how I feel.
It is why I felt compelled to mention that I left the
rigid and truly suffocating rules and rituals behind.
I find it kind of sad that some (((((need))))) to control....even when it comes to something as personal as faith.

[gaffsie]

Count me in as another atheist who loves Christmas. I'm not from a religious family, so I don't have to deal with people shoving Jesus in my face at every turn. For us, the real meaning of Christmas is family. That's worth celebrating.

I used to feel a little like I was co-opting Christmas, but then I realized that Christmas is just an old pagan festival of light in new clothes. ;)

[thefifthchevron]

Love it! I really like your take on Christmas.

And luckily even though I am surrounded by religion on all sides: family, work, neighborhood, (there is no escape - I live in UTAH!) people are pretty good at not shoving it down my throat. Although living in All-Religion-All-the-Time-Land, I think that's why I still have that tiny niggling in the back of my brain that makes Christmas a little awkward. If I were back in California (where I grew up) I probably wouldn't even think twice about it. Too bad I love my job and friends inconveniently located in Utah. :)