Hopefully this can be a serious and good thread, and won't turn into some dumb religious debate:
On my way home yesterday I was listening to some conservative pundit dude on the radio and he was talking about the "war on Christmas" and how atheists are trying to ruin it for everyone. The focus was some FL courthouse that put up a nativity scene outside on the lawn. Someone complained, so they invited all religious groups to contribute the the holiday decor.
An atheist group put up a nativity with something offensive, didn't catch exactly what but it was an animal in place of the baby Jesus in the manger or something like that, and there was a sign saying religion was evil, blah blah blah.
Anyway, the pundit was taking calls and hoping for atheists to explain to him why this was appropriate and why they loathe Christmas so much. And he was being seriously curious about it, not some hostile trapper bomb thrower. He had several atheist calls, but all of them were very much pro-Christmas, even though they don't necessarily celebrate it as the birth of Jesus. But they do put up the tree, some even go to church with their families, give presents, say "Merry Christmas", etc.
So I figured I might have better luck on here with you all. You atheists, do you celebrate Christmas? And/or are you offended by the nativity or other religious trappings? Is it appropriate to make government buildings recognize all religions at Christmas, including atheism, which isn't a religion at all, but is actually lack of religion?
Serious questions, so flame throwers need not apply because I'll just ignore you and possibly delete the thread if you can't have a civilized discussion.
On my way home yesterday I was listening to some conservative pundit dude on the radio and he was talking about the "war on Christmas" and how atheists are trying to ruin it for everyone. The focus was some FL courthouse that put up a nativity scene outside on the lawn. Someone complained, so they invited all religious groups to contribute the the holiday decor.
An atheist group put up a nativity with something offensive, didn't catch exactly what but it was an animal in place of the baby Jesus in the manger or something like that, and there was a sign saying religion was evil, blah blah blah.
Anyway, the pundit was taking calls and hoping for atheists to explain to him why this was appropriate and why they loathe Christmas so much. And he was being seriously curious about it, not some hostile trapper bomb thrower. He had several atheist calls, but all of them were very much pro-Christmas, even though they don't necessarily celebrate it as the birth of Jesus. But they do put up the tree, some even go to church with their families, give presents, say "Merry Christmas", etc.
So I figured I might have better luck on here with you all. You atheists, do you celebrate Christmas? And/or are you offended by the nativity or other religious trappings? Is it appropriate to make government buildings recognize all religions at Christmas, including atheism, which isn't a religion at all, but is actually lack of religion?
Serious questions, so flame throwers need not apply because I'll just ignore you and possibly delete the thread if you can't have a civilized discussion.