and so this is Christmas.

[Calin Leafshade]

So is everyone ready to celebrate the birth of baby jeebus? Despite him being born in march ofcourse.

As an atheist people often get confused as to why I even bother with Christmas but frankly i love it. It somehow makes the dreadful weather of the season seem kind of nice.

Even though its dark by 3pm and you cant see your hand in front of your face due to blizzard, it illicits a kind of emotional response because you connect that horrible weather with something nice and warm and fuzzy.

I think Britain has almost avoided the mass commercialisation of Christmas since its still about family and stuff for us. We have no religion to cloud the issue (Alot of british people will say 'Jedi' when pushed about their religion) and we dont have thanksgiving to steal christmas' thunder.

So all in all im pro-Christmas despite not believing in the divinity of Christ.

Hooray for the winter solstice!

Thoughts on Christmas anyone?

[Haddas]

I enjoy Christmas aswell. Although it's called Jul or Joulu where I'm from so there's no real Christian connotation in the name. I love Christmas because it gives me an excuse to visit all my relatives and give them gifts.

..Shit! I gotta go buy gifts!

[Darth Mandarb]

I smell a religion debate/explosion...

Christmas for me was, as a child, all about receiving lots of toys.  As an adult it's about being with family.  While I still like receiving gifts (who doesn't) for me the joy of the season is in giving them to others.

I don't hold to the religious significance of it anymore (as you said Christ was born in March) but more the sentiment of family and friends and the whole "good will" stuff.

[Danman]

Calin you always got to diss Christian's all the time.
Where I am. Nobody celebrates Christmas really so doesn't really bother me
Nobody can afford presents either. But who cares I have sun shine  
Where you guys are in a blizzard  

[Calin Leafshade]

Ha ha, no dont misunderstand me. This isnt about religion. Just Christmas.

I just wondered how important christmas was to people around the world since we have such a diverse community here.

[Danman]

So is everyone ready to celebrate the birth of baby jeebus?

Really. This isnt about religion. Just Christmas.

[Stupot]

It's an unfortunate chain of events that Christmas ended up with Christ in it's name.  It's about food and family, and rubbish music... The religious thing is kind of a subplot for anybody who cares.

I've actually felt quite in the Xmas spirit this year, despite being a right Scrooge for the past few years... I think partly because I've made friends with a lot of the Japanese exchange students and they're all quite excited about the concept of a proper British Christmas.  I guess some of the excitement has rubbed of on me...

[Snake]

This isnt about religion. Just Christmas.

Well, as far as a lot of people are concerned, Christmas is based on the birth of Christ. So you're, which should have been expected, going to get people who take it offensively, Calin, when you say what Danman has quoted.

I myself, I love Christmas. To me, like you, it has absolutely nothing to do with celebrating baby Jeebus. For me it's all about sharing time together around the tree and watching the people you love open gifts (especially the ones you got them). Like you've mentioned, no matter how miserable it is outside, something about all those decorations and multicolored lights, lighted trees, etc; give that fuzzy warm feeling you speak of.

It's also a great time where you can get together and forget about all the shit that the fan of life has sprayed on us. Even if it is just for a moment.

[Calin Leafshade]

what is there to get offended about?

I said i liked their holiday.

I'll celebrate whoevers birthday they like providing they dont change all the pagany bits.

The actual christianity part of christmas is irrelevant. I was more interested in the other side the christmas.

[Misj']

Despite him being born in march ofcourse.

And by that you mean September of course (at least that is what most scholars agree upon; which would also fit the close-to-new-year-tradition).

Thoughts on Christmas anyone?

[Disgruntled Mode]
Christmas...personally I hate (or at least really dislike) it. I consider it one of the most annoying festivities the year has to offer...christmas and the world-championship soccer stuff. The only thing good about christmas in my opinion is the days off that I get. Other than that, the less I'm bothered with it, the better.

[Sarcasm]Maybe it's because my life actually doesn't suck, so I don't need a forced date (christmas) to feel special, warm and fuzzy (which I really never felt at christmas...on may other days, but not on christmas).[/Sarcasm][/i]
[/Disgruntled Mode]

Anyway, in a less disgruntled tone: christmas just isn't my festivity. I can't remember ever having any warm feelings towards it, and in recent years I've grown even less affectionate. Just about every aspect of the holiday feels cheap and fake to me; the music, the lights, the movies (although I the Hebrew Hammer and Santa's Slay did have their moments...at times), the whole forced christmas-feeling just isn't me.

Ps. my apologies if I offended anyone with my dislike towards this particular festivity. I'm just more of a 'doe maar gewoon dan doe je al gek genoeg'-kind-of-guy [rough translation: just act normal, then you're already acting silly/crazy enough].

[Calin Leafshade]

Despite him being born in march ofcourse.

And by that you mean September of course (at least that is what most scholars agree upon; which would also fit the close-to-new-year-tradition).

Actually it seems most scholars agree on April. I thought it was march, i Apologise.

[Sarcasm]Maybe it's because my life actually doesn't suck, so I don't need a forced date (christmas) to feel special, warm and fuzzy (which I really never felt at christmas...on may other days, but not on christmas).[/Sarcasm][/i]

This idea of 'forced fun' is pretty common with people who dislike Christmas.

I prefer to think of it as a meeting stone in time :p Everyone will be off work at that time of year (except me.. im working this christmas) so it encourages alot of people to get together.

Thats simply not possible at any other time of the year.

Also i feel that christmas encourages solidarity. Its something to rally behind.

[Helme]

I used to dislike christmas. I remember my former neighbours christmas light-decorations that had the charm of a brothel in Las Vegas. I've no idead how brothels in Las Vegas really look, but the all the blinking was very annoying.

But it starts getting better. It's one of the few times in the year when your friends meet again in your hometown and that's what I appreciate about christmas.

[Misj']

Despite him being born in march ofcourse.

And by that you mean September of course (at least that is what most scholars agree upon; which would also fit the close-to-new-year-tradition).

Actually it seems most scholars agree on April. I thought it was march, i Apologise.

Let's agree to disagree which scholars we trust (and how we count 'most' in this case). But March/April normally bases its calculation on Nisan (the first month) being new year, while September bases it on the Jewish (religious) NewYear (Rosh Hashanah) which is in Tishri (the 7th month), and commonly falls in September (or early October). On a sidenote, this incidentally also fits the idea of Jesus being 33.5 years old when he died close to passover (which itself falls in the month Nisan); although I don't consider the latter very solid proof.

I prefer to think of it as a meeting stone in time :p Everyone will be off work at that time of year (except me..I'm working this christmas) so it encourages alot of people to get together.

While I understand that point of view, I always preferred other days for that; days that are significant to me (or my family) and my life, rather than some date that is forced upon you. And yes, I also consider valentine's day the least romantic day of the year

Also i feel that christmas encourages solidarity. Its something to rally behind.

While I agree that solidarity - up to a certain point - should be rallied behind, the idea of having one day for it is weird to me. It kinda feels like: I'm only kind to my pet on world's animal day. I know I over-exaggerate it here, and I know you don't mean to imply that people should only rally behind solidarity on this specific given day...but I just don't need a special (and forced) day for that.

Anyway, that's my feeling towards christmas. There's little to 'discuss', and I don't want to convince you that christmas sucks or anything. If you like the holiday that's great...it's just not for me.

[Snake]

what is there to get offended about?

When you believe in such things, it's usually taken very seriously. So someone calling Jesus, Jeebus, would naturally be taken offensively, eventhough not meant that way.


One night my wife was working late. This was back early last year when I was working on Castle of Fire (you know, the game that three people played?). So she get's home and sees something on my desktop background and says, "What the hell is that?!"

It was a picture of a statue of Jesus Christ standing there with a huge stupid grin on his face with a big "thumbs up". I thought it was great so I set it as my background image.

We got into a minor argument which ended in me setting something else as my desktop background.

I thought it was funny because the only time you see the guy is when he's hanging on the cross in agony. It was good to see him smiling She comes from a very religious family, which I do not. She believes in God, I lean more towards not. Despite our religious beliefs/disbeliefs, we get along perfectly.

Anyway, the point is, I can see why Danman (or anyone) would be offended, that's all.

[Calin Leafshade]

lol but YOU referred to him as Jeebus.

How come you can but i cant?

incidentally I have great respect for Christ. He seemed like a good guy.

[Snake]

lol, because I'm a hypocrite

\\--EDIT--\\
I too have respect for religion as a whole. I find it very interesting. Whenever we are visiting my wife's family I go to church (Catholic, which I am, I was told ) with them (for the holidays). I don't mock it or put a sour face on. I enjoy it. I like to listen. But do I believe everything that's being spoken? Not any of it. But I am intrigued, I guess is the word. Would I go every Sunday? Blargh, only for my wife whom wants to start going with our daughter.

[Calin Leafshade]

I respect Christ :p Not religion.

I'd like to sit down with Jesus and tell him about the catholic church and its palaces.It would be fascinating to know what Jesus thinks about modern christianity.

If i could bring back any historical figure from the dead i think Jesus is competing for the number 1 spot with jeff buckley and nick drake.

Edit: Anyway... Christmas remember :p not religion.

[Snake]

It would be fascinating to know what Jesus thinks about modern christianity.

Agreed.

[Danman]

Anyway, the point is, I can see why Danman (or anyone) would be offended, that's all.

Yo snake I wasn't offended. I was just trying to innocently cause an argument.
I myself am not religious cause I believe people just believe in religion coz
their scared to die to be honest. I don't have anything against
religion I just don't believe in it that's all.

Edit: I think we all don't know what else to talk about with Xmas so we talk about religion.

[LimpingFish]

Ahh...Christmas. A time to paint little Santa hats on our forum pics.