Atheists: How do you feel during the Christmas season?

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Oh, really? Now how come I didn't read any of that in history books?

You could say the Pagans plagiarized it from the Egyptians though. There is plagiarism is inherent in all religion. I suppose on could say even if it has been plagiarized, it is still nevertheless based on the same symbolic foundations and so in some sense still the same. Could you point me to some evidence that states that the pagans worshiped the winter solstice on the 25th of December? the only reason I ask for empirical evidence is because many people state that Horus and Mithras were worshiped on the same day as Jesus' birth but this is entirely false and in this respect Christianity is quite an original religion.

Christmas is a Cult Religion unto itself.

I'm not saying Christianity is a Cult, but Christmas is a Cult split off of it mixed with Pagan influences and pressure to be a consumer. All the while it dominates consumer locations with decorations and music. It also feeds fanaticism that we witness with people on Black Friday. I think Black Friday is actually the true Christmas.

I expect that again I'll take refuge from the music wearing my earbuds all the time.

Aside from complaints about the trappings of this nutty holiday, I do enjoy visiting family on Thanksgiving and Christmas. I don't care about getting presents anymore. I think that stuff should be for the kids and it feels weird that there is lingering social pressure for adults to do that. Even if you get a present without wrapping paper you might be called out on it.


To be fair and put this in perspective, I think it is natural for humans to create a festiv mood while getting through the long dark winter months, but it has turned into something ludicrous.

Maybe not xmas itself, but many of the 'traditional' elements of xmas (particularly feasting, fires/lights, and evergreen boughs, wreaths, and trees) come from clearly pagan roots.
http://www.history.com/topics/history-o ... tmas-trees
http://www.orkneyjar.com/tradition/yule/index2.html

I dunno. Because your history books suck?

I like celebrating the winter solstice.I'm glad to see the days get longer.I start dreaming of the coming garden season.

What do your history books say? Oh, right, you're just being snarky while being ignorant at the same time.

So Robdemac didn't say much right.

Key Passage from the first link:

So it wasn't on December 25, and they didn't celebrate it on account of some rebirth or resurrection of the sun, but on account of the sun god recovering from sickness.

You and I have had this argument before. But in case you've forgotten:

Sol Invictus

Midwinter Celebrations

We have only known for certain in recent centuries that the solstice is a point in time. Previously people had no way of knowing this and had to make do with careful observation of sunrise, sunset points on horizon for several days around the solstice. It is not until Dec 25 that a noticeable change in these positions signal the passing of the solstice. And hence the rebirth of the sun.

Won't be long now until someone brings up the arguments from the zeitgeist documentary.

What is wrong with having a debate about the Zeitgeist documentary? It was completely fallacious. Horus and Mithras do not share any similarity with Jesus. None of them were born from a virgin, Mithras was born of a stone and Horus was born from Isis who was impregnated by Osiris. Nor were they born of the December, Horus was born somewhere around October I believe and Mithras does not have a Birthday. Yes, there may be some links between Paganism and Christianity in so far that trees are worshiped and mistletoe is hung and various things like that. If someone could point me to some empirical evidence as to which historian thinks that, I would appreciate it. In terms of mythology though, Christmas is quite original. Not that I am a Christian, I find it an absurd religion.

That's not really a response is it? You could make any ludicrous theory up and then when someone says they did not read that in history, pull the 'your history books suck card out' and not have to provide any evidence. I must admit, I have heard the pagan-christian theory many times before and it seems very likely since the notion of a dying-and-ressurecting god I believe has pagan roots )although I cannot be sure) and the worship of Christmas trees seems very paganistic. Saying this however, no-one has ever provided ANY evidence of that from some history book. If anyone could, it would be great.

Forget what Zeitgeist is saying. You don't need it. But there is plenty of evidence pointing to the notion that Christmas is not original and is in fact a celebration of the sun's rebirth.

Please see:

Winter Solstice

An alphabetical list is given of midwinter celebration, also an explanation of the difficulty in observing the actual day or instant of the solstice. Of significance is Sol Invictus, the Roman solstice festival.

Thank you for the information. I shall check that out. I was not really disputing that Christianity was paganistic in some way, I am sure it is. I was just questioning the fact that it shares its symbolism with Mithras, Horus, Krishna and other gods when actually in that respect, it is hugely original. I shall read a bit more up on it. The winter solstice is on the 21st, so why do Christians worship it on the 25th?