Do all you atheists and agnostics celebrate christmas?

One can only hope.

Don't necessarily believe in Christ is rather disingenuous. It could be completely plausible for an agnostic or an atheist to believe that there had been a Jesus, but not to believe that he were god, or a savior. One of the problems of perception you have is from putting your own, Christian interpretation on things. For example, the massive celebration is a celebration of (hopefully) successful commercialism--it's another question altogether whether or not the celebration of the birth of the alleged savior is, of itself, massive.

But wouldn't that then be your perception?

I just came across the SantaCon, a bar-hopping celebration of the season, which is apparently coming soon (or already come to a town near you). NYC's was last weekend. Boston's is coming up this Sat., 12/18 at 12:30 at the Asgard Pub in Central Square, Cambridge. I'm thinking of getting a red hat and joining in.



Thanks to boingboing.net, a blog about the new, strange, techie, and geekie.

Sure, and it's based on 60 years of observing the christian dominated culture of which i am a member, like it or not. That doesn't alter in the least the obvious fact of your proclivity to view all of this through the lens of christianity, apparently without the ability to step outside your belief to see how it affects your perception.

I do view all things through the lens of my beliefs. Don't you? When you get right down to it doesn't everyone? Aren't our beliefs formed by how we preceive the things of the world, which in turn shape our beliefs? However I am a little miffed that you would assume that I do not have the ability to step outside my beliefs to see how it affects my perception. Surely you're not the only one capable of that?
As I stated before I was enjoying reading what people were writing in this thread- mainly because it did allow me to see how other people thought about christmas.

I entertain few beliefs, but no, i don't necessarily view things though the lens of my beliefs, nor do i have any good reason to assume that "everyone" does. In fact, the virtue of tolerance comes from being able to see things as other people do, whether or not their beliefs are consonant with one's own. This is one of the prime reasons that people become disgusted with organized religion, or mere religious beliefs, even if not associated with an organized religion--that those who hold certain beliefs are unable to step aside from those beliefs and see the world and the other people in it in as objective a manner as possible.

I also disagree that our beliefs are formed by how we perceive the world. Rather, how we perceive the world will be conditioned by our beliefs, unless we make an effort to overcome that limitation. You are contradicting yourself. You are defending seeing the world through the lens of your belief, and at the same time you are attempting to claim that you started this thead so see how others think about Christmas. If you truly wish to do that, you're going to need to be able to discard the prejudices which your beliefs impose on you.

Are you saying that beliefs never change?

No, nor is there any good reason for you to infer that from what i've written.

Yes, here in Bangkok we keep Christ out of Xmas. It is a nice secular holiday with just parties, friends and fun.

What a surprise.

Considering that less than 1% of the Thai population is Christian, I would have thought otherwise.

More surprising is the, apparent, fact that Thailand is a nation of atheists and agnostics.

What part of this surprises you? That about 95 percent of all Thais are Buddhists, or that Buddhism lacks any belief in gods?

More like a winter holiday celebration?

That you believe all Buddhists are atheists.

so here's a reason that we all celebrate Christmas--what it can get people to do:

True story, World War I

The list of people responding might be more telling than the question itself.

Here's one for Monterey Jack:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yahooeditorspicks/galleries/72157625275031305/

re: pom
Wow! I love them. As David Bowie observed, too much is never enough. Merry Xmas!

I used to work with a Polish guy called Mirek.

He told me that in his culture, it is customary to set an extra place at the table for Christmas dinner, for the "unknown traveller or stranger" who might come to the door on Christmas Eve needing shelter.

I thought that was a very nice thing.

So if you know any Polish people......

Jesus Christ was actually born in March. Palestine would have been friggin' cold in December. That being the case, the World's practice of Christmas is secular because JC wasn't born on 12/25. So yes, ag's and ath's celebrate Christmas just as American's celebrate Thanksgiving, another secular holiday.