Quote Originally Posted by mrdevious
Tolerance goes both ways. We wouldn't find it acceptable to supress the expression of another religion's holiday, and it's not accetpable to suppress a christian one. Whether or not atheists (such as myself) and other people celebrate Christmas doens't matter, the holiday is still being borrowed from a christian tradition (and albeit a pagaen one beforehand). Christmas was established in western society as a celebration of the birth of christ whether anybody likes it or not, and nobody has a right to take it away from christians and pretend it's "anual gift-giving day". If atheists like myself wish to celebrate christmas while abdicating the religious context, that's all good. But damned if I'm going to insist that everybody accept my alteration from the original version. And as far as I'm concerned, being offended by the acknowledgement of a christian holiday makes you no less a bigot than being offended Muslim's celebration of Ramadan, a Jew's barmitzfa, or a buddhist meditating in public.
Well said Mr. D. I'm an aetheist(although Breuk would disagree) and I celebrate Christmas. To me Christmas is very meaningful even without the religious context. To me it's a celebration of family, love, and happiness. As far as the whole birth of Christ thing goes, to me it's just a story that goes along with Christmas. Just like frosty the snowman, the grinch, etc. Regarding Bruek's statement that its "an affront to rationality", what about The Lord of The Rings, Moby Dick, or any other work of fiction. They are just as unrational. Are they offensive too? If not, why? Seriously,why can't we all just live and let live and stop worrying about a harmless nativity scene?