Great video - I personally find the following of any tradition to be no different than saying I surrender to the past and choose not to think. Traditions are basically useless . . . you could have ended the video with your first statement - "Christmas is not a season it is just a day." Everyday is just a day . . . I find it frightening when ppl tie their emotional states to an abstract concept that they had nothing to do with that falls on a particular day of the year - including bdays.
@MagorianAx History,Time & Place,make unique what can be seen as unique.This is the art of YouTube.With a sense of time & place & this era now upon us.I say to myself that in the time & place of theRenaisance,you would have been groomed to become a Cardinal.Your talent for tact & respect for the most annoying comments is something rare on Utube.The people which you effect the most will sometimes,not comment.You articulate what others want to sayToKnowNow & HearHere what wordsCan Do.
Bravo; excellent, well thought out response. Nothing more needs to be said. Don't belittle yourself by being drawn into the fallacious arguments in these other replies.
Interesting sentiments and several keen facts that I appreciate. But I can't get behind people who claim that the traditions observed during the winter holidays, christian or not, are secular (note that most of the traditions victim to this claim ARE in fact linked to christmas and not the other holidays). Not being a christian tradition, does NOT mean it's non religious. And even so, non religious does NOT mean non superstitious. And even assuming it's absent of BOTH, does NOT make it secular.
@IrwinJohnFinster Secular simply means separate from religion. So yes, if a celebration is non-religious, by definition it is secular.
But what I meant by secular holidays were not the practice of traditions formerly associated with a religion (which would still be considered secular celebrations) but holidays that were actually secular in origin. The New Year is a good example. There's nothing religious about the beginning of the next cycle in the Gregorian calendar.
@MagorianAx Well a point I'd like to make is that they weren't actually secular in origin. How can you call the superstitious belief that if you keep a tree in your home through the cold winter that the forest will be blessed with a fruitful rebirth a secular tradition?
That being said I agree with you on the subject of the New Year celebration, except that it's a kind of "apples and oranges" comparison. The new year is pretty much secular, but the xmas tree tradition (for example) is not.
@IrwinJohnFinster Then we're in agreement, as I never tried to claim that Christmas was secular in origin. I only claimed that there were secular holidays during this season, as there are.
@MagorianAx My point wasn't that you claimed Christmas (the day) was secular. I said the traditions surrounding it weren't secular. "The xmas tree tradition (for example)" is what I actually said. Your point (as I understood it) was that the original purpose of the tradition of the tree was no longer the reason that people practiced it, and that because they were observing a tradition whose origins they don't believe in, you doing the same was a secular way to celebrate. I don't think it is.
@IrwinJohnFinster I was simply attempting to relate to Jezuzfreek the inconsistency of his argument, and explain why I celebrate Christmas rather than "make up my own holiday" in a manner that he could relate to because he does exactly the same thing when he puts up a Christmas tree.
However, as I've said before, secular simply means separate from religion. So yes, if a celebration is non-religious, by definition it is secular. In order to make sense, you'd have to redefine the word.
@MagorianAx So basically, even though Christmas and all its traditions aren't secular in origin, you're observing those traditions simply because you've done it all your life. And as a non-believer, you personally aren't doing it for religious reasons, and that retroactively makes your celebration secular. I still don't see how a non-secular holiday can be celebrated in a secular way just because of the intentions of the person celebrating it. But I'm prying. It's your celebration and you can...
@MagorianAx ...do it for any reason you want. As long as it makes sense to you, it doesn't really have to make sense to me. I suppose if I'd celebrated Christmas all my life it would make more sense to me.
But just because I choose not to celebrate and you do doesn't really mean you owe me any kind of explanation. I was curious nonetheless. I'll let you conclude with your next reply if you like. Youtube is draining my life away and I'm starting to feel like Killjoy McBuzzkill over here. :P
@seemeasis If I don't what? Quick recap, you're the one dropping points. You suggested that my video should have been titled something else, despite the fact that it's a standard title for a reply. Do you not understand how that works? The title of the video to which I'm replying stays in my title, following Re:. If you understand that, why suggest a new title?
@seemeasis Hahahaha, oh wow. Don't you see the "Re:" at the beginning? That means "reply". Ever replied to an email? A forum post? You'll see the same thing.
And way to ignore the part I called most important.
Why Do Atheists Celebrate Christmas? Because you got caught up with the spirit of Christmas commercial publicities.It is more of a spirit of magic.The day after halloween the malls and stores start playing christmas songs. I get caught up myself. Add to this is the decoration... everywhere especially the night light.I really do not want to be in this spirit.It is not really christian christmas spirit. All I want to do is not spend money, yet my wife accuse me of being a scrooge if I don't
@MagorianAx You are not the only atheists around the block, Why Do Atheists Celebrate ChristmasI is the title of your video ATHEISTS with an S. Does that mean your represent ALL Atheists. And beside I did watch it when it first came out, only now I'm expressing my experiences.....my experiences does that count for anything? You have an experience that you shared. I am a Christian and I love it....
@seemeasis First, this title is derived from the video to which I'm replying. I'm not asking the question.
But most importantly, you should be more careful with your wording. "Because you got caught up with the spirit of Christmas commercial publicities." See that "you"? Understand how I might think you're speaking directly to me?
I say "Happy Holidays" for exactly the reason that you elucidated. Nice to see something new from you and hope that this will become a more common even in 2012. All the best for the New Year too!
Many christians have no idea that christmas is mostly borrowed from pagan holidays. You would think they would be happy everyone enjoys christmas since in a way it is good PR for their faith.
Nice and clear response. It takes courage to answer to someone with a nickname like Jeezuzfreek777. I mean, the say "When you fight with a pig you both get dirty - but the pig likes it" comes to mind ;)
Great video - I personally find the following of any tradition to be no different than saying I surrender to the past and choose not to think. Traditions are basically useless . . . you could have ended the video with your first statement - "Christmas is not a season it is just a day." Everyday is just a day . . . I find it frightening when ppl tie their emotional states to an abstract concept that they had nothing to do with that falls on a particular day of the year - including bdays.
rictusgate 2 weeks ago
thank you,that was amazingly well-presented...please make more..you have a talent for organizing,pacing,presenting...& utilizing these media....
tlaniganschmidt 3 weeks ago 3
@tlaniganschmidt Thank you so much! Have no fear, more videos are in the works.
MagorianAx 3 weeks ago
@MagorianAx History,Time & Place,make unique what can be seen as unique.This is the art of YouTube.With a sense of time & place & this era now upon us.I say to myself that in the time & place of theRenaisance,you would have been groomed to become a Cardinal.Your talent for tact & respect for the most annoying comments is something rare on Utube.The people which you effect the most will sometimes,not comment.You articulate what others want to sayToKnowNow & HearHere what wordsCan Do.
tlaniganschmidt 3 weeks ago
MagorianAx,
Bravo; excellent, well thought out response. Nothing more needs to be said. Don't belittle yourself by being drawn into the fallacious arguments in these other replies.
Regards
loyaldavis 1 month ago
@loyaldavis I'm glad you enjoyed it!
MagorianAx 1 month ago
Interesting sentiments and several keen facts that I appreciate. But I can't get behind people who claim that the traditions observed during the winter holidays, christian or not, are secular (note that most of the traditions victim to this claim ARE in fact linked to christmas and not the other holidays). Not being a christian tradition, does NOT mean it's non religious. And even so, non religious does NOT mean non superstitious. And even assuming it's absent of BOTH, does NOT make it secular.
IrwinJohnFinster 2 months ago
@IrwinJohnFinster Secular simply means separate from religion. So yes, if a celebration is non-religious, by definition it is secular.
But what I meant by secular holidays were not the practice of traditions formerly associated with a religion (which would still be considered secular celebrations) but holidays that were actually secular in origin. The New Year is a good example. There's nothing religious about the beginning of the next cycle in the Gregorian calendar.
MagorianAx 2 months ago
@MagorianAx Well a point I'd like to make is that they weren't actually secular in origin. How can you call the superstitious belief that if you keep a tree in your home through the cold winter that the forest will be blessed with a fruitful rebirth a secular tradition?
That being said I agree with you on the subject of the New Year celebration, except that it's a kind of "apples and oranges" comparison. The new year is pretty much secular, but the xmas tree tradition (for example) is not.
IrwinJohnFinster 1 month ago
@IrwinJohnFinster Then we're in agreement, as I never tried to claim that Christmas was secular in origin. I only claimed that there were secular holidays during this season, as there are.
MagorianAx 1 month ago
@MagorianAx My point wasn't that you claimed Christmas (the day) was secular. I said the traditions surrounding it weren't secular. "The xmas tree tradition (for example)" is what I actually said. Your point (as I understood it) was that the original purpose of the tradition of the tree was no longer the reason that people practiced it, and that because they were observing a tradition whose origins they don't believe in, you doing the same was a secular way to celebrate. I don't think it is.
IrwinJohnFinster 1 month ago
@IrwinJohnFinster I was simply attempting to relate to Jezuzfreek the inconsistency of his argument, and explain why I celebrate Christmas rather than "make up my own holiday" in a manner that he could relate to because he does exactly the same thing when he puts up a Christmas tree.
However, as I've said before, secular simply means separate from religion. So yes, if a celebration is non-religious, by definition it is secular. In order to make sense, you'd have to redefine the word.
MagorianAx 1 month ago
@MagorianAx So basically, even though Christmas and all its traditions aren't secular in origin, you're observing those traditions simply because you've done it all your life. And as a non-believer, you personally aren't doing it for religious reasons, and that retroactively makes your celebration secular. I still don't see how a non-secular holiday can be celebrated in a secular way just because of the intentions of the person celebrating it. But I'm prying. It's your celebration and you can...
IrwinJohnFinster 1 month ago
@MagorianAx ...do it for any reason you want. As long as it makes sense to you, it doesn't really have to make sense to me. I suppose if I'd celebrated Christmas all my life it would make more sense to me.
But just because I choose not to celebrate and you do doesn't really mean you owe me any kind of explanation. I was curious nonetheless. I'll let you conclude with your next reply if you like. Youtube is draining my life away and I'm starting to feel like Killjoy McBuzzkill over here. :P
IrwinJohnFinster 1 month ago
no use to continue if you don't goodnight
seemeasis 2 months ago
@seemeasis If I don't what? Quick recap, you're the one dropping points. You suggested that my video should have been titled something else, despite the fact that it's a standard title for a reply. Do you not understand how that works? The title of the video to which I'm replying stays in my title, following Re:. If you understand that, why suggest a new title?
This isn't that hard...
MagorianAx 2 months ago
I did....
seemeasis 2 months ago
@seemeasis ... then you're making no sense.
And still ignoring that other bit. :\
MagorianAx 2 months ago
Hey, don't jump the gun.....in that case you should titled your video "Why I, an atheist, celebrate Christmas?
seemeasis 2 months ago
@seemeasis Hahahaha, oh wow. Don't you see the "Re:" at the beginning? That means "reply". Ever replied to an email? A forum post? You'll see the same thing.
And way to ignore the part I called most important.
MagorianAx 2 months ago
Why Do Atheists Celebrate Christmas? Because you got caught up with the spirit of Christmas commercial publicities.It is more of a spirit of magic.The day after halloween the malls and stores start playing christmas songs. I get caught up myself. Add to this is the decoration... everywhere especially the night light.I really do not want to be in this spirit.It is not really christian christmas spirit. All I want to do is not spend money, yet my wife accuse me of being a scrooge if I don't
seemeasis 2 months ago
@seemeasis I'm guessing you didn't watch the part of the video where I explain why I celebrate Christmas. :\
MagorianAx 2 months ago
@MagorianAx You are not the only atheists around the block, Why Do Atheists Celebrate ChristmasI is the title of your video ATHEISTS with an S. Does that mean your represent ALL Atheists. And beside I did watch it when it first came out, only now I'm expressing my experiences.....my experiences does that count for anything? You have an experience that you shared. I am a Christian and I love it....
seemeasis 2 months ago
@seemeasis First, this title is derived from the video to which I'm replying. I'm not asking the question.
But most importantly, you should be more careful with your wording. "Because you got caught up with the spirit of Christmas commercial publicities." See that "you"? Understand how I might think you're speaking directly to me?
MagorianAx 2 months ago
Wait, you aren't the grinch?
RisingChaosWriting 2 months ago
@RisingChaosWriting :P
MagorianAx 2 months ago
I say "Happy Holidays" for exactly the reason that you elucidated. Nice to see something new from you and hope that this will become a more common even in 2012. All the best for the New Year too!
TheLivingDinosaur 2 months ago
what he said Jeezuzfreek777, P.S. think before you speak, you will seem smarter.
aborocz 2 months ago
Well put. I hadn't really thought about how much a part fear and domination plays in the outlook of reactionary theists.
tctheunbeliever 2 months ago
Excellent response, my good man. By the by, what happened to your other videos? This appears to be the only one showing on your channel...
bobsmeerfak 2 months ago
finally a new upload :D Thank you
RossWZA 2 months ago
To piss off the Christians ..i usually get the finger and death threat from Christians when i say that lol
philosophicalreason 2 months ago
I agree with you 100%! I like to be polite.
KingOystar 2 months ago
you do realize that jezuzfreek is mostly talking to himself ....
givingmantoo 2 months ago
Many christians have no idea that christmas is mostly borrowed from pagan holidays. You would think they would be happy everyone enjoys christmas since in a way it is good PR for their faith.
Xatasha6611 2 months ago
I approve of your message. Gleðileg jól.
olafurhh03 2 months ago
@olafurhh03 Merry Christmas to you as well. :) Never seen it in Icelandic before...
MagorianAx 2 months ago
Excellent response!
Robobubbacunta 2 months ago
@Robobubbacunta Thanks so much!
MagorianAx 2 months ago
Nice and clear response. It takes courage to answer to someone with a nickname like Jeezuzfreek777. I mean, the say "When you fight with a pig you both get dirty - but the pig likes it" comes to mind ;)
pongells 2 months ago
@pongells Does the fact that I enjoy this so much make me a pig? :P
Thanks for the support. :)
MagorianAx 2 months ago
Yes! Finally another video!
Nodscouter 2 months ago