Why I, as an Atheist, celebrate the Christmas season

I wrote this awhile ago, but I figured it beared repeating, especially on this new blog.


Why I, as an Atheist, celebrate the Christmas season.

Being an atheist at this time of the year, I am sometimes asked why I celebrate Christmas. This is my attempt to explain it.

To be honest, my family celebrated Christmas in a non-religious way. In fact, the only thing I remember that had religious meaning was a Nativity scene my parents had. I knew what it represented, but that was it. We never went to church for Christmas. Santa Claus was the reason for our season.

Now that I am married with children of my own, our Christmas is religion-free. My wife does have a Nativity scene, but she sets it up only in honor of her family. My children know who Jesus is, but they also know that I do not believe he is the “son of God”, or that there even is a God. But they do respect that others do believe.

Christmas, as I have tried to teach my children, is a time of good will and friendship, of spending time with family and friends. We enjoy the "Christmas Season", instead of just one day. From the Friday after Thanksgiving to New Year's, we enjoy it as a month long celebration. We enjoy the television specials, the music and the lit-up, decorated houses. And, of course, the food!

I guess I still celebrate the same way I did as a kid, although I consciously avoid religious allusions, whereas my parents were just lax. I suppose I could thank them for that, although I doubt they would find it amusing. While they, perhaps reluctantly, know I am an Atheist, they are more religious now than when I was a child. My father more so than my mother.

For some reason, when many people hear the word “Atheist”, they automatically assume “immoral”. This always amazes me. I lead a very moral, very traditional life. I teach my children to be good human beings. I just do not believe in a “superior being”.

I also do not force my views on my children. They are exposed to my beliefs, as well as the beliefs of the varied family members and friends around them. They are related to, or are friends with, not only Christians, but also people who are Jewish and Muslim. And other Atheists. When they are old enough, they can decide for themselves what they believe in.

Most of all, my family and I wish everyone a good, happy month, full of friends, family and fun. Oh yeah, and food!


This is a link to the original piece.

Wow! Huh? Ugh.

A bunch of sites I stumbled across over the past two weeks that piqued my interest, confused my brain or made me roll my eyes.

Ankle replacement surgery. I might need this down the road, and it makes me wonder when the scales will tip and I will become more artificial than biological?

And this lady has an interesting idea. Bet someone will figure it out in no time.

Five poems everyone should read.

Friday the 13th: The Series Season 2 is scheduled for release in February, 2009! Yay!

Made for TV Mayhem has The Top Ten Creepiest Characters of the Made for TV Horror Films of the 70s - Wow, that is a long blog entry title.

1o Huge Retail Rip-Offs. Number one, the wine, goes for hotel rooms, too. A bottle marked over $20 in our menu was $4 at the store.

Fun Disney.com Christmas site, with old and new holiday cartoons.

IconNicholson's Snowcraft is 10 years old this Christmas. Still fun, especially if you picture the little twerps as people who ticked you off!

OfficeMax is letting you go Elf Yourself again this year.

Starzbunnies.com does Christmas Vacation.

This Christmas card is actually pretty clever.

And this Christmas ad isn't new, but still makes me chuckle. Although it should be Leatherface with the chainsaw, not Jason.

Cool, but ultimately a waste, I think. The urn is better, at least people will be able to see SEE it! And they also have Star Trek items.

Meh.

And now... The End.

NaNoWriMo 2008

Well, it's over. Last night was the end of this year's National Novel Writing Month. And I finished in time! In one month I wrote a little over 50,000 words (50,102 to be exact) and I now have a 2nd novel done. Well, a first draft done, at least.

It wasn't easy, but with some late nights and A LOT of support from my wonderful wife, I was able to get it done, AND get to bed at a decent time.

So, thank you to Nancy, and to everyone who offered encouragement along the way. It is appreciated.

And I will be doing it all over again next November! Heck, I may even do my own personal NaNoWriMo in January, if I can come up with a good story.

Congrats to all the other winners, and to everyone who even attempted it. Whether you wrote 500 or 50,000 words, at least you were writing!