Profiles Index
Bah, Humbug! Arguing Against Christmas & Why We Need More 'Bah Humbug'
Christmas has become generally secular in America, but despite (or perhaps because) of this, it has acquired an almost sacred and untouchable character which people defend to the utmost. Skeptics of Christmas are not received well; those who do object to something about Christmas usually portray themselves as actually defending a 'true' Christmas. I think, however, that a bit more skepticism of and dissent from Christmas would be better for everyone - it might even be better for Christmas.
Secular Santa Claus is Coming to Town: What's so Christian about Santa Claus?
Christians treat Christmas as a Christian holiday, and it certainly started out that way, but we can tell a lot about the real nature of holidays by how they are represented in popular culture. The most common, popular, and recognized symbol for Christmas today isn't an infant Jesus or even a manger scene, but Santa Claus. It's Santa who graces all the ads and decorations, not Jesus. Santa Claus is not, however, a religious figure or symbol.
Atheism and Christmas: Should Atheists Ignore Christmas or Celebrate It?
There is a debate among atheists about whether they should celebrate Christmas or not. Some do so because they aren't out as atheists. Some do so in order not to rock the boat among religious family members. Some do so because they always have and don't want to change - or simply enjoy the holiday. Others argue that it should be replaced by a more rational holiday, and still others argue that all such holidays should be ignored by atheists. Is there a case to be made for this?
Putting Christ Back in Christmas: Is Jesus the Reason for the Season?
Many conservative evangelical Christians at this time of year want to 'put Christ back in Christmas' and insist that 'Jesus is the Reason for the Season.' With these slogans, they hope to remind people that Christmas is a Christian holiday and that without Christ, there would be no Christmas in the first place. Such Christians are offended that so many people enjoy the holidays without any reference to Jesus or Christianity and want it to stop. Unfortunately, they don't have much of a case.
We Wish You a Godless Xmas: What's Secular, Godless About Christmas Holidays?
Many Christians insist that Christmas is a Christian religious holiday which belongs exclusively to them. While there are many ways to celebrate Christmas in a Christian manner, the simple fact is that there are many important elements to popular Christmas celebrations which have nothing whatsoever to do with religion or Christianity. These secular elements of Christmas are at least as important as the religious ones. So if you want to celebrate Christmas, you can do so without religion.
Christmas in America: Atheists, the Christian Right, and Christmas Traditions
Perhaps the mid-winter holiday season centered around Christmas should be a time of festivities, but in America many other things intrude as well. Atheists are faced with questions about whether they should participate and if they should reveal their atheism. Conservative Christians insist that Christmas is meaningless without their religion - and say that both are under assault from atheists. Should parents lie to encourage belief in Santa? How reliable are gospels stories about the Nativity?
Secularizing Christmas Holidays: Christians Undermined, Secularized Christmas
Conservative Christians complain about secularists, atheists, and liberals trying to undermine Christmas, but there is little historical understanding and awareness in these complaints. An examination of Christian history indicates that religion has been slowly stripped from Christmas, as well as other Christian holidays, over a long time now - and by Christians themselves, primarily the conservative Protestants who are today complaining the loudest.
No Godless Conspiracy Against Christmas: Atheists Are Not Undermining Christmas
Every year we hear more and more about the so-called Christmas Wars. According to its promoters and alleged 'defenders' of Christmas, the godless liberals and atheists are trying to undermine wholesome Christmas traditions as part of their agenda of undermining Christianity. For these people, this is less about Christmas than it is about cultural dominance: they think they should have the authority to determine how Christmas is celebrated and what status it has in American society.
Silent Night, Godless Night: Surviving Christmas Eve, Day as a Godless Atheist
The term 'juggernaut' is thought to come from a Jagannath, an idol of Krishna pulled along on a cart under whose wheels devotees would throw themselves. Christmas in contemporary America is a juggernaut in that respect: people willingly throw themselves under its wheels and it crushes everything it comes into contact with. You can't escape it and it dominates everything in culture, politics, and media for upwards of two months. What's an irreligious atheist to do?
Oh, Christmas Tree: Christmas Tree as a Secular Symbol of a Secular Christmas
The most popular symbol of Christmas, except perhaps for Santa Claus, may also be the least Christian: the Christmas Tree. Originally derived from pagan religious celebrations in Europe, the Christmas Tree was adopted by Christianity but never entirely at home in it. Today the Christmas Tree can be a completely secular symbol of Christmas celebrations. It's curious that Christians latch on to it as if it where inherently Christian.
Oh Come, All Ye Godless: Secular Ways to Celebrate the Christmas Holidays
Many tend to assume that Christmas is a Christian holiday and as such should only really be celebrated by Christians. Non-Muslims don't celebrate Ramadan, right? Although Christmas has largely been a Christian religious holiday, that has changed dramatically. It already included many elements borrowed from other religions, which made it easy to transform in modern, secular culture. There are many ways to celebrate Christmas without reference to Christianity or religion.
Christmas Wars & Conspiracies: Conflicts over the Meaning of Christmas Season
One recent and disturbing development in America's Culture Wars is the growth of the so-called Christmas Wars. A few influential conservatives are using Christmas as a political weapon against liberals, secularists, and non-Christians. They claim that a secular, anti-Christian conspiracy is draining Christian meaning from Christmas and devaluing it as part of the holiday season. The hate in their 'defense' of Christmas is astounding - even arguably un-Christian.
Atheists & Christmas: What do Atheists do During Christmas Holidays?
Christmas can be a difficult time of the year for atheists. Although it has become highly secularized in recent years, the holiday has retained strong religious aspects. Many family celebrations of Christmas also include religious rituals which atheists cannot easily participate in without feeling dishonest. Should atheists even care about holidays like Christmas? Should they ignore Christmas, perhaps even create a new holiday as a surrogate? What exactly do atheists do with Christmas?
Santa Claus: Should Parents Perpetuate the Santa Claus Myth?
Although Santa Claus was originally based upon the Christian figure of Saint Nicholas, a patron saint of children, today Santa Claus is wholly secular. Some Christians object to him because he is secular rather than Christian; some non-Christians object to him because of his Christian roots. He is a powerful cultural symbol which is impossible to ignore, but this doesn't mean that he should simply be accepted without question. There are good reasons to dispense with the tradition.
Celebrating Christmas: Sources of Christmas Traditions, Modern and Ancient
In modern America, Christmas is the biggest holiday of the year. More money is spent, more time is invested in celebrations, and more attention is paid to it than any other holiday. All of this time, money, and attention does not translate into greater understanding, though. Few people are aware of the origins of most Christmas traditions; most assume that Christmas is primarily Christian, or else they simply don't care. Christmas is, in fact, a combination of modern and ancient ideas.