Group's new Christmas message: Be good, not godly

Yule has been hijacked by christians, thats whats offensive.

Humans around here have been celebrating yule for thousands of years, because the sun turns and brighter times are coming. It was one of the most important celebrations of the year for the vikings. Atheists i know wants yule to focus on familly, friends, food and drinks, and a good time. Its got nothing to do with any gods.

What I don't like is the "atheists might feel alone in the holidays!" schtick. We aren't Muslims, ffs, we don't get offended if other people want to celebrate stuff! In fact, being irreligious, we can get down a party too!

Just not on Ramadan. 'Cause I'm not sacrificing my beer or bacon butties for any amount of time during the day.

Originally posted by Daniem
Yule has been hijacked by christians, thats whats offensive.

Humans around here have been celebrating yule for thousands of years, because the sun turns and brighter times are coming. It was one of the most important celebrations of the year for the vikings. Atheists i know wants yule to focus on familly, friends, food and drinks, and a good time. Its got nothing to do with any gods.

Thank you for posting this. Needed to be said.
And when a Christian says to me: "Merry Christmas!" I will take it in the good spirit that it was meant and return with a hearty: "Happy Yule!"

reply to post by martalen


Yep,
I totally agree with this sentiment. The hijacking of Yule does make sense though as far as finding an analog for a "darkest before the dawn" scenario though.

Personally, the winter solstice time of year is the most spiritual for me because of the lack of light and the effect on my mind, I yearn for the change on a very primal level.

That very fact alone makes any well wishes, and cheer a welcome sight, regardless of the reasons of the well wishers.

reply to post by HunkaHunka

Actually anything that anyone is convinced of, regardless of their reasoning process that led to the conclusion, is a belief.

But it's not a religion is it or does that depend on how zealous an atheist is in spreading the word of No God?

Personally, I'm not an atheist, but I have a very good "idea" of what the afterlife will be like. Isms are just bad in general.

Originally posted by MacDonagh
If you don't believe in anything, that's not belief. That's a conclusion that the atheist has made for his/herself. An atheist doesn't need a sacred book to get them through (unless you count Richard Dawkins; The God Delusion) nor do they look to an authority to tell them what to do. An atheist is just someone who has came to a conclusion due to his own experiences and evidence which is very persuasive. Far more persuasive then sacred books filled with anecdotes that can't be proven.

The SCOTUS can say what they want but atheism is about as religious as Jediism.

I completely agree with you.

Just because some people came to a conclusion that all religions are bogus, doesn't mean we want to start a club about it. If anything it frees the mind for much more important matters, like LIVING, without checking with your pastor first... Deciding for yourself the difference between right and wrong and not relying on some book to tell you. Isn't the law system in our country good enough? It is for me, and we ALL have to abide by it, regardless of which belief you sheepishly follow.

I have no problems with anyone who practices their religion. If it gives them strength and gets them through the day; then all the more power to them. I have some reservations to folk who attempt to persuade others to join their religion/group/special club. So I'm not impressed with this group's new slogan. Sounds like they want some new members to me.

[edit on 12/11/08 by MacDonagh]

reply to post by MacDonagh


I see signs all over the place, when driving, about "Jesus Saves" this and "God loves you." that. No group claiming them, just people doing what they feel is "right" because they are told to reach out and "save" the masses.

The "group" that put out this anti-God message is not recruiting, only letting the "others" know the world accepts them as well.

Theism or Atheism - two sides of the same coin as far as I can see.
Both rely on blind faith and dogmatic creed and seem intolerant of alternative beliefs.

Personally I find agnosticism ideal.
There is no definitive evidence in the existence, or non-existence, of a Supreme Being; however, there are basic, intrinsic laws that govern human interaction.

If there is to be some Judgement Day to gauge if i'm worthy of admittance to some sort of private members, afterlife club then I suspect I will be judged on my acts and deeds rather than blind adherence to a set of man written rules.

However, the Christian message of peace and goodwill to man is a commendable one and should be encouraged.

Yule has always been a time of celebrating and 'partying', not a bad thing in my book.
en.wikipedia.org...

Originally posted by MacDonagh
reply to post by HunkaHunka

 

Actually anything that anyone is convinced of, regardless of their reasoning process that led to the conclusion, is a belief.

But it's not a religion is it or does that depend on how zealous an atheist is in spreading the word of No God?

Read the definition of religion that I provided for you.

Religion -

4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith


Now lets look at the definition of atheism . . .

Atheism -

2 a: a disbelief in the existence of deity b: the doctrine that there is no deity


Hmm . . . interesting. A doctrine that there is no deity huh. Lets look at the definition of doctrine.

Doctrine - 2 a: something that is taught b: a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief.

Now we are getting somewhere . . .

Atheism is the doctrine (principle or system of belief) that there is no supernatural deity.

Therefore atheism is a religion.

reply to post by Marcus Calpurnius


I know.....I wonder what the plan is...why all the advertisements about God or No God....maybe theres a bigger plan and something may happen so people start following faith again...maybe the Church/Vatican or whatever is going broke.....

An atheist can read studies showing the existence of NDEs,
hear a thousand people tell of miracles and encounters with God,
and won't even consider taking these stories seriously.

If atheism was simply a lack of belief, atheists would stay open minded
when hearing about the same sort of non-provable stories
from heaps of different people.
But there is no open-mindedness, merely a straight out disbelief.

A disbelief, as in a simple lack of belief, would be fair enough.
I'd never ask anyone to believe something unprovable that they have not experienced.
However what I usually see from atheists is not just a lack of belief,
but a determined belief that everyone who reports having experienced unprovable phenomenon
is, if not deluded, lying.

Atheists tell me there is no God.
Well I don't believe in God either. I know God.
I'm not religious, I don't want to change anyone else's beliefs.
But the fact is, as many people realize, God is very real.
Not the wrathful old white-haired man on a cloud
that some people picture God as,
something much more simple, much more complex and
- - - wonderful - - - .

Atheists claim that God does not exist,
and therefore not believing in God does not equate to believing God does exist.
I could say the same about atheists,
but no matter how certain I was that atheists did not exist,
that certainty could never be more than a belief.

So atheism is not merely an individual outlook.
As it centres around a shared belief it is a religion.
It is a religion based on a negative belief,
the belief in an absence of any deity, oversoul or greater spirit.
And it's a false negative belief at that...

The arguments I hear atheists using about why they want to fight belief
always come back to the evils of religion.
So I wonder, why don't they attack the idiocies of many religions
if that's their true grievance?
Attacking belief in God only makes atheists look silly to those who know God.
Attacking religious absurdities might do the world some good.

reply to post by xxpigxx


PIG, we don't always agree politically, but on this we do.


I think its hilarious when folks try to act like Atheism is the absence of belief.

It's obvious they have not really studied existentialism. If you take Atheism to it's extreme, and call all the God talk illusion, then you really have to understand that the concept of Self is also an illusion.

Most Atheists don't like this concept though, because it undermines individuality, which they strongly believe in. :-)

You say that like it's a bad thing.

I have "faith" it's not.

reply to post by mmariebored


"Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake,"

So athiests believe in "goodness", what is it?

reply to post by xxpigxx


So atheism is a religion? Let me tell why your post is stupid nonsence.

What you're saying is that christians (who are atheistic to other gods) have 2 religions since they are both christian and atheistic.



In fact they probably have many many religions.. why? because you say that a religion is a cause, principle, belief you have.
That means that if you are:

A vegetarian, thats a religion.

If your a democrat, thats a religion.

If you dont believe in the tooth fairy, you, like all the other non believers have that as a religion.

But they are clearly NOT religions.



And to add.. NO atheists do NOT claim that there is no god. Some do. Some merely dont have belief in god or gods because they dont know if they exist or not, like agnostcs. Some have never heard about the idea of a god or gods.

Im an agnostic because i dont know if there is a god or gods.. and im atheist because i have found no reason to believe there are any gods or god.

Originally posted by Supercertari
"Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake,"

So athiests believe in "goodness", what is it?

Hmmm, well, pizza is "good", I know that because I like pizza. I feel as though it's good. I'm not going to start a religion over the goodness of pizza, though.(you didn't specify)















[edit on 13-11-2008 by mmariebored]

reply to post by mmariebored


If the 'christ' is dropped from christmas it becomes 'xmas'

The 'mas' bit is an indication of a 'mass' in the religious sense of gathering it should also be dropped

That leaves us with 'X' and as theres always such panic and turmoil around this part of the year, we should just call it for what it is...

'Situation X'

Originally posted by mmariebored
Hmmm, well, pizza is "good", I know that because I like pizza. I feel as though it's good. I'm not going to start a religion over the goodness of pizza, though.(you didn't specify)

Oh, so its a subliminal advertising campaign by Domino's? (The ad didn't specify)

reply to post by citizen smith


That wouldn't work either the "X" in Xmas is the Greek "Chi" for "Christ" as in "Xpistos"

[edit on 13/11/08 by Supercertari]

[edit on 13/11/08 by Supercertari]