Christianity banned from cinemas

[wigginhall]

Does anyone have a cake with 2000+ candles on it planned for their table? 

Well, every time I see a sprout, I think of baby Jesus, yum yum!

[BashfulAnthony]

I have. She lived in Western Europe for 19 years but did not grow up in Britain with our traditions so does not have the same cultural associations. I don't agree with her point of view. Why do you think I should?

Because she's right!

[Maeght]

Because she's right!

For her, but there is no reason why her views are right for anyone else.

[BashfulAnthony]

For her, but there is no reason why her views are right for anyone else.

If she's right, then her views apply to all atheists.

[bluehillside Retd.]

BA,

Because she's right!

Why in your head does someone expressing an opinion with which you happen to agree thereby make her "right" exactly?

As she's an atheist and I agree with atheism, does that make her right about that too then?

[Shaker]

She spoke the truth.  The fact that you don't either understand it or appreciate her honesty is no surprise.

I understand it entirely - and I see no reason to doubt her honesty either. Yet again, these are not alternative words for "correct." She has stated her opinion honestly (so have I), and I disagree with practically all of it. She may have lived in Europe for ten years but it clearly didn't instil in her much understanding of the place of Christmas in secular European culture.

[Maeght]

If she's right, then her views apply to all atheists.

No, she's expressing how she feels and that she doesn't understand why atheists celebrate the birth of Jesus. What she says makes sense for her but she doesn't seem to understand, like you, that atheists are not celebrating the birth of Jesus but are carrying on a long standing tradition which to them has nothing to do with Jesus.

[Shaker]

If she's right, then her views apply to all atheists.

In the annals of "Utterly ridiculous twaddle to come out with" that one is outstanding.

[Shaker]

No, she's expressing how she feels and that she doesn't understand why atheists celebrate the birth of Jesus.

It would be a bit unusual for an atheist to do that, although strictly speaking there's nothing about being an atheist that prevents you from admiring and respecting the example of Jesus if that's how you feel.

I just think that she's fairly firmly out of the loop with how the vast majority of people - Europe-wide, I'd say - see and observe Christmas. What was once a religious festival for everybody now is an entirely secularised public holiday and midwinter festival for the vast majority.

I don't think she's a creationist, but she appears not to understand the concept of evolution in other contexts.

[Maeght]

It would be a bit unusual for an atheist to do that,

Indeed - but she said 'I get surprised when ex-Christian atheists instead of celebrating a day off work, celebrate Christmas. Christmas is a Christian holiday, a religious event — it is for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.' That's where my comment came from.

... although strictly speaking there's nothing about being an atheist that prevents you from admiring and respecting the example of Jesus if that's how you feel.

Again, indeed.

I just think that she's fairly firmly out of the loop with how the vast majority of people - Europe-wide, I'd say - see and observe Christmas. What was once a religious festival for everybody now is an entirely secularised public holiday and midwinter festival for the vast majority.

I think that is how it is for me and many others but not all of course.

I don't think she's a creationist, but she appears not to understand the concept of evolution in other contexts.
[/quote]

[BashfulAnthony]

BA,

Why in your head does someone expressing an opinion with which you happen to agree thereby make her "right" exactly?

As she's an atheist and I agree with atheism, does that make her right about that too then?

You, of course, never would suggest that someone who holds your views is therefore, right!

You are an atheist, so I presume you think she is right, as she is an atheist, too.

[bluehillside Retd.]

BA,

You, of course, never would suggest that someone who holds your views is therefore, right!

No I wouldn't. Agreeing with me is no guarantee of rightness - I'd want to understand their reasoning too.

You are an atheist, so I presume you think she is right, as she is an atheist, too.

About what? You do know that it's entirely possible to be a atheist and pretty much an anything else (except a theist) too don't you? 

You can be atheist fascist, atheist philanthropist, atheist philatelist for that matter.

[BashfulAnthony]

BA,

No I wouldn't. Agreeing with me is no guarantee of rightness - I'd want to understand their reasoning too.

About what? You do know that it's entirely possible to be a atheist and pretty much an anything else (except a theist) too don't you? 

You can be atheist fascist, atheist philanthropist, atheist philatelist for that matter.

I think you know that I'm referring to, since this is a religion and ethics forum.

[bluehillside Retd.]

BA,

I think you know that I'm referring to, since this is a religion and ethics forum.

Actually I don't - I couldn't tell whether you were referring to her atheism or to her views about Christmas.

[BashfulAnthony]

BA,

Actually I don't - I couldn't tell whether you were referring to her atheism or to her views about Christmas.

Both.  I believe her take is one which atheists ought to espouse, if they are honest with themselves.

[Maeght]

Both.  I believe her take is one which atheists ought to espouse, if they are honest with themselves.

We are being honest with ourselves and enjoying a traditional family time with no suggestion that we are in anyway celebrating the birth of Jesus.

[Shaker]

You, of course, never would suggest that someone who holds your views is therefore, right!

You are an atheist, so I presume you think she is right, as she is an atheist, too.

Bashers, have you never before encountered the concept of people who agree on one thing disagreeing on another thing?

[BashfulAnthony]

Bashers, have you never before encountered the concept of people who agree on one thing disagreeing on another thing?

Yes I have encountered that!!!  What has it to do with accepting what Nasrin says?  You just don't want to admit she is right.

[bluehillside Retd.]

BA,

Both.  I believe her take is one which atheists ought to espouse, if they are honest with themselves.

Then you "believe" wrongly, for reasons that have been explained to you several times now and that you've largely ignored. Why do you think that "honest" Christians shouldn't leave Christmas well alone given the pagan symbols and rituals so embedded in it that they clearly don't believe in?  After all, there were 364 days (365 on a leap year) they could have picked instead just as arbitrarily.   

[BashfulAnthony]

We are being honest with ourselves and enjoying a traditional family time with no suggestion that we are in anyway celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Then why do it on the 25th?   As Nasrin says, if that is what you want, you can do it any time.

[Shaker]

Yes I have encountered that!!!  What has it to do with accepting what Nasrin says?

Because you seem to think that because somebody agrees with her as to the existence of gods, they're somehow duty bound to agree with her about something, anything, everything else.

You just don't want to admit she is right.

She isn't right - I disagree with just about everything she has said, and have explained why, in #504, #507, #519 and #522.

[Maeght]

Yes I have encountered that!!!  What has it to do with accepting what Nasrin says?  You just don't want to admit she is right.

I think the bit about agreeing with someone else because they are an atheist too - if you re read the post - is meant to just refer to agreeing on atheism, not anything else.

[bluehillside Retd.]

BA,

You just don't want to admit she is right.

Aside from her agreeing with you, so far at least you've provided no argument of any kind to persuade us that she is right.

My view is that she's wrong because she doesn't understand the deep embeddedness of Christmas as a cultural phenomenon in Western society, but there you go. 

[Maeght]

Then why do it on the 25th?   As Nasrin says, if that is what you want, you can do it any time.

This has been answered so many times on here is there really a need to say it again!

[bluehillside Retd.]

BA,

Then why do it on the 25th?

Why do Christians do it on the 25th - they had plenty of other dates available without nicking someone else's!