This whole idea is actually a major source of conflict in my family. I consider myself an atheist, but I enjoy Christmas and see it as an excuse to get together with my family, exchange gifts, listen to the music, eat food, light a fire in the fireplace, and just generally experience quality time with my few blood relations. I’m actually quite attached to the holiday. It has been the source of many fond memories. However, my parents aren’t letting me participate this year, because of my beliefs. They think Christmas is about Jesus and by celebrating I’ll be cheapening the holiday for them. They don’t understand why, if I’m an atheist, I should even want to celebrate Christmas, and that I’m not being consistent with what I think. Therefore, I won’t be able to give or receive presents, go to church or do Christmas related things with them.
I personally agree with Alicorn’s and taw’s comments: I see no reason to feel hostile towards the holiday. Does anyone have any advice for what I should do?
My advice, worth exactly what you’re paying for it:
First, decide whether you think it’s more likely that…
...they really do understand your state, and their experience of Christmas will be genuinely sullied by sharing it with a child who doesn’t worship Jesus, or
...they don’t really understand your state, but they are sincere that their experience of Christmas would be sullied by sharing it with a child who has whatever attributes they are inferring you have, or
...they aren’t at all sincere, and are threatening to withhold Christmas from you as a way of pressuring you into recanting your atheism and asserting the beliefs they’d prefer you assert.
(Other things are possible, as are combinations. Those seem the likeliest options in the absence of details about your family, though.)
Given #1, I’d advise finding others to celebrate Christmas with, and letting your parents know that if they ever change their minds and welcome you into their Christmas celebration you’d be happy to share it with them. Given #2, I’d advise looking for new ways to communicate your actual beliefs to them. Given #3, I’d advise letting them know that’s what you think they’re doing and finding others to celebrate Christmas with.
This whole idea is actually a major source of conflict in my family. I consider myself an atheist, but I enjoy Christmas and see it as an excuse to get together with my family, exchange gifts, listen to the music, eat food, light a fire in the fireplace, and just generally experience quality time with my few blood relations. I’m actually quite attached to the holiday. It has been the source of many fond memories.
However, my parents aren’t letting me participate this year, because of my beliefs. They think Christmas is about Jesus and by celebrating I’ll be cheapening the holiday for them. They don’t understand why, if I’m an atheist, I should even want to celebrate Christmas, and that I’m not being consistent with what I think. Therefore, I won’t be able to give or receive presents, go to church or do Christmas related things with them. I personally agree with Alicorn’s and taw’s comments: I see no reason to feel hostile towards the holiday. Does anyone have any advice for what I should do?
My advice, worth exactly what you’re paying for it:
First, decide whether you think it’s more likely that…
...they really do understand your state, and their experience of Christmas will be genuinely sullied by sharing it with a child who doesn’t worship Jesus, or
...they don’t really understand your state, but they are sincere that their experience of Christmas would be sullied by sharing it with a child who has whatever attributes they are inferring you have, or
...they aren’t at all sincere, and are threatening to withhold Christmas from you as a way of pressuring you into recanting your atheism and asserting the beliefs they’d prefer you assert.
(Other things are possible, as are combinations. Those seem the likeliest options in the absence of details about your family, though.)
Given #1, I’d advise finding others to celebrate Christmas with, and letting your parents know that if they ever change their minds and welcome you into their Christmas celebration you’d be happy to share it with them.
Given #2, I’d advise looking for new ways to communicate your actual beliefs to them.
Given #3, I’d advise letting them know that’s what you think they’re doing and finding others to celebrate Christmas with.