O’Reilly bashes ‘fascist’ atheist: Christianity not a religion, so Christmas displays are OK

I am a Christian and I think Christmas should be abolished as an official holiday and all displays banned and all decorations banned. Why? Because the way we celebrate it has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity these days. It has become so secularized as to be nearly unrecognizable to real Christians. With the economy the way it is a lot of people would be better off financially if the holiday were banned from being seen in the public arena. Ban decorations, ban the sale of Christmas decorations, ban Christmas trees, I'm all for it.

Then Christians can quietly celebrate in a meaningful way that has nothing to do with paganism and crass commercialism.

Christmas is a stat holiday here in Canada, too. Celebrated as a secular holiday for half of us.

I would not want them to take this away, because it is the only day of the year my workplace is closed. And it is the only day of the year every non-essential business is closed so people can spend it with loved ones or friends, or just get a day off to relax.

I don't care if we get it off as "Christmas day" or as "Stat Holiday #12" as long as there is a day every year where we can all generally look forward to freedom.

I would also gladly take holidays from work for any religion

Originally posted by talklikeapirat

"It is a fact that Christianty is not a religion, it's a philosophy."

Well I know some people who are "Christian" in the fact that they follow the teachings of Christ, yet they don't believe Christ ever existed, or at least that he wasn't the Son of God. In this sense, Christianity is a philosophy and not a religion.

Originally posted by grandmakdw
I am a Christian and I think Christmas should be abolished as an official holiday and all displays banned and all decorations banned. Why? Because the way we celebrate it has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity these days. It has become so secularized as to be nearly unrecognizable to real Christians. With the economy the way it is a lot of people would be better off financially if the holiday were banned from being seen in the public arena. Ban decorations, ban the sale of Christmas decorations, ban Christmas trees, I'm all for it.

Then Christians can quietly celebrate in a meaningful way that has nothing to do with paganism and crass commercialism.

Considering it wasn't Christian to begin with, Christians have no power over that date or what goes on during it. As such, they have no right to ban anything, but can choose to cease doing Christian-related stuff, like a mock-stable with animals and a baby Jesus.

Or do you still think Jesus was born on the 25th of December? Seems like you do.

reply to post by grandmakdw


It has its roots in paganism. Christians chose that more ancient occasion as an excuse to formulate their own celebration. Celebrate his birth at another time if you require a quiet, exclusive occasion. Just don't hijack Saturnalia--or whichever event came first-- more than it already has been.

What? Why do the atheists want to take away its federal holiday status? Are they mad because their holiday isn't a federal one?

Come on. One of the main reasons why it being a federal holiday is so important is because it allows people to take days off, even if it's one, to spend time with their family on a day that has evolved from being about Christianity. Sure, a lot of people see it as a huge corporate crapfest, but once you get passed all the material garbage surrounding the holiday, you'll see there is something there that truly makes it such a happy and joyous occasion. I want it to keep it's federal holiday status. It'll allow for more people to get time off to spend time with their families.

I have always seen Christmas as the happiest time of the year for me. Usually it's spent with most of my extended family for a couple of weeks. I know it may not be the case for a lot of people, but there are also other people that are like me. I just think it's selfish for them to want to take that away. Look passed the religion and materialism and look at the happiness that usually surrounds the time of year.

I am the Champion of Christmas. You mess with Christmas, you mess with me! It's....it's my favorite time of year...


ETA: After I posted this I realized something: let's not just make it about Christmas. As much as I enjoy Christmas and celebrating it and saying Merry Christmas, I have to recognize that it's politically correct (even thought I hate that in most cases) to walk around saying that to people who don't celebrate the holiday. It's a time of happiness and it shouldn't be just for those celebrating Christmas but any holiday they choose to celebrate during this time.

ETA2: Forgot to mention Mr. Bill O'Reilly. I admit that sometimes I agree with his in-your-face style, but most of the time I find him annoying and down right rude. Take this here for example, he just looks like an idiot to me.

Originally posted by Kali74
American Atheists president David Silverman appeared on O'Reilly's show recently to talk about challenging the status of Christmas as a federal holiday. He makes an argument that I think is worthy of debate, that the Government shows preferential treatment toward Christianity by making Christmas a federal holiday. O'Reilly of course turns it into this guy saying that no one should be allowed to put up Christmas displays in public squares etc. which has nothing to do with what the guy is saying.

“It is a fact that Christianity is not a religion, it is a philosophy,” the Fox News host declared confidently. “If the government was saying that the Methodist religion deserves a special place in the public square, I would be on your side.” Raw Story (s.tt...)

Silverman responded that he was not against Christmas celebrations per se, he was only against the government favoring Christianity over other religions.

O’Reilly said Silverman’s views were “insane” and that he should get his “merry band of fascists” together to “re-vote” on Christmas being a federal holiday. After Silverman objected to being called a fascist, O’Reilly again reiterated the point by saying he was a fascist because he wanted to banish Christmas.


Raw Story (s.tt...)

Is the new rhetoric from the GOP and their mouth pieces at FOX going to be that Christianity is a philosophy and not a religion? I suppose then we can go ahead and tax all Christian Churches?

Personally I have no real problem with Christmas being a federal holiday, it's nice to have a break, but why say it's for Christmas? Why not just say winter break or winter holiday? Why not declare a whole week a federal holiday and give every religion a day of it? Silverman is correct there is a clear favoritism toward Christianity here.

Funny, considering that historically the fascists have been the ones who used religion as a unifying force and as an instrument of oppression.

reply to post by neo96


Actualy it goes both ways. Like the uber religonouts freaking out saying happy holidays.

reply to post by Golf66


Funny you mention that myself and a few other guys used to change our religion fairly often for some of those perks. Never enough to stand out to much if you know what I mean but I am sure you know what I am talkig about. I even think I was jewish one holiday.lol

reply to post by AdamsMurmur


I don’t have a problem with celebrating the holidays for whatever reason but I am with you in the fact that most people do not even know what they are celebrating or at the very least they have been sold a false truth as to when those days are.

In this day and age they should at least acknowledge the true roots then just carry on as usual. Everybody needs time of to take a break and reflect. It can be hard to do with the entire family around though... Just depends on how they do it.

Originally posted by Golf66

Originally posted by Kali74
reply to post by DaTroof

 

I think that is okay too as long as there is some kind of provision that people not be penalized for taking days off to celebrate holidays in their religion.

The constitution doesn't guarantee freedom from religion but rather freedom of it. No one is protected from having to view or see others celebrate their holidays only that the State will not compel them to participate or not as the case may be.

Thank you for that Golf. That is exactly my sentiments on this thread. Particularly the quote above. However, I do believe in a creator, your post still rings true no matter my personal beliefs.

I find it's extremely important to respect each persons right to not only believe in what they want but to be allowed to express it as well. Suppressing that part of people is nothing short of tyranny.

So to you my friend!

reply to post by CudiTheKid


O'Reilly is a self-declared Catholic, so for him it should have some meaning what the pope has to say on the matter, being god's representative on earth and all that.

"Christianity is not a new philosophy or new morality. We are Christians only if we encounter Christ... Only in this personal relationship with Christ, only in this encounter with the Risen One do we really become Christians...

Popeular quotes

Then Christians can quietly celebrate in a meaningful way that has nothing to do with paganism and crass commercialism. Considering it wasn't Christian to begin with, Christians have no power over that date or what goes on during it. As such, they have no right to ban anything, but can choose to cease doing Christian-related stuff, like a mock-stable with animals and a baby Jesus.

Or do you still think Jesus was born on the 25th of December? Seems like you do.

I'm not an idot. Jesus was most probably born in the Spring, March or April seems to the the consensus of scholars. The date is made up to go along with pagan celebrations, the "church" wanted to over ride the pagen celebrations. A bad idea to begin with.

I think if nativities and other religious symbols are banned from public view, then the word itself Christmas should be banned. It means Christ's Mass, or the religious celebration of Christ. So if you insist on calling it Christmas then it is an inherently religious and Christian celebration.

So I am for banning all things "Christmas" under the guise of "separation of church and state", which isn't in the constitution by the way, that's a fairy tale.

I think that as long as the crass commercialism is injected into it, that the word Christmas and the celebration of "Christmas" should be banned in the public arena, including stores which are open to the public.

Christmas is based around the solstice. Babyjesus was just thrown in there to trick the heatens into celebrating christianity that day. They were already celebrating anyway, the winter solstice, so they used that to make for an easy transition.

The winter solstice comes for everyone, thats why the Japanese celebrate it too. Atheists can celebrate the winter solstice instead of christmas.

If Christianity is a philosophy and not a religion... then I guess all those Christian churches should lose their tax exempt status? Not to mention all the back taxes they would owe.

I suppose by these same standards Buddhism is not a religion either.