Comments on: Merry Christmas! http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/ We get only one. Wed, 16 May 2012 21:13:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Felicia Gilljam http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-306 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:56:18 +0000 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-306 Ed; Oh, there's no one claiming there's a "war on christmas" in Sweden. There are a few people who are complaining because schools are starting to opt out of the christmas celebrations at church, which are actually against the law but which many schools take part in anyway. And the snide remarks do come up here from time to time. But there's nothing like the campaign in the US. I think part of why it isn't really an issue here is because our word for Christmas is Jul - Yule - and that has nothing to do with christianity. So it's not as easy for christians to claim it's all about them. Ed; Oh, there’s no one claiming there’s a “war on christmas” in Sweden. There are a few people who are complaining because schools are starting to opt out of the christmas celebrations at church, which are actually against the law but which many schools take part in anyway. And the snide remarks do come up here from time to time. But there’s nothing like the campaign in the US.

I think part of why it isn’t really an issue here is because our word for Christmas is Jul - Yule - and that has nothing to do with christianity. So it’s not as easy for christians to claim it’s all about them.

]]> by: Ed http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-305 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:14:21 +0000 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-305 I'm an atheist, and I celebrate Christmas too. How odd to hear that the whole "war on Christmas" balderdash is going on in Sweden too! It's fun to joke about it, though--to refer to my "liberal war on Christmas." I’m an atheist, and I celebrate Christmas too. How odd to hear that the whole “war on Christmas” balderdash is going on in Sweden too! It’s fun to joke about it, though–to refer to my “liberal war on Christmas.”

]]> by: Sophie http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-254 Sat, 29 Dec 2007 01:02:39 +0000 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-254 Well, rather than have me try to explain opinions I don't really understand (it's been so long since I was religious I have trouble remembering what it was like to be christian, let alone imagining what it's like to be some other religion!) here are some links: http://mofic.livejournal.com/64833.html?format=light and if you're still interested... http://chopchica.livejournal.com/101908.html?format=light All in all I imagine that christmas in a secular place like Sweden is, well, more secular than it is in christian-centric places like America and (to a lesser extent) Australia. Anyway, happy new year for Tuesday! Well, rather than have me try to explain opinions I don’t really understand (it’s been so long since I was religious I have trouble remembering what it was like to be christian, let alone imagining what it’s like to be some other religion!) here are some links:
http://mofic.livejournal.com/64833.html?format=light
and if you’re still interested…
http://chopchica.livejournal.com/101908.html?format=light

All in all I imagine that christmas in a secular place like Sweden is, well, more secular than it is in christian-centric places like America and (to a lesser extent) Australia.

Anyway, happy new year for Tuesday!

]]> by: Felicia Gilljam http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-252 Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:00:37 +0000 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-252 Dave and Tina, nice to hear from more christmas-celebrating non-religious people. In Sweden I don't think there's too much of the religious mumbo jumbo around, although there's a lot of christian carols of course. But you hardly ever see nativity scenes or anything like that around. Tina, your daughter's really cool! ;) Dave and Tina, nice to hear from more christmas-celebrating non-religious people. In Sweden I don’t think there’s too much of the religious mumbo jumbo around, although there’s a lot of christian carols of course. But you hardly ever see nativity scenes or anything like that around. Tina, your daughter’s really cool! ;)

]]> by: Tina B http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-250 Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:52:50 +0000 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-250 I celebrate christmas also but I am atheist. It's just been a tradition for me passed down from my mom. Nothing religious, just the santa guy. (smile) A friend of my daughter's asked her why she celebrates christmas, she replied, why do you celebrate halloween? I celebrate christmas also but I am atheist. It’s just been a tradition for me passed down from my mom. Nothing religious, just the santa guy. (smile) A friend of my daughter’s asked her why she celebrates christmas, she replied, why do you celebrate halloween?

]]> by: dave http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-249 Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:40:29 +0000 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-249 Hi! I am a humanist celebrating christmas (the word atheist I see more as something christians have been using to name their opponents). Anyways, Christmas was actually celebrated long before the christians came to Sweden. So, christians should really be ashamed, stealing that holiday. So, I am still pro christmas as a secular holiday. If we just could get rid of all the religious (and government financed) mumbo jumbo they show on TV it would be great. /D Hi!
I am a humanist celebrating christmas (the word atheist I see more as something christians have been using to name their opponents). Anyways, Christmas was actually celebrated long before the christians came to Sweden. So, christians should really be ashamed, stealing that holiday. So, I am still pro christmas as a secular holiday. If we just could get rid of all the religious (and government financed) mumbo jumbo they show on TV it would be great.
/D

]]> by: Felicia Gilljam http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-248 Wed, 26 Dec 2007 13:21:18 +0000 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-248 Sophie, No judging here ;) I used to write and read fanfic... many years ago. Anyway, I can kinda see where they're coming from too, it's just that, well, isn't it very much about just that - where you come from? I can see why someone living in a region where christmas is celebrated would feel left out. I might feel left out if I lived in a place where everyone celebrated Hannukah and I didn't. But Christmas is largely secular these days and there's no real religious reason to opt out (and if I were constantly surrounded by people who celebrated Hannukah, I probably would too!). Of course, one could try to make christmas an opt-in holiday instead, as well as all other cultural feasts like May 1, Halloween, Midsummer's Eve or whatever's pertinent in your part of the world. There are indeed people who think we should get rid of all bank holidays and let people have a few extra vacation days per year instead. I've been thinking about this quite a bit and come to the conclusion that I don't agree. I think it's good that we have certain cultural traditions that we can all take part in on specific days. Christmas is handy because everyone knows when it is and all you gotta decide is where to celebrate it. Same with New Year's Eve. No calling around to ask if people can take a day off to do one thing or another. Sophie, No judging here ;) I used to write and read fanfic… many years ago.

Anyway, I can kinda see where they’re coming from too, it’s just that, well, isn’t it very much about just that - where you come from? I can see why someone living in a region where christmas is celebrated would feel left out. I might feel left out if I lived in a place where everyone celebrated Hannukah and I didn’t. But Christmas is largely secular these days and there’s no real religious reason to opt out (and if I were constantly surrounded by people who celebrated Hannukah, I probably would too!). Of course, one could try to make christmas an opt-in holiday instead, as well as all other cultural feasts like May 1, Halloween, Midsummer’s Eve or whatever’s pertinent in your part of the world. There are indeed people who think we should get rid of all bank holidays and let people have a few extra vacation days per year instead. I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit and come to the conclusion that I don’t agree. I think it’s good that we have certain cultural traditions that we can all take part in on specific days. Christmas is handy because everyone knows when it is and all you gotta decide is where to celebrate it. Same with New Year’s Eve. No calling around to ask if people can take a day off to do one thing or another.

]]> by: Sophie http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-247 Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:03:00 +0000 http://lifebeforedeath.blogsome.com/2007/12/25/61/#comment-247 Sounds like any swedish "War on Christmas" would be coming from the vegetarians :) (Not that my vegetarian siblings weren't a bit left out yesterday with the traditional australian roast) But yes, there was a big kerfuffle recently in fanfic(*) circles about the exclusionary nature of christmas themed things, and the atheists (and pagans) tended to be on the "But christmas is for everyone!" side. The ones complaining were jews and members of other religions which specifically <i>don't</i> celebrate christmas. (And after reading some of their complaints I can see where they're coming from) Anyway, merry christmas to you too, and a happy 2008! (*)Yeah. yeah, you can stop judging me now :) Sounds like any swedish “War on Christmas” would be coming from the vegetarians :) (Not that my vegetarian siblings weren’t a bit left out yesterday with the traditional australian roast)

But yes, there was a big kerfuffle recently in fanfic(*) circles about the exclusionary nature of christmas themed things, and the atheists (and pagans) tended to be on the “But christmas is for everyone!” side. The ones complaining were jews and members of other religions which specifically don’t celebrate christmas. (And after reading some of their complaints I can see where they’re coming from)

Anyway, merry christmas to you too, and a happy 2008!

(*)Yeah. yeah, you can stop judging me now :)

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