I get so angry this time of year. On the one hand i so enjoy buying and wrapping presents for my friends. On the other hand i hate having this religious holiday shoved down my throat. Like nobody of any other religion or belief system is allowed to exist. It feels exclusive. And i feel like my beliefs don't matter. It actually hurts.
NO religion, cult or ideology owns the concept of the end of winter, all are free to celebrate it, with lights and music and gifts for those they love.
Try this for emotional support. [recoveringfromreligion.org]
meh ... christian holidays encompass many old pagan rituals as well as modern cultural references such that you really can't fix them to a single religion or belief in many cases. I just consider them opportunities for love and good will. We can always use some of that.
Gawd. Might need to get out more! Hanukkah is on now and Diwali in October is a great festival. Chinese New Year in a couple of weeks if you want secular.
We're very fortunate in this country in that the vast majority of people, be they religious or not, feel that such matters are personal and should be kept to oneself. Thus, whilst Christians continue to celebrate Christmas as a religious festival (the village church is just down the lane from my house, I could hear them singing this morning), we don't get the whole "this is our festival and only for us" attitude - in fact, it's become really very secular and more a celebration of family than of Christ.
It is pretty much that way here too. Unless you go into a church, here in Central Texas there isn't much relgion tied to it any longer. It is about consumerism. A lot of it in the U.S. depends on where you live.
Yey. Love C of E. Come as you are because we will! Religion as an example of okay Christianity at local level.