You can protest all you like, I never said anything about that. Tell your families that they are foolish and there is no God, protest their involvement all you want. And have the courage of your convictions, and the consequences.
As to participating, go ahead and do the Santy Claus nonsense, I never said you shouldn't. But it isn't Christmas. And don't pretend that real believers and Christians should buy into the pagan nonsense and that you are part of the real Christmas. You aren't.
And to go to church where people are worshipping God, and calling it "fun", like it was a spectacle of some sort for you amusement, because it's fun, and you want your share of fun, is despicable. Those church pews could be seating real Christians, not pagans there for the show.
We're not going to banish ourselves from enjoying the fun,
Shame on you.
and our families don't want us to do that, either.
Your families probably have hope that you will see the light.
I suppose we should just banish ourselves from all the festivities while at the same time keeping our mouths shut...?
Bingo!
Why not just tell the truth? That you don't believe in God much less the Savior, and you concider the whole thing just a "fun" diversion from your hopeless life and stay home and eat the cookies and keep your hypocritical butt out of church where you are taking up the space that could be used for the purpose of worship.
That's the problem with so many of you people, you want it both ways.
You remind me of the goofy Unitarians. They want all the benefits of a church as long as they don't have to believe anything.
"I want Christmas, as long as there is no Christ".
You people have all your own holidays, enjoy them! Groundhog Day, Sweetest Day, Kwwanza, Labor Day, May Day and all the rest of your secular high holy days.
You have some serious issues.
Part of the reason I do permit my children to participate in Christmas festivities (and, btw, don't worry, we haven't taken space in a pew yet - my first post was referring to "other" atheists who sit in church every Sunday because their families are sitting there too) is that I want them to learn to understand and respect, rather than fear, Christianity.
If you have a problem with that, then I pity you.