Atheists at Christmas: Eat, drink and be wary

AP ^ | Dec. 9, 2009 | PATRICK CONDON

[smokingfrog]

Angie O'Neill recently moved into a new apartment complex for seniors and she's trying to make new friends. But Christmas is a tough time of year for an atheist.

"All the planned activities at this time of year revolve around the church," said O'Neill, a retiree and an atheist for decades.

O'Neill sought an escape this week, joining a group of her fellow nonbelievers for a weekly "Atheist Happy Hour" at a suburban Mexican restaurant. The group, Atheists for Human Rights, is active year-round but takes it up a notch this time of year with a Winter Solstice party, a charity drive and good attendance for the weekly gathering at Ol' Mexico.

** snip **

"What we're celebrating this year is the promise of the sun returning. That's S-U-N, not S-O-N," said Bill Weir, a retired marketing executive from Plymouth.

"Then the Christians stole it," added Marie Alena Castle of Minneapolis, the 82-year-old founder of Atheists for Human Rights and an atheist activist for two decades. It's a season of celebration for the Jewish faith as well, with Hanukkah.

Still, none of the atheists interviewed for this story expressed a wish to be left out of Christmas entirely.

"Food, we like. Presents, we like. Seeing family, we like," said Val Woelfel of St. Paul, an aspiring archaeologist. Woelfel, 47, and her boyfriend, Bjorn Larsen, 32, planned to erect a tree in their living room: "Sacred trees are an ancient custom. It's pretty, it smells nice and it's pagan," Woelfel said.

** snip **

Castle, the veteran activist, said people shouldn't cave in to the notion that Christmas belongs to Christians.

"Baby Jesus is just an excuse for a lot of people to party, anyway," Castle said. "Enjoy your friends. Eat, drink and be merry."

[the invisib1e hand]

oh, cry me a freaking river.

the anti-church media is as the anti-church media does.

[the invisib1e hand]

"Enjoy your friends. Eat, drink and be merry."

For tomorrow you die? Would that it worked that way.

[Rembrandt]

Anyone who’s been in the military remembers the old saying -there are no atheists in fox holes.

[RichInOC]

Pagan isn’t the same as atheist. Tell me these Mensa members knew.

[grey_whiskers]

"Food, we like. Presents, we like. Seeing family, we like," said Val Woelfel of St. Paul, an aspiring archaeologist. Woelfel, 47

ASPIRING?

At age 47?

Sounds like a subsidized professional student -- who should be given a mop and broom and sent off to do something productive rather than having their parasitism rewarded.

Cheers!

[freedumb2003]

I have done Posada with my Mexican American neighbors and, while I do not share their version of Christmas, it is a lot of fun and is a great celebration of Christ’s birth.

I wish my Jewish friends a happy (C)hannuk(ch)a. In fact, I have done Seder once (although I won’t sit Shiva).

Encouraging others to embrace and enjoy their celebrations, whether or not you share their particular faith, is only a “burden” and a time to be “wary” for those ready and willing to be insulted at the drop of a tree decoration.

[freedumb2003]

>>For tomorrow you die? Would that it worked that way.<<

Are you sure? I mean, to die just because you ate, drank and were merry? Wow — tough standard there! ;)

[dr_who]

Paranoid bunch, aren’t they?

[FrankR]

""All the planned activities at this time of year revolve around the church," said O'Neill, a retiree and an atheist for decades. "

Sucks to be you, huh Angie?

[LostInBayport]

ASPIRING? At age 47? Sounds like a subsidized professional student

Yep...when I read that a mental picture of that guy appeared...glasses halfway down his nose, white hair pulled back in a pony tail, sandals and khakis. Lots of professional students here in Mass., going out job hunting with their newly minted degrees in 'diversity' at age 58.

[RWB Patriot]

“Angie O’Neill recently moved into a new apartment complex for seniors and she’s trying to make new friends. But Christmas is a tough time of year for an atheist.”

“All the planned activities at this time of year revolve around the church,” said O’Neill, a retiree and an atheist for decades.”

Yeah, it’s called freedom to worship. How about instead of whining about it, you go out and try and create your own atheist holiday?

I wouldn’t have such a problem with atheists if they weren’t always whining about how invasive religion is to them while taking steps to see it banned from public view.

[grey_whiskers]

So is this what the atheists go from house to house singing this time of year?

"Adeste Malefidus"

Oh, come, all ye faithless, mournful and despondent,
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye, to Minnesota.
Come and behold Him, born the bane of bri-i-ights;

(chorus)

Oh come let us deride Him
Oh come let us deny Him
Oh come let us reject Him
Christ, ignored.

Sing, choirs of atheists, sing in consternation;
Oh, sing, all ye citizens of Manhattan!
Glory to Mankind, glory in the highest;

(chorus)

Nay, we defy Thee, born this pagan morning;
Jesus, to Thee be no credence giv’n;
Fraud of the Ages, now rednecks deceiving;

(chorus)

Good luck with that one, wankers.

Cheers! Cheers!

[the invisib1e hand]

oh wait, there's more:

Woelfel, 47, and her boyfriend, Bjorn Larsen, 32,

[RichInOC]

Bwah!

[smokingfrog]

I think I got the link wrong.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i7tADnxuR79MJPcf7h0C8jxGSMGQD9CG23P80

Here's Val.

[smokingfrog]

16

[dixjea]

Very cute and funny!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Unless you sell winter gear, run a ski resort, or other such things only a moron would celebrate winter. Most everyone celebrates it being over in one way or another.

[grey_whiskers]

Guilty.

Add about 80 IQ points, shave the legs, armpits, and moustache.

Then suspended sentence.

Cheers!