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This Is Atheists’ Alternative Christmas ‘Holiday’ That Rejects ‘Supernatural Religious Beliefs’

Dec. 22, 2012 5:57pm Billy Hallowell

When it comes to holiday celebrations, December is a busy time. Christians celebrate Christmas, Jews observe Hanukkah and many African descendants participate in Kwanzaa celebrations. While the month is already chock-full of cheer, it seems atheists have traditionally felt left out of the mix, so they’ve created “HumanLight,” their own holiday to commemorate secularism.

Generally celebrated on or around Dec. 23, HumanLight is meant to tout human potential and “peace.” Contrary to other holidays, this secular observance was founded as an alternative to “supernatural religious beliefs,” as non-believers search for a way that they, too, can take part in the winter holiday season. An official web site setup to describe the endeavor reads:

HumanLight illuminates Humanism’s positive secular vision. In Western societies, late December is a season of good cheer and a time for gatherings of friends and families. During the winter holiday season, where the word “holiday” has taken on a more secular meaning, many events are observed. This tradition of celebrations, however, is grounded in supernatural religious beliefs that many people in modern society cannot accept. HumanLight presents an alternative reason to celebrate: a Humanist’s vision of a good future. It is a future in which all people can identify with each other, behave with the highest moral standards, and work together toward a happy, just and peaceful world.

The following video explains HumanLight in full:

While the non-theist celebration may seem odd to those hearing about it for the first time, Religion News Service (RNS) reports that it has been around for just over a decade and is gaining traction among non-believers in some areas of the country:

This year, at least 18 groups, from New Jersey to Florida and Pennsylvania to Colorado, have ceremonies planned. And at least one government building that displays holiday scenes has added HumanLight to the roster: the county courthouse in Wabash, Ind., displays a yellow, white and red HumanLight banner on the same lawn as the Christian creche.

The holiday, which was born in the late 1990s, developed after members of the New Jersey Humanist Network began asking themselves how they, as non-believers, could commemorate the holiday season. Eventually, HumanLight became the answer everyone was apparently searching for.

In an interview with RNS, Patrick Colucci, a non-theist who helped create HumanLight, explained that, rather than focusing upon a deity, HumanLight celebrates humanity and the ability for everyone to come together to build “a more just, more peaceful and a better quality of life for all.”

“The December holiday period is always a discussion for those of us who are nontheistic,” Colucci told RNS News. “What are we going to do if our families want us to go to church? Should we celebrate Christmas even though we don’t want to? The question came up: How come there is no holiday for the nonreligious?”

While HumanLight will certainly be new to many, it is in its 12th year of observance. Some atheists began celebrating back in 2001. It was at that time that a communal meal was held. Today, just a little over a decade after the atheist holiday commenced, new practices are included, as those who celebrate it light three candles to represent reason, compassion and hope. A fourth candle, as RNS notes, represents HumanLight itself.

Atheists Push HumanLight, a New December Holiday Celebrating Secularism

Photo Credit: HumanLight.org

Despite originating in New Jersey, other non-theist groups have adopted the holiday across America. Some hold book exchanges and charity endeavors, while others provide entertainment for children. Taking a direct page from Christmas, some celebrants even create HumanLight cards, holiday carols and ornaments.

But while some non-believers are hankering for their own reason to celebrate the season, not all atheists, agnostics and humanists are on board. In fact, Tom Flynn, executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism, believes that these non-theists should simply shun all December holidays.

“Nonreligious people make themselves disappear when they cling to a ‘me too’ holiday so as not to be seen with nothing special to do towards the end of December,” he said. “We’d further increase our visibility by ignoring the holiday and pressing our employers to leave the office open on December 25.”

For more about HumanLight, be sure to read RNS’s profile on the atheist holiday.

–

Related:

Do You Know the Real History of Kwanzaa? Here’s What It’s All About

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Comments (414)

The-Monk
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 8:45pm
We feel your pain troll. Stuck in your room in your parents house with your Justin Bieber haircut, beanie cap and guitar. Posting your songs on Youtube that no one listens to. No girlfriend. The only outlet you have is a website where you hate the people there. Seems like the only people you have to communicate with or will listen to you are Glenn Beck fans. Bless those Beck fans that allow you to vent your petty little frustrations on their wonderful website. We feel your pain. You love Obama yet he won’t do anything for you. Don’t worry troll…. We all love you and know you will join us when you wake from your dream. TM

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Ziggy
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 8:45pm
Rightwinghater it has been entertaining to read your supercilious posts since last Tuesday.
Now go away.

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superduper
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 8:42pm
Well, I guess because you said it it must be true. Do you feel better now that you got that off your chest? Time for your new round of meds and a good nap.

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John Valentine
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:58pm
Yes I want to celebrate Christmas with Jarod Lochner, and with the creep who disposed of 26 people in a fit of rage. NO, I THINK I WILL STICK WITH GOD, TRY TO DO HIS WILL, AND BE HUMBLY ACCEPTABLE IN THE END!

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- conservativewoman
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 11:44pm
  @JOHNVALENTINE
  Good post!
  
  Report this comment
- GenOptimus
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 4:47am
  Good post. Notice how the liberal commie cr@pheads don’t respond when they have no defense.
  
  Report this comment
- Bruce P.
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 9:16am
  VALENTINE, your post is a complete non-sequitur.
  
  The poor logic you employed says, “Jared Loughner murdered people and is human, therefore when you celebrate human achievement, you are celebrating Jared Loughner.” It makes no sense whatsoever, as no one, outside of the most sick of people, would equate Jared Loughner to human achievement.
  
  It would be the same as saying, “There are particular Christians who have committed atrocities in the past 2000 years, therefore, when you celebrate Christmas, the founding of Christianity, you are therefore celebrating these atrocities.”
  
  Report this comment
Dudley Do-Right
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:50pm
Isn’t the word holiday derived from the words “Holy Day” You freethinkers are so much smarter than everyone else! Happy Holy Day!

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- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:59pm
  This is why I love the blaze, that’s one to remember!
  
  Report this comment
- Kalidor835
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 3:45am
  I was going to mention that but you beat me to it. Now with that in mind how is it that a group that doesn’t believe in something being holy wants a holy day of their own? For people who claim to follow only logic and reason that is very illogical.
  
  Report this comment
- chucksue351
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 6:27am
  now take it back even further, where did the word holy come from, might it be the name of a pagan god from india called holi
  
  Report this comment
- U4eeeahhh
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 6:45am
  Oh Dudley, that a word’s ancient origins may have one meaning does not equate to the word’s contemporary connotation. There is no sacred implications in the primary meaning of the word “Holiday” in 2012AD America. Need examples?
  4th of July Holiday
  Father’s Day Holiday
  Summer Holiday
  Do I need to go on? Holiday is not holy and hasn’t been since the 12th century.
  
  My great-grandfather was part of the mid-19th Century Freethinker Movement in Sweden and Germany, my grandfather & father were Freethinkers so I’m a forth generation atheist – a bit rare in America. We have always referred to it as Winter Holiday and for most of my childhood we traveled this time of year. I also was never lead to believe in Santa Claus. I do remember we had tree a few times and in the 60′s we had a huge aluminum tree with rotating colored lights. I don’t remember either of his office buildings ever doing anything for holidays.
  
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- ONLY4UANDME
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 9:08am
  It is because my parents told me there was a Santa, I decided to do my own homework and I read the Bible. There is not a writer, thinker or person that could ever inspire a relationshp like the one God and I now have. I can’t tell an atheist what he is missing and I don’t try.
  Someone once famous said ….Don’t give pearls to swine.
  
  Report this comment
- Balpit
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 2:34pm
  When they try to secularize “Merry Christmas” by replacing it with “Happy Holidays”, the joke’s on them! So yes, Happy Holy Days to you!
  
  Report this comment
RIGHTWINGHATEMACHINE
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:45pm
Christian philosophy 101: Do as we say. Not as we do.
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- bonesiii
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 8:15pm
  That’s Pharisee philosophy. :P You might notice some words about that from Jesus…
  
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- The-Monk
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 8:16pm
  Well God Bless you RIGHTWINGHATEMACHINE…
  
  We all love you and want you to have the best Christmas ever !!!
  
  What are you expecting from Santa this year? Have you been a good Boy?
  
  Remember our Love for you on this very special Christmas. : )
  
  Report this comment
- chicago76
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 12:14am
  You are a funny zombie. You must have someone else controlling the keys. After-all we all know zombies only purpose in life is to walk and eat people.
  
  Report this comment
- Halo9x
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 1:42am
  I don’t recall anyone forcing anyone to celebrate Xmas. If fools who don’t believe in God or Jesus don’t want to celebrate Xmas then they don’t have to. So go sit in a corner by yourselves and be unhappy. It’s your right to do that. However, you might accord the rest of us who do believe the right to be happy that God sent His Son into the world. If you want to be damned for your lack of faith, that’s your right and God says so!
  
  Report this comment
valleyfever
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:24pm
If the future they desire is one where everyone behaves in a moral manner…where did they get their morals from? In our society isn’t that the Judeo-Christian ethic? Or maybe they think that morals evolved too.

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- Bruce P.
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 8:58am
  Quite simply, yes…we evolved morality. Contrary to what many Christians here claim, morality existed long before the Christian myth was invented. What Christians here believe to be their exclusive province has operated in human societies since the dawn of our most basic civilizations. Morality is both a function of being social animals and an outcome of our ability to reason. Being dependent on other humans for our safety and well-being, morality evolved so human societies could function. Without morality, a society cannot hold. Our reason allows us to see the short and long-term consequences of our actions, to foresee the results of our immoral actions; often it is being able to foresee the negative consequences, and a desire for self-preservation, that compels us to forgo immoral actions.
  
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 2:36pm
  Bruce – Even reason is subjective.
  
  Report this comment
- Bruce P.
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 4:39pm
  I do not think reason is subjective, though there are perverts such as yourself, who are racist, intolerant bigots, full of hatred for anyone who is not a white Christian conservative republican male, and who absolutely despise the Constitution because it gives rights to those you hate, who will tell us they come from a place of love and reason.
  
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- From Virginia
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 7:28pm
  @Bruce – What rot! Without God the first thing society does is purge itself of their believers. Happened in Russia (and all its satillites), it happened in China and numerous other places where the State replaced God in society. Hundreds of millions died in just a few decades.
  
  That’s a body count that would make even the muslims envious! And no – I don’t consider islam a religion. Just another totalitarian statist regime that dresses up as a religion to fool their people.
  
  Report this comment
- Git-R-Done
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 9:18pm
  Bruce – Meanwhile hypocrites like you who claim to be loving and reasonable are complete bigots and hate mongers towards White Evangelical Christians. And you hypocritically preach to us to be tolerant when what you’re proposing is a detriment to people like me. If you claim that morality is subjective, then you have no morals whatsoever. Which isn’t a shocker.
  
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jdog777
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:23pm
Just further evidence Atheists are racists. There is already a secular humanist holiday in December call Kwanzaa that was invented out of thin air in the 60s. I am not surprised Atheists in general are trying to “trump” black people and dilute their Holiday, as they do believe they are superior to others. They call themselves “free thinkers” and “post theologians” and “Rationalists” and feel they have “evolved” beyond the other 90% of human kind who have Faith in a Creator. Instead they share a Faith of accidental and statistically impossible means of Life. We already know Progressive Atheists started organizations like Planned Parenthood to curb the reproduction of the black person and Marxist Progressive Atheists in Europe who used Eugenics to rid the world of black and jewish people.

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- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:35pm
  It’s close, but it’s not racism. It’s snooty elitism, just do a scan over Woodrow Wilson’s presidency.
  
  He didn’t host ‘the birth of a nation’ (KKK Cult Classic film) because he was racist.
  
  He did it because he is an academic, a nose in the air, haughty, elitist. No more, no less.
  
  Report this comment
- Kalidor835
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 3:54am
  Actually Woodrow Wilson was very much a racist. Until his presidency the US Army was fully integrated. When he took office he ordered blacks to be segregated once more. Some units were even listed as noncombatent because he believed blacks were incapable of fighting as a cohesive unit.
  
  Report this comment
Mapache
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:23pm
Whether or not the atheists want to believe in the divinity of Jesus, the fact that he was born is beyond dispute. Just celebrate his birthday and be done with it. Have some eggnog, a drink or two and relax.

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- Locked
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:46pm
  “the fact that he was born is beyond dispute.”
  
  Actually, there’s a fair amount of dispute. But the consensus is that He did exist.
  
  “Just celebrate his birthday and be done with it.”
  
  Although December 25th isn’t His birthday, I agree with the eggnog idea. Merry Christmas!
  
  Report this comment
- Pontiaku
  Posted on December 25, 2012 at 8:31pm
  “Just celebrate his birthday and be done with it.”
  Though my family and I celebrate, jesus and christianity is not discussed or mentioned. We celebrate by tradition to be with friends & family with no focus on the human sacrifice to himself to save ourselves from himself. Btw it wouldn’t be impossible to impregnate an underage virgin if you knew anything about anatomy. Miracle birth? More like miracle they got away with this lie.
  
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hillbillyinny
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:22pm
Personally, I don’t care what the atheists/secularists/humanists do!

As long as I and you have the opportunity to participate in the Mass that celebrates Jesus the Christ’s birth, I will pray for all who understand and those who do not understand that they will someday realize what they will be missing if they are wrong. . .

Blessed Christmas!

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Advection
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:16pm
The Philosophy of Science doesn’t require adherents to eschew other philosophies, including the Philosophy of Religion. Therefore, scientists who attack Religion do so from their own personal bigotry.

QED.

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- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:32pm
  Where does this notion come from that morality and science must part ways and go down different paths at some point? That’s nonsense, there are many ethical scientific ‘rules’ established and executed by the scientific community.
  
  You can have God and Science; both are tailored together.
  
  But not wanting to grow people inside of Petri dishes does not, a Bronze Age cro magnon, make.
  
  Not parceling money to stem cell research (which investors don’t seem to care for) makes no person some sort of zealot.
  
  Allowing somebody to believe what they want to believe, regardless of scientific basis, is admirable. It’s liberty, not tyranny.
  
  Not caring either way ought be the default position of scientists, not crusaders of thought.
  
  Report this comment
- RationalMan
  Posted on December 24, 2012 at 12:07am
  Advection
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:16pm
  
  The Philosophy of Science doesn’t require adherents to eschew other philosophies, including the Philosophy of Religion. Therefore, scientists who attack Religion do so from their own personal bigotry.
  
  Me: Then how do you explain “ICE-MAN”?…Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
Bruce P.
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:01pm
Celebrating Christmas is fine with this atheist…it is just another name the many mid-to-late December gift-giving traditions that have existed in Western society since long before the creation of the Jesus myth. One need not hold any supernatural beliefs for Christmas to be a day to celebrate your family and loved ones.

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- barbqguy
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:20pm
  So you’re accountable to your family and friends… therefore if your family and friend approve of murder, theft, rape, etc.. then it’s OK?? And if you say well we also observe the laws of man… so then when a dictator or evil leader is in place, we just go along for the ride there too??? In order for there to BE order in our existence you NEED a higher authority.. Funny atheists don’t believe in God, yet expend sooo much time and energy trying to disprove Him.. we’ll continue to pray for you
  
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- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:24pm
  That reminds me of a T.J. quote.
  
  “But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” Thomas Jefferson
  
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- Centurian
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 8:02pm
  First off, I doubt that you would find many Christians who believe December 25th is Jesus Christ’s birthday. The date was chosen to coincide with other pagan religions, nothing more.
  
  But if asking me if I, as a Christian should, I would say “yes”. It is a way to show my personal belief in Jesus Christ and what his life meant.
  
  Secondly, if you are one who is advocating logic and reason, no thank you. History has shown time and time again, the brutality and murder that goes on when man places his faith in them.
  
  Why? Because there is nothing to install any standard of morality. Thus, I have relatives and a few friends who have fallen into the belief that there is no such thing as right or wrong, only gray. Their argument is that to determine what is right or wrong requires judgement upon others, something they do not want to do, since it would also mean that others would then be allowed to judge their life. I call it the “gutless ideal”, since it means not having to stand up for anything.
  
  Society falls apart when morality is trivialized and each man demands accountability for his actions from no one. Such is where our society is at now. It teeters on the brink of collapsed because of arrogance and supposed “enlightenment through logic and reason”.
  
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- Bruce P.
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 8:36pm
  Moral taboos against murder, rape, theft did not spring into existence from Christian mythology but are universal ideas that have existed throughout human civilization. One need not the Christian god to have morality. In fact, one is far more moral if they are simply following such morality for morality’s sake, not because some mythological being may punish or reward them some far off day.
  
  Societies that condone such things are murder, theft, rape are not long for this world. Nor are dictators, who make laws to justify their atrocities, looked upon in any society as a good thing. Least we forget at one time, Christians allowed for dictators, in the forms of absolute monarchs and their horrible actions as the “Will of God”. Christians are, by far, no authority nor ideal for morality.
  
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- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 9:56pm
  People don’t need religion to be ‘good’, you say?
  
  Ohohoho you’re in for a big surprise Brucey
  
  http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/peoplegood.html
  
  Report this comment
- sheriff32
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 9:58pm
  Thank you Bruce,for being a level headed individual. Happy holidays!
  
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- valiant1776
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 1:45am
  There is not one empire in world history that existed without some form of pagan worship. Whether you excavate the ruins of Rome, or discover some tribe in the middle of the wilderness, you will witness the sacred reverence for that which is considered beautiful, awesome, perfect, or holy, especially of those things which are not human.
  
  The Bible says, “That which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen,”
  
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- valiant1776
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 1:59am
  The same Creator who governs the universe, and established the Law of Nature, also endowed man with the power of reason.
  
  The Bible says, “When the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.”
  
  Man in his natural state is imperfect and susceptible to failure and sin. No human law can rid the world of evil, nor make man perfect.
  
  The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight… For all have sinned.”
  
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- Bruce P.
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 9:33am
  THE_CABRITO_GOAT — I reject your selective data-points, anecdotal evidence and generalizations.
  
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 9:24pm
  Bruce – Yet you stated that morality is subjective and you’re whining about anecdotal evidence?
  
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breakobamanow
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:59pm
Humanist’s vision of a good future. It is a future in which all people can identify with each other, behave with the highest moral standards, and work together toward a happy, just and peaceful world.

This is Human worship. They are making themselves to be God. The Newage (rymes with sewage)movement. LORD I pray your will be donel; for I do not understand all things, but if this is where we must go to get where you have promised us I’m on board the ark and when you shut the door that no man openeth I pray some of these lost souls will be with us.
Genesis 3:5
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Romans 1:25
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Human light? Satan himself so called Lucifer is a bearer of light.

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- Bruce P.
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:10pm
  It is not human worship. There is quite the difference between celebrating life and our loves ones, and worship. For instance, when celebrate birthdays, right? Would you say in celebrating birthdays you are worship that person? Of course not.
  
  And you have a gross misunderstanding of what atheism is; it is a rejection of, at its purest form, all supernatural beliefs. Thus, New Age (and no “Age” and “sewage” do not rhyme) are rejected, as they rely on superstition and pseudoscience.
  
  And I find it very telling that you, as a Christian, reject the idea that humanity should find common understanding, behave with the highest of morals, and work towards peace, as “un-Christian” and a “worship” of mankind.
  
  Very telling indeed.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:19pm
  “Satan himself so called Lucifer is a bearer of light.”
  
  Clarification. Lucifer is NOT a name for Satan. It’s been mislabeled as that through bad translations (the KJV in particular is to blame). Lucifer is mentioned twice in the Bible: once as a refernece to a Babylonian king whose love of jewelry made him shine like the light of Venus (Lucifer), and once in Revelation, as a title for Jesus Christ when He comes again at the end of days.
  
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- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:49pm
  “And I find it very telling that you, as a Christian, support the idea that humanity should find common understanding, behave with the highest of morals, and work towards peace, and anything less is “un-Christian” and a “worship” of mankind.”
  
  Fixed your post. Just read “Abolition of Man” by C.S. Lewis (do us all a favor) Lewis finds core, workable principles that can be shared among every major religion on the planet (minus voodoo cults in deep jungles)
  
  You may not believe the words in the bible were divinely inspired. Forgive my crassness, but, so what?
  
  Download a free bible app. if you have a smart phone. You’ll see that, even if the words were the delusions of a hypoxic John or a desert mirage of Moses (as I’ve often thought) it hardly matters.
  
  1787 August 10. (Jefferson to Peter Carr). “Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.”[8]
  
  And don’t forget that bible application
  
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- Centurian
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:51pm
  Bruce P;
  
  There are many things in your post that I would like to rebuttal, but I will stick with the last paragraph, which was:
  
  “And I find it very telling that you, as a Christian, reject the idea that humanity should find common understanding, behave with the highest of morals, and work towards peace, as “un-Christian” and a “worship” of mankind.”
  
  I have found that when another speaks of finding common ground, or “common understanding”, what is really at play is a compromise of principles. Rejection or morals, and the attack of those of faith is never in the best interest of society. Yet, here you are, asking me to stow away my faith for the betterment of mankind.
  
  How ironic.
  
  The more of the “free love”, ‘if it feels good, do it”, “I can do what I want”, “open sex” agendas of the left endorses, the more chaotic our society becomes. you fail to realize that man has never been able to regulate himself by indulging in his own desires.
  
  So I will not compromise on my beliefs, which are my principles; for without them, I am no better than a highly evolved ape who cannot control his libido.
  
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- breakobamanow
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:56pm
  @BRUCEP
  As a Christian I believe in the Bible. I have no objection with high moral values; but have to ask what yours are since you don’t seem to have them written anywhere. I know where mine are.
  
  As for the common understanding you speak of; I don’t know what believers have in common with non-believers, since again those supposed things are not written. My beliefs are written down by Almighty God. Who I know will have the last word on this
  Amos 3:3 (KJV)
  Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
  
  I love you and will pray for you. Do you believe you have no soul?
  
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- breakobamanow
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 8:24pm
  @ LOCKED
  Good luck with your new translations and biblical scholars who take out what they don’t want to believe or don’t like. There is a spirit behind all of them. I’ve been down that road before and I hope and pray God shows you the truth; as he did myself. I left a church of 20 years over this issue so I have had plenty of experience, with pastors who will tell you you have to read the original Hebrew and Greek to really know what God said. When if you just believe the bible God answers that question for you. I thank him every day for showing me. I still have a NKJV and an NIV, just in case I need some fuel for a fire to keep warm.
  Psalm 12:6-7
  The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
  Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
  Read Isaiah 14:12 in the KJV and your new translation and ask yourself who said they would sit on the mount on the congregation, and be like the most high, and who is the real “morning star” in the bible? You see Satan will pretend to be Christ. I hope you will be able to identify him.
  
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- Locked
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 10:24pm
  @Breakobamanow
  
  May I ask which translation you use? Whenever I see someone mocking other Christians who seek the clearest translations of the Bible, they tend to hold the KJV as their “ultimate truth.” When pressed, the answer always seems to boil down to “Because it was too tough to find the truth otherwise, so I picked the one that’s easiest for me to understand/most familiar.”
  
  Easy doesn’t make it correct, but at least it seems like your heart’s in the right place.
  
  I personally find the historical disparities of the Bible to be fascinating. For example, we know that the parable of Jesus and the woman taken in adultery (John 7:53-8:11) was added later and was not actually part of the original Gospel – likely indicating it never happened. We also know that Mark 16:9-20 a tacked-on ending. And let’s not even get started on the Comma Johanneum!
  
  I agree with your point: in the end, we just need to have faith because we’ll never know what parts of the Bible are true and what parts were added or subtracted or rearranged. Still, when we DO know the right words, it seems a shame to use less useful translations just to make the language “prettier.”
  
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- U4eeeahhh
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 7:27am
  Well I’m your atheist horror, a genuine admitted Situational Ethicist. I do not accept the concepts of absolute right and wrong, good or evil. There is no absolute value for which I can not create a hypothetical situation where in I would not violate the basic ones; kill, steal, cheat or lie, For me it is all a matter of positive outcomes as they impact my pursuit of happiness. I don’t kill because there isn’t a positive outcome likely, should that change I’m flexible. After almost four decades in advertising and public relations, I can lie while smiling and tap dancing simultaneously. Recognizing the gradations in the spectrum of Truth in a very important job skill in my line of work. Cheating and theft, which can I say, it’s laws and jail not Gods or Hell that keeps me vaguely honest.
  
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- Bruce P.
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 9:28am
  CENTURIAN — “I have found that when another speaks of finding common ground, or “common understanding”, what is really at play is a compromise of principles. Rejection or morals, and the attack of those of faith is never in the best interest of society. Yet, here you are, asking me to stow away my faith for the betterment of mankind.”
  
  I am curious, where is anyone asking that you compromise your principles, or seeking a rejection of morals? You are not finding it here. I am certainly asking for no such thing. Instead, I believe we can find common ground on morality, that we agree things like murder, rape, stealing and bringing harm to others in general are immoral acts.
  
  However, you see to embrace the idea that if one is not Christian then one cannot be moral, and any desire to see our similarities is a compromise. Am I wrong on this? If so, I would seek your edification.
  
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 9:20pm
  Bruce – You mean your side isn’t relying on the pseudoscience such as the born this way lie? Funny how you claim that your side celebrates life when you support abortion.
  
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mhojai
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:57pm
So, essentially, you’re syaing “tolerance” only goes one way? Can you say “irony” boys & girls? I knew you could!

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PrzLesu
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:34pm
French atheist Jean Paul Sartre said that without God, “I was like a man who’s lost his shadow. And there was nothing left in heaven, not right or wrong, nor anyone to give me orders.”

Atheists believe that without God they are not accountable to anyone but themselves.

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- Bruce P.
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:51pm
  No. We do not believe we are accountable to only ourselves. We are accountable to our families, our friends, and society as a whole.
  
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- TruthEqualsLife
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:33pm
  Bruce P. I’m curious as to WHY you believe you are accountable to family, friends, and society? Where does that impulse come from? Why do you owe them anything???
  
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- Centurian
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:42pm
  Bruce;
  
  So by “society” you mean those who work with you and believe like you do, for the left has been working overtime for years in tearing down society and its morals and replacing them with liberal theology, i.e. atheism.
  
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- Walkabout
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:58pm
  Bruce P.
  No. We do not believe we are accountable to only ourselves. We are accountable to our families, our friends, and society as a whole.
  ***
  There is morality encoded in the genes. But it is slippery. The morality only extends to the group. Which means those outside the group may be treated with less than decency (Check SCIAM or Discover). Just like there are cultures & sub cultures. There are societies & societies living side by side sometimes not so peacefully & sometimes with in the same “nation”.
  
  So you are accountable to your society. And what is that? Have you seen the Middle East? There is only one society there soon. A century ago it was 2% Christian. Now it is 5%. The people in Dearborn will not be accountable to you. If & when they get critical mass, America will look like the Middle East. What have you to offer?
  
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believe05
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:31pm
They hope to be moral and that everyone live in peace. I guess trashing Cristianity every chance they get must be their definition of morality and living in peace with everyone. They defend free speech only when it appies to them. I doubt many Christians will be running to the courthouse because they are offended. To the contray, they would pray for the atheists.

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- Tractorboy
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 8:28pm
  @BELIEVE, I think you stumbled onto their first commandment, “Thou shalt be peaceful to only those we like” There, they can still kick around Christians, wouldn’t be a sin in their holy book…… just to have balance they need 9 more commandments, or 10, to one up the Christians….Hmm lets think of some more, lets help…besides praying for them…
  
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Tri-ox
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:20pm
obama’s atheists are nuts.

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- Locked
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:21pm
  … what does Obama have to do with this article at all? According to the information here, this started in the 1990s.
  
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- chicago76
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 12:17am
  No they are Obamazombies.
  
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forthepeople
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:19pm
What scares them so badly as to ‘ rain on our parade ‘ constantly ? Leave US alone !
Nest they will be telling US what color we can or cannot paint our house .

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- Sr Newk
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:38pm
  Most neighborhood Housing Associations already do a pretty good at doing the very thing you have mentioned. The real zinger is the people who live in the neighborhood pay out pretty good sum of dollars to be told what they can and cannot do, hmm that is similar to what is happening with our own federal government.
  
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- petraje
  Posted on December 24, 2012 at 12:57pm
  Who are you atheists to question the Almighty Father? Who are you atheists to step on my rights as a believer? You now have your own holiday. Now go away and leave me alone to celebrate Christmas. and believe what you want to believe. You have the free will to do so.
  
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aproudinfidel
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:18pm
So the Godless heathens can now party with the rest of the world. Not even interested in finding out what this new “holiday” might entail.

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hatchetjob
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:18pm
“Religion News Service (RNS) reports that it has been around for just over a decade”…

It’s been around this long? Then why are atheists still so angry with Christians?

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BenjaminsEx
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:16pm
AM123…very funny…LMFAO.

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baer1966
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:15pm
So do you wish them a happy human light, merry human light or what? Maybe this is the secret behind spontaneous human combustion, the original human light :-)

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- hatchetjob
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:38pm
  Perhaps they exchange fluorescent and CFL’s for gifts.
  
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dwilco77
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:13pm
Good – have your Holiday – I am Happy for you. I will leave yours alone. Now leave mine alone. You are welcome to your beliefs (or non- beliefs). The other approx. 90% of us happen to want to enjoy our Holiday, and celebrate the birth of our Savior . We promise not to denegrade your Holiday. Your Holiday does not make me angry, sad, happy, or any other number of emotions. I have no feelings about your Holiday, as you should have no feelings about mine. See ya.

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- ModerationIsBest
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:27pm
  I’m an atheist and have no idea what they’re celebrating and won’t take part but……how would you feel if they started to want to put up their celebratory stuff on public property?
  
  What if they threatened to boycott companies who didn’t wish them the correct holiday?
  
  Keep your Christmas stuff on your own property, and I don’t have a problem with Christmas.
  
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- tzion
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:43pm
  @Moderation
  Personally I don’t have a problem where they put their decorations as long as I don’t have to pay for it. I have no problem with nativity scenes at courthouses (though I do sometimes find to extravagance of some people to be somewhat annoying). On the other hand, my local fire department seems to enjoy spending my money to drive around my neighborhood carrying some guy in a santa suit. They even felt the need to use no fewer than four vehicles with at least three full sized trucks.
  
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- qpwillie
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:44pm
  ModerationIsBest, who’s been putting their “Christmas stuff” on your property?
  
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- Bruce P.
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:58pm
  QPWillie, perhaps you miss the insistence that nativity scenes be placed on PUBLIC property…
  
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- dwilco77
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:34pm
  Your arguments are hilarious to me. You see a Nativity scene, and it gets your panties all up in a bunch. Since God has no meaning to you, all a Nativity scene should be to you, is a few lights, and a couple of dolls. It has great meaning to me, for what it symbolizes, but should have no meaning to you. Your unreasonable agitation at seeing these little dolls, and lights, illustrates a very weak character. Perhaps you should search for a higher meaning in your life, so you do not get your shorts all bundled up like you do.
  
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- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:58pm
  I’d be chipper to see more people feeling free to showcase what they believe to their neighbors. I could care less if it were a Ramadan celebration, a Scientology celebration of Hubble, or the Kwanzaa colors in a flag.
  
  ‘Tis the season. The few (and yes, very few) who oppose everyone else besides them their natural rights of Man to speak and demonstrate are a sad, lonely bunch. Lonely because they are a microscopic minority.
  
  Maybe if they see such a menagerie of religious display, their hearts may soften? ‘Tia a season of miracles, too.
  
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- ModerationIsBest
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 11:52pm
  @DWILCO77
  
  It’s not the symbols that do me any harm. I like seeing them on private property, I think they’re nice.
  
  When they’re placed on public property, it just reminds me of how many people in this country are actively trying to create a theocracy where the Bible is consulted on domestic and foreign policy.
  
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- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 12:52pm
  Theocracy? That’s tyranny. Theocracy is basically somebody telling you how to worship, it’s putting a theocrat between your relationship with your God. Nobody wants that.
  
  But if somebody does call for a theocracy, tell us, so as may defeat them together.
  
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- ModerationIsBest
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 7:33pm
  @THE_CABRITO_GOAT
  
  I have had many of my Christians friends who say that the Bible should be consulted on matters of domestic and foreign policy.
  
  They want prayer to be consulted on such matters as well.
  
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- The_Cabrito_Goat
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 7:53pm
  I fail to see how that establishes a religion. An establishment of the church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster as the official church of Ohio is a theocracy. A mere consult does not a theocracy make :S
  
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am123
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:04pm
Atheists already have a holiday on April 1st.

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- HotFixIt
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:21pm
  No need to comment.. you said it all! Thanks, I needed the laugh.
  
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- kickagrandma
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:28pm
  Like your avatar.
  
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 10:48pm
  That was funny. Nice.
  
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- Pnis
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 8:15am
  Wow, I haven’t heard that one since, I don’t know, just about every thread about atheists on the Blaze. You fundies need some new material.
  
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on December 23, 2012 at 2:39pm
  Pnis – You hatetheists need to get a sense of humor and a life. No wonder you’re always so miserable and have to whine and complain about religion being shoved down your throat (even though that’s not the case).
  
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- Pnis
  Posted on December 24, 2012 at 6:58am
  Git- Is “Hatetheist” your new word of the week? What happened to Marxist? I have a sense of humor. This just isn’t that funny and it seems you fundies like to say it over and over and over… I would like to see a comment with some actually substance in it as opposed to the general un-thought out mindless drivel that most Blazers post. And just FYI, I’m not miserable in the slightest. I just enjoy poking fundies with a stick sometimes and watching them freak out over some 2000 year old myth.
  
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OldSurfRat
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:02pm
Oh boy!!

They really did it this time. The $hit is going to hit the fan. They fcked with Kwanzaa.

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- kickagrandma
  Posted on December 22, 2012 at 6:28pm
  I am laughing. THANK YOU!
  
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