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Prominent Atheist Activist Calls Gov’t Observance of Christmas Unconstitutional, Proposes ‘Family Day’ Instead

Feb. 18, 2013 12:00pm
FFRFs Annie Laurie Gaylor Wants the Government to Stop Recognizing Christmas

FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor (Credit: AP)

Forget the Grinch. Freedom From Religion Foundation Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor is claiming that it was the Christians who stole Christmas.

In an opinion piece on the New York Times’ “Room for Debate,” Gaylor called for an end to federal recognition of the popular holiday and indicated that the official adoption of Dec. 25 as a celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth is, in her view, a violation of the U.S. Constitution.

“If I had my druthers, Christmas would not be a federal holiday. It’s a no-brainer,” she wrote. “The First Amendment categorically states, ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.’ Clearly, designating the date upon which Christians observe the birth of their messiah as a federal holiday is making a law respecting an establishment of religion, and placing governmental weight behind Christianity.”

While Gaylor is clearly anti-Christmas as the holiday currently stands, she offered up two potential solutions that would satisfy atheist activists. She proposed either renaming the federal holiday “Family Day” or another similar title that doesn’t invoke Jesus’ name. Or, instead, she urged federal acceptance of Dec. 21 as the winter solstice in place of Dec. 25.

As for this latter option, Gaylor expounded, highlighting her belief that Christians unfairly co-opted and stole the holiday; her proposal would apparently right this wrong:

The winter solstice is, after all, the reason for the season. It signals the rebirth of the sun and the natural new year. For millennia, our ancestors in the Northern Hemisphere have greeted this seasonal event with festivals of light, gift exchanges and feasts. The federal government’s description of Christmas as a federal holiday claims: “Decorating houses and yards with lights, putting up Christmas trees, giving gifts, and sending greeting cards have become holiday traditions even for many non-Christian Americans.” But it is the Christians who stole Christmas. We don’t mind sharing the season with them, but we don’t like their pretense that is the birthday of Jesus. It is, if anything, the birthday of the Unconquered Sun. The winter solstice has astronomical significance all Americans can mark, without reference to their religious beliefs.

Gaylor argues that federal recognition of the winter solstice or Family Day would get around the government’s purportedly-problematic recognition of Christmas. Rather than focusing on Christ, she claims that this change would allow for more universal observance. Read her arguments here.

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Comments (162)

1 2 3 … 5
  • Loki
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:44pm

    I guess since the athiest dont support christmas it should be stopped..
    i guess labor day and MLK day be stopped too since the majority of americans arent communist or “of color”….
    then theres st patricks day.. whats the % of irish here in the US??
    how about presidents day… only a handful of presidents alive, why should we have a day for them….
    then we can ignore EID(muslim) since they are a minority too…..
    maybe we can get government back to work… lol

    Report this comment

    Loki  
  • cgnick
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:41pm

    My wife and I are atheist and our family celebrates Christmas. There is no Christ in our Christmas, but it is as full of American tradition as a Christmas could be. Christmas was something special to me as kid and I want my kids to have that same feeling.

    This woman is a raging atheist, she thinks that no one should be fooled into religion. I used to be the same way, I would try to talk anyone out of their faith. Then I realized that hey maybe some people need religion for moral bearing. It is also their constitutional right as well as it is mine to have no religion.

    I personally live life by the golden rule. The golden rule is just common sense and it was around long before the bible. Some people live a life with morals because of fear of god. I choose to do so for a far greater reason, for personal responsibility.

    Report this comment

    cgnick  
    • bonesiii
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:08pm

      I thank you for being a respectful atheist. Of course, I’m sad you choose not to accept salvation, and pray you will reconsider. :) I just wanted to add a few points from the perspective of a biblical believer:

      It is not about an atheist’s theory as to why we believe, even. That is the explanation you and many atheists have come up with, but it assumes atheism is true. If you’re wrong, then that reasoning fails. There’s an even more basic reason to respect those with different beliefs, and that is that we can never be 100% certain a view that we disagree with is wrong. Atheism for example is a lack of belief in a ‘deity’ (which is usually left undefined — if any atheist wants to define it for me I’m listening :)), or a positive belief that it’s a fact that none exists, specifically the biblical infinite God. Reason demands that this can only ever be a faith position; you could never rule out that God exists.

      This especially matters to me because I know of sound reasons to believe the Bible is true and atheism (and other religions) false. I see how it is possible for someone to apparently be convinced my view is false, even though it’s true. Thus, while I hope we would both try to do our homework and find out what the other knows (as I think I mostly have ;)), there is always room for questioning.

      Also, we believe in doing the right thing out of love (not fear) the greatest of all. :) Common misconception.

      Report this comment

      bonesiii  
    • Qritiqal
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 5:37pm

      The concept of deity is NOT undefined. A deity is any “god”. Atheists do not believe in gods. We do not believe in anything supernatural (being defined as anything outside of nature that has no scientific explanation).

      I choose not to hold beliefs. Atheism is not a belief that there is no god, it is LACK of belief that there IS a god.

      Most atheists are agnostic. Agnostic atheists say “I cannot know if there is a god.”
      Gnostic atheists say “I KNOW there is no god.” Gnostic atheists cannot prove their claim any more than gnostic theists can.

      The point of being an atheist is that we need a REASON to “believe” something. I choose not to believe anything that cannot be explained with scientific principles. If it cannot be explained, I do not believe it. It’s that simple.

      For example, one of the mainstays of theists is that the theory of evolution cannot be proven. Of course not, it’s a THEORY. It’s a very complex theory. You are not required to BELIEVE it, just to try to understand it. Perhaps some day facets of the theory of evolution will be disproved. I look forward to such a day because it will be very exciting!!!

      On the other hand, of all the evidence and science that has been discovered over the millenia, there is nothing credible that gives the slightest hint of a deity. You disagree, of course, because you “believe”. But the fact is that if any of it were proof, it would be considered SCIENCE.

      Report this comment

      Qritiqal  
    • JGraham III
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 6:54pm

      @CGNick
      At last! An atheist with some good old fashioned common sense! As a Christian I get a laugh out of the ‘keep Christ in Christmas’ crowd as the festival of Saturnalia morphed in to a Mass for Christ about the time of Constantine’s alleged conversion.( Christ never really was in Christmas to begin with..) That was the time that the Church “married’ the world and changed non-Christian festivals into supposed “Christian holidays”. I celebrate the holiday because even if its the only day the non-believing world or the nominally Christian world acknowledges Jesus Christ, it is better than not at all or even worse what this angry woman wants to do. Good luck honey! Walmart and Toys-R-Us will fight you tooth and nail anyway.
      Incidentally the only true Christian “holiday’ is one that most never see or acknowledge and that is Pentecost, namely the birthday of the Church. (it is always 50 days after the end of Passover.)

      Report this comment

      JGraham III  
    • bonesiii
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 8:21pm

      “deity is NOT undefined. A deity is any “god”.
      But that’s just playing hot potato with words…

      “anything supernatural… outside of nature that has no scientific explanation”
      More hot potato… Those are also just words that you haven’t defined in an objective way. “I don’t understand it” isn’t good enough; re: “evolution of the gaps”. Anything can have a scientific explanation; that’s just about the imagination and brains of people, not the actual world. What about things outside of nature that get explained, like the God of the Bible?

      “I choose not to hold beliefs.”
      No, I’m serious. I would like a reasonable definition, without resorting to pretzel logic and redefining basic English. :) I’m not trying to spark the normal contentious and meaningless debates. I’m honestly curious. :) We all must hold beliefs in order to function as human beings. You believe that typing into your keyboard/pad and submitting this post is not a total waste of time, for example. When I see someone resorting to such basic denial, it comes across as grasping at straws, implying they actually don’t have a workable definition for those terms. And yet, it seems to me that the idea of diety SHOULD be able to be defined.

      I ask this because I am not convinced atheists have really though it through. It seems most of you are just quoting a talking point that you’re taught to say, and haven’t really considered how God might be real.

      Report this comment

      bonesiii  
    • bonesiii
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 8:34pm

      “we need a REASON to “believe” something.”
      But we all do. That’s a basic human thing, not an atheist thing. And doesn’t this contradict saying that you don’t believe anything? Surely there are reasons to be convinced of -something- — like at least the basic undeniable truth that there is such a thing as existence, or that 2 + 2 = 4. If you don’t accept anything, why bother “needing reasons”?

      “I choose not to believe anything that cannot be explained with scientific principles.”
      But how can you rule out that God can be explained with them? It sounds like you really mean “anything that you are personally aware of explanations for”. Also, this reasoning is often used circularly; i.e. an arbitrary rule is added to “scientific principles” that says “no gods”.

      “nothing credible that gives the slightest hint of a deity. You disagree, of course, because you “believe”.”
      Other way around; I believe because there is tons that indicates the biblical God exists. Everything fits the Bible as observed, when analyzed thoroughly. Virtually nothing fits evolution — instead, “patches” must be concocted to explain away why it doesn’t seem to fit, but the problem is you could do that for ANY view.

      Also, “credible” is also often a circular weasel word atheists use, defined as “views that already agree with me”. I’m asking for a definition with no biased or circular terms like that, just like you’d do for anything else.

      Report this comment

      bonesiii  
    • bonesiii
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 8:45pm

      “But the fact is that if any of it were proof, it would be considered SCIENCE.”
      Notice you took a leap from science (evidence-based belief or “knowledge”) to “proof”. Very little in science is technically considered “proven.”

      And we DO consider creation science to be science. There is such resounding evidence for it, over any other view. Many atheists who persist in ignorance of these things (unfortunately) don’t state agreement with this, but we are free to leave them behind and move forward with real science that has eyes wide open to all of reality, not just the parts you’re comfortable not censoring due to your atheistic/evolutionary bias.

      I could say that at least some of evolution is science too, though. Science is a big enough concept to have multiple theories and hypotheses within it. Most of what is usually meant by “evolution” has been disproven or have strong evidence against it now. But disagreement and awareness of multiple possibilities is still important within science, or it could never move forward. I don’t have to believe evolution to consider it at least partially scientific — it is merely one possibility that was worth considering, but analysis has debunked it.

      The moment someone uses their bias (even if it’s a very popular bias) to say “X is not science because I won’t allow my poor brain to even consider that it might be true”, you lose sight of true science.

      Report this comment

      bonesiii  
    • Sparky101
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 10:42pm

      “Then I realized that hey maybe some people need religion for moral bearing.” While I’m sure some can use “religion” for that purpose, that’s not what it’s for. Most people who know Jesus, follow him out of their love for him, not to get something.

      “Some people live a life with morals because of fear of god. I choose to do so for a far greater reason, for personal responsibility.” It is quite interesting the way you try to use a straw man arguement to elevate yourself. I suspect that very few people live a life with morals because of a fear of God, so your “far greater reason” has quite a hollow ring. You totally miss the relationship God has with his believers, but that is not unusual for an atheist.

      Report this comment

      Sparky101  
  • thetruthlives
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:40pm

    they are not establishing a religion you stupid idiot……don’t take the day off…go to work…..we shall continue to celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus….

    Report this comment

    thetruthlives  
  • txgrrl
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:39pm

    Atheists can work on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. I’m Jewish and I have no problem with Christmas trees, lights, nativity scenes, etc. This lady needs to put her weight behind a real issue. I’d call this religious intolerance on the atheist’s part- what a shame. I thought they were supposed to be sooooo accepting and open-minded. (Grumble)

    Report this comment

    txgrrl  
  • Carlinpa
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:39pm

    This lady is typical of atheist,., they have NO life, no fulfillment in their lives so they seek to fill that void in their soul with hate of other who do.
    She illustrates the functional sub literacy of libs and atheists. She wants to replace one acknowledgement of a man ” Jesus” ,with another, pagan worship. Christianity is a philosophy based on the historical figure, Jesus. Would we need to cancel MLK day is they created religions based on him?
    Lady get a life stop this faux constitutional crusade. Someone needs to tel her to read every preamble of all the state’s constitutions. They ALL mention God, God almighty, the creator, etc. WHY?

    Report this comment

    Carlinpa  
    • The_Doors_Of_Perception
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:09pm

      I don’t necessarily agree with this lady…but I agree with you less. I have plenty of fufillment in my life…thanks for guessing though.

      Report this comment

      The_Doors_Of_Perception  
  • seeker9
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:36pm

    If you want to be an atheist, be an atheist. Just leave me and my beliefs the h*ll alone!

    Report this comment

    seeker9  
    • naughtycal
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:40pm

      Christmas holiday is Christmas holiday…if this atheist dirtbag want government to stop christmas break then establish a different time for it. Like say the week after new years.

      Report this comment

      naughtycal  
  • BROBB549
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:33pm

    Does that mean that we can revoke Martin Luther King Day because he was a Christian Pastor?

    Report this comment

    BROBB549  
  • S. Allen
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:32pm

    Mississippi schoolchildren to regain full constitutional religious liberty. See headline at ConservativeStates.com

    Report this comment

    S. Allen  
  • UNALIEN
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:31pm

    funny, how these nutjobs scream unconstitutional when they want something and ignore it when it benefits them

    Report this comment

    UNALIEN  
  • teammommy
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:30pm

    Sadly, this will happen. The government public schools already have taken out Christmas and instead call it WINTER BREAK. If schools di that, the fed gvmt is soon to follow, seeing guidelines have already been set. God will surely turn against us.

    As Michelle Obama siad, “We have to change our traditions….”

    Report this comment

    teammommy  
  • chucksue351
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:29pm

    she is right, christians go read the Two Babylons, or Come out of her my people, we should be celebrating the Feasts of Father YHVH from the Scriptures not pagan ones

    Report this comment

    chucksue351  
    • Small World
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 8:27pm

      You are so right. What is celebrated on Dec. 25 is all about spending money.I will be very happy to go to church.

      Report this comment

      Small World  
  • barber2
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:29pm

    Poor dear. There are so many more worthwhile projects which could use her time….

    Report this comment

    barber2  
  • thibx
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:26pm

    these mental midgets hope there is no God, that way they don’t have to face judgement day. a suprise is coming down the road.

    Report this comment

    thibx  
  • One of the Quiet Ones
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:25pm

    Then don’t celebrate it. Don’t replace it. I think THAT is a violation of church and state. Taking a religeous holiday observed for centuries and replacing it is substituting a religeous event. Expecially since there are atheist churches now.

    Actually they should make it an option for all government employees. If you want to register for the holiday you may but only be identifying yourself as Christian.

    Report this comment

    One of the Quiet Ones  
  • woodyee
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:23pm

    Someone should ask these two-faced, hypocritical, unAmerican, anti-religion, Christian bashing atheists why they’re not fired up about Obammy’s White House observance of Ramadan…

    Report this comment

    woodyee  
  • Cavallo
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:23pm

    Also, can you imagine the economic devastation if there were no Christians, or if Christians suddenly adopted a more Gnostic or anti-materialistic view of their celebrations?

    Report this comment

    Cavallo  
    • Witness1974
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:45pm

      Business at the railroad begins picking up around March with “peak season” starting in September and ending in December just before Christmas, if it is a good Christmas year. After that business falls off dramatically and railroaders are either layed off or start chasing their seniority all over the country. I am posting this in support of your assertion. I actually despise what Christmas has become because of the commercial part of it.

      Report this comment

      Witness1974  
  • UNALIEN
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:21pm

    Today is “family day” in much of Canada

    Report this comment

    UNALIEN  
  • Cavallo
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:20pm

    Celebrating the winter solstice is a Druid, Wiccan, and other Pagan practice. Just more evidence that evangelical atheists are not against all religion, just Christianity. They’re anti Christian bigots, first and foremost. The evangelical Atheists are worshipers of the State, and to empower the State, the opiate of the masses must be undermined and driven from public view. The other religions will be subjugated after the majority religion has been crushed, but for now they’ll only attack the other religions as token gestures.

    Report this comment

    Cavallo  
  • DeavonReye
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:20pm

    If it doesn’t pick my pocket or break my legs, . . . who cares?

    As an agnostic, I say, “leave christmas alone”!

    Report this comment

    DeavonReye  
    • The_Doors_Of_Perception
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:25pm

      I agree, there are a lot of ways…less offensive ways…that can get the agnostic/atheist point across…like tell people to actually read the bible.

      Report this comment

      The_Doors_Of_Perception  
    • theotherberean
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:06pm

      It is a paid government holiday. Do you know how much that costs taxpayers to give all the loafers that day off? Congress takes the whole month off with pay!

      Report this comment

      theotherberean  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:19pm

    OMG, get over it already. What a bunch of whiners this group is. No, not all atheists, just this group of whiny brats and all the others just like them.

    Report this comment

     
  • thara
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:16pm

    Sometimes it is such a waste of time to read what some imbosol has to say.

    Report this comment

    thara  
  • bonesiii
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:16pm

    Once again a lib cuts off what the Constitution actually says:

    “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
    prohibiting the free exercise thereof”

    That second part means that what she proposes is illegal. You cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion, whether on government land or on a goverment-sponsored calendar date. The national recognition of Christmas does not establish religion — you’re free not to celebrate it. To think it is shows gross ignorance of what those who founded our country had to deal with where they came from — they had to deal with basically what we have now with the government establishment of evolutionism, which this atheist is probably perfectly content with. It is atheists who seek to establish their religion. I’m sure there are some among other religions who do too, don’t get me wrong, but what she quotes is exactly the opposite of what she’s trying to do.

    Besides, why recognize families anyways? If the government recognizing one positive holiday is bad, then all such recognitions are bad, including families. The government is showing respect to the vast majority of Americans who hold to some kind of Christianity — and this atheist belongs to a different religion, a version of it that is highly antagonistic towards others (not all atheists are so poorly behaved), and she doesn’t value or understand that respect.

    Leave our throats alone.

    Report this comment

    bonesiii  
    • Hadituptohere
      Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:44pm

      Hello- or prohibit the free exercise thereof– she ALWAYS omits that part- thanks for pointing that out. Nice comment

      Report this comment

      Hadituptohere  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:15pm

    Get over it lady.

    Report this comment

    Gonzo  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:14pm

    These mental midgets are exasperating.

    Can we start up a new non-profit called the Freedom From the Freedom from Religion Foundation?

    Report this comment

    MrButcher  
  • JohnnyBrillcream
    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:11pm

    Fine, cancel Christmas as a holiday and make all the government employees work that day. If they want it off then they have yo use their personal time. As a private employer I will give my employees that day off paid

    Report this comment

    JohnnyBrillcream  
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