There are few phrases I dislike more than “The War on Christmas.” This is a phrase that has been attached to atheists, liberals, or O’Reilly’s “secular progressives.” Well I got news for the Christians — I like Christmas.

I’m an atheist. I’m not shy about it, nor ashamed of it. And I like Christmas. I think it’s a great holiday, and it accounts for some of my greatest childhood memories. I can’t envision a world without Christmas. I like seeing Christmas decorations, and I take no offense when someone wishes me a “Merry Christmas.” I actually take issue with the ACLU and atheist groups that fight public displays of Christmas.

Part of the reason this holiday season doesn’t bother me as an atheist is that I understand that it is not a celebration of Christianity. Christianity didn’t try to claim Dec. 25 as Christmas until the fourth century. The early settlers of America didn’t celebrate Christmas, and it was in fact illegal to celebrate in Massachusetts from 1659 to 1681. The reason the Puritans refused to recognize Christmas is the same reason atheists shouldn’t fear it — it is simply an acquired Pagan celebration, not the birthday of Jesus. (Source)

In fact, the Bible warns against Christians adopting Pagan customs, which is exactly what Christmas started as. The Pagan celebrations of the winter solstice were the basis for the celebrations of Christmas. Even in the Christian community, there is often debate about what time of year Jesus was actually born. Since the Bible offers no dates, only descriptions, many feel that the birth actually took place closer to Autumn, rather than Dec. 25.

Regardless of those points, the main point remains that Christmas was never about Christ. It wasn’t until the 19th century that Christmas really became a “Christian holiday” in America.  The Christmas tree was taken from the Pagan customs. December 25 was celebrated by the Romans long before Jesus’ birth, and centuries later it was adopted by Christians as a date to celebrate Jesus.

The alleged War on Christmas, perpetrated often in the past by Fox News, is a manufactured war. Bill O’Reilly’s insistence that “secular progressives” are out to ruin America is one of the worst arguments I’ve ever heard. I like O’Reilly, and have all of his books, but his invention of the Culture Warrior, and the war on secular progressives was all about selling books, with no basis in reality. And he’s not alone. In 2006, CNN’s Lou Dobbs insisted that the phrase “happy holidays” excludes everyone celebrating Christmas. While I completely agree that political correctness is out of hand in this country, I don’t think that saying “happy holidays” is in any way offensive or excluding. Nevertheless…

Here’s the bottom line: Money drives America. If one customer claims offense by hearing “Merry Christmas” from the store greeter, then that store will make the simple change to “Happy Holidays”. If one student is “offended” by some Christmas decorations at school, the school is going to eliminate Christmas to avoid the lawsuit. Stores are looking to please (or not offend) the most customers possible, and everyone else is just trying to avoid offending anyone. It’s not a War on Christmas, is evasive maneuvers to avoid litigation.

Christmas is an amazing holiday, especially for children. Not everything needs to be about religion. I am an atheist, enough so that I started this website, but I have the ability to not put religion in everything. If my neighbor wants to use Christmas as a Christian holiday, that’s fine with me. But I guess I’m in the minority with the idea that your religion should be between you and your God. I am not offended by a nativity scene on someone’s lawn. I’d prefer that they are not on government property, unless other religions are also represented, but I’m fine with individual homes having them. I’m not a subscriber to any religion, but if I see a Christmas or a Hanukkah and any other religious representations on government property, then I am not offended because I don’t take that as any type of endorsement of a single religion.

I’m in favor of Christmas being openly celebrated, simply as Christmas. Santa Claus, trees, wreaths, lights, and snow. We can celebrate it for different reasons. If you want to celebrate it because you’re a Christian, fine. And I’ll celebrate it because of the tradition of Christmas, much like Halloween. It is what it is, and it doesn’t have to be more.

But I do feel that Christians should learn the history of Dec. 25, and understand that it is not a holiday created by and for Christians celebrating Christ’s birth. It is no coincidence that Christmas and Easter both fall on the solstices.

And I also feel that the other atheists out there should understand that Christmas is not a Christian holiday, but a holiday celebrated by Christians, among others. If both sides can understand the true history of this holiday, I think this imaginary War on Christmas would quickly disappear.

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