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#461795 - 11/25/05 09:20 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
MB Guy Offline
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 10,124
Way, way south.
Lolol, yeah, I know, but I said it was self-serve today. I can only pop in and out as I gotta get these procedures reviewed before I beat it outta here.
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Giddy up.

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#461796 - 11/25/05 09:23 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
Jokerman Offline
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Posts: 12,846
Mark, I know what you're driving at here, but there are lots of cultural reasons why people celebrate the holiday.

I like the related question - if you're an atheist, why have a Thanksgiving?

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#461797 - 11/25/05 09:25 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
someone else Offline
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someone else
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,300
back to my roots
Why can't I be thankful just because I don't believe in god? Can't I just be grateful in general, to no one in particular?
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Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. - Carl Sagan

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#461798 - 11/25/05 09:28 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
Jokerman Offline
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Posts: 12,846
Quote:

Can't I just be grateful in general, to no one in particular?




Sure, why not? Reminds me of Jimmy Stewart's prayer in Shenandoah.

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#461799 - 11/25/05 09:36 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
Chiquita Banana Offline
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Chiquita Banana
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,044
The banana bin
I'm an agnostic but celebrate Christmas. I like what it represents. I mean, people say that they celebrate the birth of Christ but is that what they're celebrating while they trampled people at Wal-Mart today?

I LOVE giving presents. But I like to give presents that are special...not the latest and greatest gadget that I got on special at Target. I'll make a scarf for someone. Or buy their favorite candy as a child that they haven't had in years. Special things that show I care.
And I love the togetherness. I just wish people were giving all year 'round and not wait until the day after Thanksgiving to do it.
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My opinions are definately my own. I could be wrong. But I don't think so.

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#461800 - 11/25/05 09:41 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
MB Guy Offline
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 10,124
Way, way south.
JM, honestly, it was just a question, no ulterior motive.
Sometimes I am just curious about some other beliefs and why people believe the way they do.

Chef, I concur about the commercialization of the whole thing. I despise the idea of people fighting over gifts and such, and buying a gift just to have something to give/receive.

Just seems silly to me. But again, the chocolate/vanilla thing.
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#461801 - 11/25/05 09:44 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
Pirate Offline
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Florida
I like the fact that people are willing to not only be tolerant of others beliefs, but even ask about them to better understand what makes people all so unique. It really gives me hope that we can all get along and help each other. The whole box of crayons analogy...
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#461802 - 11/25/05 09:45 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
Reed Offline
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Reed
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West Coast
Mark, I think it's cool that you try to understand people without motives while retaining your personal faith. That's a very good quality.

I am personally very curious by nature but unfortunatly you have to be carefull about who you ask what because a lot of people just won't beleive that you don't have alterior motives. They think your trying to pick a fight or somthing.

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#461803 - 11/25/05 09:47 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
XODUS Offline
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XODUS
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All the hateful people must be off today!!

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#461804 - 11/25/05 09:49 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
someone else Offline
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someone else
Joined: Aug 2004
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back to my roots
Happen to know this from previous experience my friend?
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Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. - Carl Sagan

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#461805 - 11/25/05 09:57 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
Reed Offline
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Reed
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West Coast
Gee, golly, I don't know to what you are refering.

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#461806 - 11/25/05 10:00 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
MB Guy Offline
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Way, way south.
Don't get me wrong, I am probably like most Christians and have something inside me that compels me to share the message of Christ with everyone I meet, but I also know that you can share the knowledge in your heart but it is up to everyone, singularly, to make the decision to believe on their own. Everybody have a great weekend, I am outtie!
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#461807 - 11/25/05 11:28 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
Jokerman Offline
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Quote:

JM, honestly, it was just a question, no ulterior motive.
Sometimes I am just curious about some other beliefs and why people believe the way they do.




I didn't mean to suggest otherwise.

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#461808 - 11/26/05 09:33 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
flaire Offline
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flaire
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 228
sw us
Yes, we celebrate Christmas because we have two small children. We celebrate a secular holiday. I also celebrate Yule on Dec. 21st privately. The same goes for Easter. The kids get Easter baskets, but I celebrate Ostara privately. If I did not have children we would not celebrate Christmas or Easter.
When my children are old enough, we will discuss religion and they can make up their own minds. I will support whatever they choose, but I will not force them into any religion just because that is what I am.

I don't find that hypocritical, I find that practical. Monotheistic religions, understandably, find this hard to understand. Polytheistic religions have no problem with honoring other religion's gods. But honor and worship are two different things. Just as I merely don't say, "under God" in the pledge of allegence (and I think that is a practical solution too), I also don't say, "I beleive in one holy Catholic and Apostolic church" when I attend Catholic weddings.

It works for me and most other pagans I know.
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#461809 - 11/27/05 05:54 AM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
CRAatBOK Offline

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Further South than I wanna be.
Flaire, What is the Yule and Ostara you refered to?
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#461810 - 11/27/05 11:34 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
flaire Offline
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flaire
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sw us
Quote:

Flaire, What is the Yule and Ostara you refered to?




Yule is the winter solstice. Ostara is the spring equinox. Our holidays always have to do seasonal or astrological occurances, except for Halloween, which is our New Year's Eve.
There are 12 major holidays plus full moons (13 per year) and new moons - although not everyone observes the new moons.
During our major holidays, we have family and friends over, eat, talk - the same as people do on Thanksgiving. We have a religious service also, like people would go to Easter services.

During any of our religious services, we talk about the significance of day, share myths about the day, share food and drink and pray for anyone who needs it. We end by singing songs. Sounds familiar, huh?
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#461811 - 11/28/05 05:16 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
grmasterb Offline
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grmasterb
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,249
Indiana
Quote:

Celebrate the Birth of Christ.




Those in the Eastern churches would argue that we celebrate His birth on the wrong day, wouldn't they??

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#461812 - 11/28/05 05:19 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
XODUS Offline
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XODUS
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Flaire, what are some good books, if some one wanted to obtain reference material on that subject??

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#461813 - 11/28/05 06:23 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
cheekEE Offline
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Easy Street
I never really understood what a sheltered life I lead. Everyone I know is Christian, Jew or JW. I don't even really know what a pagen is (except for the crap you see in movies). My mohter claims to be an atheist, but I think she is really an angry Christian. I have really just started going to chuch about 3 years ago (angry mom never took me, but I have always believed in Jesus)...so I am learning as I go.

I enjoy reading other beliefs and opening my mind.
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#461814 - 11/28/05 06:32 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
Reed Offline
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Reed
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West Coast
COG.org (i think .org, maybe .net) is a good resource on Wicca.

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#461815 - 11/28/05 06:36 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
Anonymous
Unregistered

I worship myself and i would suggest others to do the same.

RM

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#461816 - 11/29/05 02:19 AM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
flaire Offline
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flaire
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 228
sw us
PM me. Anyone else who wants info is welcome to also.
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Hello, triple a? I got locked out of my mind...

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#461817 - 11/29/05 04:41 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
doodle Offline
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doodle
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 888
colorado
I'm an atheist and I celebrate the secular part of Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving. For my family, all of those times are for reconnecting with each other. We give presents and do charitable work during each holiday.
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You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy.~ Eric Hoffer

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#461818 - 11/29/05 04:49 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
Anonymous
Unregistered

Quote:

PM me. Anyone else who wants info is welcome to also.


Blessed be Flaire.

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#461819 - 11/29/05 04:54 PM Re: Almost hate to ask this, but I am curious.....
Pirate Offline
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Pirate
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Florida
Quote:

Quote:

PM me. Anyone else who wants info is welcome to also.


Blessed be Flaire.


Oops, that was me. Sorry
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Never trust a pirate...

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