I fully plan on doing that. I think the thing that has me pissed off right now is my damn mother-in-law. She is a born again and goes between hating my guts and loving me. I'm having surgery right before Christmas, so my husband and I are getting our presents out early. Since she will be out of town for Thanksgiving, we gave her hers yesterday. Instead of buying people presents, we donated money to causes in their name. So for my mother in law we donated a bunch of money toward educating children in Africa. My mother in law was PISSED. She couldn't BELIEVE we didn't buy her a present to unwrap. It was like holy living hell was being rained down on us for being so UNTHOUGHTFUL.

I can't stand that crap. I mean to me it falls on the whole "pick and choose what part of Christianity you agree with" stuff. I mean the part of the damn religion that everyone shouts about is how filled with service and love they are. Don't you think, as a Christian, giving to someone else is far more important than consuming more crap? Who the hell knows. All I know is that I did it because it felt right to contribute to society. I didn't need some damn God to tell me to do it, accept it or appreciate it.

Anyway, I'm on the outs again. I heard the whole "I can't be in the same room as you, heathen! I can feel the presence of Satan in your midst." And don't get me wrong. I could care less if she appreciates the gift or says thank you. It just seems really two faced for such a "religious" person to throw a gift which benefits society in my face. And I'm beginning to see that stuff all over this holiday. People spend more money than they even have on stuff and then praise Jesus, God, whatever all the while.. like it's Jesus filling their shopping baskets. I just don't get it.

I have never really thought about Christmas before, but this is the first Christmas that I will be fully unable to celebrate it in any way, shape or form so I'm really looking at it differently and realizing that there are a lot of things about it that really bother me. I really don't want anything to do with the stuff. I'm all about spending time with family and friends and appreciating a good day to sleep in and a huge dinner... but I really think the God aspect of the holiday makes me want to throw up. We should call it 'Shop and Stress for Jesus Day" or something like that.

In closing, this was a rant... so I apologize in advance if I said things wrong, or offended anyone.

Thanksgiving passed weeks ago.  Turkey was good, thanks!

Actually, many xtians do not celebrate christmas or easter just because they are "pagan" holidays. I happen to know several, but my in-laws, who are a baptist preacher and wife most definitely celebrate both. The bible even says to not decorate trees in gold and silver like the heathens do (go figure).

I still celebrate christmas as a time for family and the secular representations it holds, but if it went away I wouldn't miss it at all. The war on the holidays are just a tool to boost consumerism by creating a "we''ll just show them by going out and spending more money to keep this tradition around" kind of mentality.

p.s. I liked your idea about donating money in peoples' names instead of buying gifts. I think I will do that for all my fundy relatives LOL.

JillSwift, that's hilarious!! I have never donated to causes like that in people's names but I'm seriously thinking about it for my mother-in-law. I would love to see the look on her face! I usually donate money to the World Food Program, Grameen Bank, Save the Children and etc. I'm really involved in the humanitarian stuff like that. However, I may start donating money to organizations like Freedom From Religion Foundation and Center for Inquiry for those special fundies in my life.. what a good idea