Don’t get asked, but if I was I’d say that I don’t have one then state my “first name”.

Did get wished a “god bless you” recently (I’m in Spain – still very religious around these parts) to which I naturally replied “No thank you”.

Wasn’t an opportunity to open it up. Just got a puzzled look.

Always like to fly the flag if opportunity presents, to help along the disintegration of rancid superstition.

I told the old bint my first name is ‘Frankenstein’ as I’m an atheist

So an older lady politely asks you for your first name using an outdated yet inoffensive colloquialism, and you get all riled up yet think nothing of labelling her as an old bint?

You’ve got problems

Hey up woppit, thought I could smell sulphur (!). I had a quick read of this thread yesterday, was going to comment, then thought no, it’s all a bit petty. Are people really offended by the term ‘Christian name’?. There are many, many things connected to religion which are worth disagreeing with, but this? If we’re going to have a religion thread, let’s at least go for it with a reasonable target. I’ve switched the kettle off and put the hob nobs away, and rest assured, the phrase ‘must try harder’ will be going on your report cards.

There are many, many things connected to religion which are worth disagreeing with, but this?

Yes.

‘eyup yourself.

As an aside, and purely out of interest, are you any further along in distancing yourself from your previous religious entaglement?

I’ve switched the kettle off and put the hob nobs away, and rest assured, the phrase ‘must try harder’ will be going on your report cards.

Don’t worry, this is just a gentle warm up for this years “Who hates Christmas?” thread

Surely you mean winterval…

@ barnsleymitch.

Thread is moving fast so I’ll repeat in case you didn’t see my edit:

‘eyup yourself.

As an aside, and purely out of interest, are you any further along in distancing yourself from your previous religious entaglement?

You’ve got problems

99, but the bint ain’t one.

maybe he used the word bint because it’s the Arabic term for ‘daughter’

In which case the whole thing gets even more confusing, so based on occams razor I think I’ll continue to think that he’s an idiot

Fine and dandy thanks woppit. After experiencing first hand the way organised religion covers up for the less salubrious members of its hierarchy, it’s safe to say that I don’t have much time for it. Don’t get me wrong, I still get pissed at the ‘christians are stupid’ comments, but that’s because they’re being called stupid, not because they’re religious.

As a practising Buddhist I always insist in giving my date of rebirth.

legend – Member

Don’t worry, this is just a gentle warm up for this years “Who hates Christmas?” thread

I’m celebrating yule-kwanzaa this year

Will we ever find out why M&S need your christian/first/given/mulsim name?

Good point. I do tend to tell any till staff who ask for details to, politely, sod off.

The woman who brought me my brunch at the Morrisons canteen once called me love. I thought it’s just as well I am easy go lucky.

I always assume being called ‘Luv’ is a first move and so hang around until they finish work.

I’ll be outside B&M this evening…

Jokes about the actor and the bishop just don’t work

Depends which bishop 🙂

Bishop bashing, eh?

Good point. I do tend to tell any till staff who ask for details to, politely, sod off.

Even when they’re checking your identity for security for a parcel you’re collecting?

I hope the M&S lady is reading this thread.

Incidentally OP …. what do you do on the 25th of December each year?

And what does old bint mean?

What’s the 25th of December got to do with a comment about the term Christian name ?

We’ve always called our primary name a Christian name in the UK

Yes, and now we’re stopping, cos it no longer makes sense.

applying a tiny bit of common sense and I can work out I’m being asked for my first name.

Well I’d have worked it out, and I wouldn’t have been offended either.

However when designing an IT system I won’t call it ‘christian name’. Nor will I put in a rule that checks for spaces in family names, a point about which I had to argue on a recent project. It’s no fun being an odd-ball and not fitting into anything.

EDIT having said that, it shouldn’t be called ‘family name’ either cos in some cultures your last name isn’t a family name. Iceland for example.

Depends what the motivation is, if its to reflect that fewer people are religious thats ok and I doubt anyone would have a problem.

If its to suit immigrants of another religion I suspect people would see it as a slippery slope of cultural degradation.

I think its the first but concern over it being the second is probably what makes it emotive.

crankboy – Member
What’s the 25th of December got to do with a comment about the term Christian name ?

I assume it’s to do with the celebration of Christ.. or more to the point does the OP take paid time off at that time of year due to not being a Christian, or does he go to work as there’s nothing to celebrate, same with any other time off for various saint or religions days, if you don’t believe then the time off should either be unpaid or worked!

“I assume it’s to do with the celebration of Christ.. or more to the point does the OP take paid time off at that time of year due to not being a Christian, or does he go to work as there’s nothing to celebrate”,

but the celebration of christ is the 7th January , 25dec is Saturnalia or sol invictus or just the winter solstice or Mithra’s birthday it has nothing to do with Christ not even in the early christian church. We in the northern hemisphere have always had a festival at that time long before Christianity was invented.
if you want to go by the bible and history then christ would be likely to have been born in September.

Christ on a bike, and M & S used to be Jewish-owned. Well, business is business. (Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but I haven’t read any of the replies. None of them.)

I was just asking what an Atheist does on the 25th December. I made no mention of Christian Names or The Birth of Jesus.

I was just asking what an Atheist does on the 25th December. I made no mention of Christian Names or The Birth of Jesus.

Opens presents, gives presents, eats loads of food, gets pissed and spends time with the family. Why what do religious people do?

I know it’s OT but I always feel like if anyone should have an axe to grind over Christmas, it’s not atheists or other faiths, it’s Christians- they’ve basically seen their holiday prostituted and turned into a celebration of commercialisation and greed. Some christians do get upset over “holiday season” and the dechristing of Christmas but I don’t think there’s ever been a ship that’s more completely sailed, the name is pretty much all that remains for the majority.

OTOH maybe turnabout’s fair play and it’s just fair dos after they pinched all the winter festival stuff from someone else.

they’ve basically seen their holiday prostituted and turned into a celebration of commercialisation and greed

I’m going to have to go ahead and disagree with you there 🙂

I think that whilst people do spend shitloads of money, it’s mostly because they are being indulgent, and they do the same with food and drink. It’s a celebration so people do basically every celebratory thing.

OTOH maybe turnabout’s fair play and it’s just fair dos after they pinched all the winter festival stuff from someone else.

They sort of pinched it – there was always a winter festival, and the piss-up aspect has always been there I think.

The Anglo Saxons must have been pissed off when the Christian’s nicked their Yule festival. The Jews were probably fairly annoyed about Hanukkah being co-opted. Not sure the Druids really cared.

I know it’s OT but I always feel like if anyone should have an axe to grind over Christmas, it’s not atheists or other faiths, it’s Pagans.

Judging from the other thread I expect Christians have no axe at all. For them Xmas has meaning beyond stuffing their faces, flatulance, arguing and spending money they don’t have. They should be very relaxed about it all. Leave the stressing to the heathens 😉

I am told they do the same

I love Christmas traditions.

My favourite is the one where all the atheists get to regale us all with the startling revelation about Christmas being originally a pagan festival that was taken over.

Every year.

Without fail.

Like we’ve all forgotten since last years round of startling “brand new” information.

It’s tradition.

Today’s internet winner^^^^^^^

Edit. It’s not drac

Like we’ve all forgotten since last years round of startling “brand new” information.

It was aimed at the person who made the original mistake. I know it comes up every year, but it was still pertinent to this particular conversation.

I was just asking what an Atheist does on the 25th December. I made no mention of Christian Names or The Birth of Jesus.

for this atheist its a normal working day. I haven’t had a christmas lunch for 35 years or so. Presents are limited to token presents only from my parents ( I can’t get them to stop completely). The money that would be spent on presents and lunch goes to homeless and hunger charities. Its not a celebration I join in with at all. No decorations in the house. Basically its ignored as much as I can

Neil you misread the thread , every year some Christian claims if your an athiest then you should not get 25th of December off work and are a hypocrite if you celebrate. To whit :
“deker – Member
crankboy – Member
What’s the 25th of December got to do with a comment about the term Christian name ?
I assume it’s to do with the celebration of Christ.. or more to the point does the OP take paid time off at that time of year due to not being a Christian, or does he go to work as there’s nothing to celebrate, same with any other time off for various saint or religions days, if you don’t believe then the time off should either be unpaid or worked!”