‘Tis the season to be an atheist?
While Christian Vancouverites are gearing up for Christmas, a tiny group of non-believers is embracing the season in its own way.
Members of the Vancouver arm of the B.C. Humanist Association — about 30 atheists, secularists, “free-thinkers” and rationalists — gather every Dec. 21 for a formal dinner to celebrate winter solstice.
When it began in 1983 the dinner was a potluck held at a member’s house, but for the last few years it has been a more official event held at Brock House Restaurant, according to vice-president Sue Hughson.
For Hughson, a lifelong atheist, the dinner is a great way to recreate the sense of togetherness religious organizations offer.
“That is the thing that religion does well, religion does do community. Unfortunately though, that community is run by money and power and an elite and things that look like equality and compassion are trickled down, rather than being a broad mandate,” said Hughson.
The dinner is also just a fun way to gather with like-minded people to celebrate each other, she said.
“Prior to the evening they have what is called a moment of bedlam before dinner to replace when other people might be saying a grace or a prayer,” said Hughson.
In that moment people can do whatever strikes them such as sing or cheer. After dinner there are games and music.
According to the 2011 National Household Survey, 41.5 per cent of Vancouverites have no religious affiliation and 41.7 per cent identify as Christian.
Hughson said during the holiday season her family adapts and embraces much of what a traditional Christmas has to offer. She puts out strings of decorative lights as a nod to solstice, and puts up a tree with a peace dove on the top. The Christmas tree comes from German culture, not from Christianity anyway, she said.
She said she responds to “Merry Christmas” with a warm smile and a “Happy axial tilt,” referring to the change in seasons from autumn to winter.
“So much of it is so cultural too, so many people are just saying it out of a cultural sense of happiness of being around family and friends. I have no desire to say bah-humbug and blaspheme against their God,” said Hughson, a veterinarian and mother of two teenagers.
While she believes her children will grow up to be atheists, she will leave that decision to them. They have decided not to attend the upcoming solstice dinner and she is fine with that.
B.C. Humanist director Darwin Toivo, who legally changed his name to Darwin after being near the Pentagon when it was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, is looking forward to the dinner.
Like Hughson, he said he enjoys much of what the Christmas season has to offer. “There is all kinds of wonderful jazz and classical music to listen to, but Christmas itself is just piggybacked onto an old Roman celebration, Saturnalia. It was a pagan celebration prior to that,” he said.
“It is a good time to be had by all.”
