Careful - I'm sure the pagans wouldn't want to be considered atheist.

But yes, I'm fairly atheist, at least in so far as I can't believe in most of the definitions of "God" - i.e. "big man in the sky" - no, but "personification of all goodness" - sure. I've really tried to believe - it would be wonderful if there was something mighty out there with a personal interest in my life - but so long as he/she/it continues to refuse/be incapable of/not talk directly with me, it just seems so much more likely an untrue idea thought up by human beings.

I'm trying to keep the presents down to a minimum this year. The fewer presents I get, the happier I've been with them. Few things depress me more than a big expensive pile of crap that seemed vaguely related to me by a person who felt obligated to buy me things. My friends were the first ones with whom I arranged to stop exchanging presents. My family first went to a $10 limit per person, but now has stopped giving presents altogether. Basically my wife is the only person I exchange with. Her job is so much harder than mine, however, because I generally only like useful things and already have pretty much all I need. Time and money are the two things I could use more of, and both are wasted at the mall.

So what does an atheist do this time of year? We work, visit friends and family, eat... pretty much what everyone else does. I'll put up decorations if they seem pretty, buy someone a present if I can think of something they'd like, and so on, but the motivation is purely worldly - making people happy, making things more colorful.

I'm coming to your house for Christmas.