Birthdays are not a religious occasion, so whether you are an atheist or not is pretty much irrelevant.

If birthdays are stupid then all types of anniversary dares are equally stupid.

Personally I think anniversary dates of all kids, including birthdays, help us appreciate each other more.

One of the religions I studied/read about/participated in was LaVeyan Satanism, basically atheism with rituals. One of the most important "holy days" for them is the person's birthday, because it marks the time their universe was created.

Personally, I try to do a little something special on my birthday since I have survived another year.

I don't see how birthdays have any religious meaning.

I see it as a day to celebrate your birth. They're less important if they're mine, but the people I love I want to celebrate their birth because I'm so glad they were born and came into my life. It's a way of saying "I'm glad you're alive, I appreciate your birth"

Your birth date is dependent upon which religious calendar you're looking at.

I was born. Which was a billion to one chance. So I have a birthday. And I celebrate that fact.

Birthdays are simply that. milestones in your journey called life

On another note, if I recall correctly (I may incorrect) while taking a religion class in college a few years ago that the Catholic Church had banned the practice of celebrating birthdays for a time because the reigning pope was adamantly against birthday celebrations for it having been related to Paganism.

My birthday is on New Years Eve so there was always something going on (my parents had New Years Eve Parties, or my dad would have a gig to play with him being a musician) People usually had no idea it was my birthday and it was fine.
The only time it really bothered me was as a kid with it being so soon after Christmas I got the two for one gift deal.

Once I hit 30 I stopped counting and just treat it as any other day.

I like my birthday - I usually go out and play air hockey and bowling - there isn't a lot to do in Northern Ireland except see a lot of scenery and go for long walks - I can't quite see that there is anyhting at all religious about my birthday. Its just a day and only an excuse to lively up a bit

I don't see how celebrating birthdays has anything to do with religion. It's very secular.

In my life, a birthday comes along and justifies how and why my body aches, my head hurts, my memory shrinks and muscles change in that I grow boobs..thats about it...

Wtf does religion have to do with managing to survive one more year?

Unless it's Christmas, we're not celebrating anything but that.

No worries birthdays were frowned upon initially by christians for being a pagan tradition.
[en.wikipedia.org]

Also no holidays began as Christian holidays. Christmas was originally yule, which was just a celebration of the solstice. I'm all for celebrating because we survived another season. I celebrate Christmas without christ. I celebrate easter because it welcomes spring, not because I believe in the resurrection. I celebrate Halloween not because I believe demons will possess the living but because I really love scary things and free candy lol

Just because we celebrate something doesn't mean we are hypocritical. We celebrate because we like to celebrate. Boycotting all fun because of people of faith stealing the celebrations and slapping a Jesus sticker on them, well that's no better than Jehovahs Witnesses.

Birthdays are simply a celebration of the anniversary of your birth. While some may make it a religious affair, there's nothing inherently religious about it.

Interestingly enough, I believe it's the only holiday the Church of Satan recognizes. After all, what is more important to you than your own birth?

Birthdays are the culmination of a year in the life of You. I believe they are extremely important. I never understood how this day could not be something to celebrate.

So what have I learned from all this hulla balloo about Birthdays? Well I can tell that they are very near and dear to people's hearts and whether or not they are religion based (check out birthdays and the ancient greeks, romans and egyptians if you are curious) it just doesn't matter because whether or not you are an atheist or not, most people are not about to give up their birthday. Wild horses won't stop people celebrating this most personal of days, old religious connections be damned because if you grew up with birthdays they probably hold a special place in your heart and that's why people will not accept any reason for why they shouldn't celebrate their birthday. Heck, I didn't grow up with birthdays or easter or xmas, etc. and I still like birthdays a bit, enough to go along with it for the sake of my wife who loves birthdays. Now Halloween is another story altogether, don't even try to mess with that awesome night of tricks and treats. 3

It tickles me when people forget my birthday, which is quite close to Christmas, in which they're all wrapped up in. My mom will probably call me.

I'm gonna set my age back this year. Not sure where to, but I'm changing that fkn number. ?

Yeah I get money and presents

What could possibly be religious about celebrating? Any reason for a gathering of folks you like to be with is a good one, and a birthday is just as good as anything else. Someone else wrote that it depends upon which calendar you follow, and that is deep: choose a day or a week or a month or however long you want and enjoy that you are alive!

I view it as a happy time of my life I'm sorry about how you grew up. When I was younger, I considered becoming a mormen. Which is another religious cult. I'm so glad I didn't go through with it.

I've had too many birthdays. 50 of them. I still like them, but I'm in changed circumstances now and fewer people to share them with. I'll see what 51 looks like.

Well I'm off to dinner and a show. May all of you mark your own personal year in the best way you see fit. I will not be having cake with candles myself as I never understood the point, although I did go through the motions for my children at the behest of my born again christian ex-wife just to keep the peace. The devil is in the details.

I love birthdays. Not sure what that has to do with religion.

For years I threw parties all the time where all my different compartmentalized friends came together. It was always a blast and everyone enjoyed themselves.