Make a Donation

Lots of time and effort goes into creating and maintaining this site. If we've helped you, consider making a donation.  

Current Poll

Does your state have a smoking ban for bars & restaurants?
 

Support Us!

Buy theophiles merchandise from our store!

Atheists push own holidays
Interfaith
Written by holmegm   
Sunday, 04 May 2008 17:45

From The Washington Times:

The Institute for Humanist Studies, an Albany, N.Y.-based nonprofit, is calling attention to its calendar of atheist holidays on its Web site, www.secular seasons.org. The group wants nonbelievers (or at least people who don't celebrate religious holidays) to have a handy reference guide of the calendar of holidays honoring free-thinkers, banned books and nature, among other themes.

Matt Cherry, executive director of the Institute for Humanist Studies, said his group is trying to expand options and alternatives for secular holidays.
Comments
Search
OrionBlastar  - I know the most popular secularist holiday!   |2008-05-04 23:27:39
April Fools day! :)
emperorbma  - Inevitable   |2008-05-05 01:29:06
n/t
metallurge  - Methinks   |2008-05-05 17:59:42
...that someone doesn't understand the origins of the word "holiday".
emperorbma   |2008-05-05 23:10:41
Probably they don't care, though... they just want the "day off" without the religious-based rationale.
OrionBlastar  - Atheism is becoming another religion   |2008-05-06 07:21:12
Yeah holiday means holyday it is a religious term. I think the Romans invented them if not some other civilization.

They just want the day off, like they object to "Christmas" but take December 25th off of work anyway.
patronpeter   |2008-05-06 17:13:50
Quote:
like they object to "Christmas" but take December 25th off of work anyway.
hey, i didn't think of that. :-)
OrionBlastar  - Yeah really   |2008-05-06 21:11:47
If they don't believe in Christ or Christmas, why take the day off? If you are really an atheist, get back to work on December 25th. :)

After all isn't that what Scrooge did, wasn't he an atheist?
patronpeter   |2008-05-06 21:40:43
Quote:
After all isn't that what Scrooge did, wasn't he an atheist?
he needed a hug, that's all. :-) and i agree, they should work if they have no reason to take off.
OrionBlastar  - By atheists taking holidays off   |2008-05-06 22:19:09
they are validating the religious event on which the holiday is based on, right? :)
patronpeter  - well um...   |2008-05-06 22:33:40
uh no... they are taking a day off to open some gifts, give into gluttony, and think about how far in debt they are from last months christmas shopping expenses.
OrionBlastar  - The materialization of Christmas   |2008-05-08 14:52:51
I am sure that Jesus didn't have in mind 14 year old boys getting Grand Theft Auto IV on a PS3 for Christmas either to celebrate his birthday.
patronpeter  - re: orion blastar   |2008-05-08 15:52:02
Quote:
I am sure that Jesus didn't have in mind 14 year old boys getting Grand Theft Auto IV on a PS3 for Christmas either to celebrate his birthday.
well that's just because Jesus didn't have a PSP. ;-)
CoffeeZombie   |2008-05-06 09:36:36
Granted, in common usage, "holiday" is pretty much synonymous with "vacation" or just "time off." For instance, people will say, "You don't look so well. Perhaps you should take a holiday."

Maybe this is more a British usage, I dunno.
wezlo   |2008-05-06 14:57:56
"Taking holiday" is a British usage, but "holidays" in the US are basically synonymous with "days off of work."
emperorbma   |2008-05-06 15:11:29
WRT "taking holiday," all I have to say is:

"Vacation all I ever wanted, vacation have to get away..."
grizzly   |2008-05-06 15:38:30
Then you should Get Up and Go to Beatnik Beach, which is Beneath the Blue Sky, although it's Worlds Away. Don't get caught Speeding in This Town, Tonite. Instead, Let's Have a Party, and check out the Fashion Seekers, Walking in the Sand. But only if you've Got the Beat.

:-)
patronpeter   |2008-05-06 17:14:35
wow...
grizzly   |2008-05-06 17:50:38
So, did you catch all 11 song titles? wikipedia helped me a little as I wrote it.

And aren't these songs before your time, anyway? ;-)
patronpeter   |2008-05-06 21:37:26
just because i'm only 21 doesn't mean i only listen to music from the 90's and on...
wezlo   |2008-05-06 23:01:37
But have you ever heard of Star Blazers?
patronpeter   |2008-05-07 17:25:31
is this another startrek refference?
OrionBlastar  - A holiday   |2008-05-06 21:22:01
usually celebrates an event, usually a holy or religious event like Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, etc.

The British invented the term in the 12th century as holy day. Then in the 18th century used it as slang for a day off of work like Christmas. For example if the day was May 6th, and take a holiday for a religious event like:

Martyrology-May 6th
Roman Martyrology-May 6th- ...


"Alright boss, it is May 6th, Roman Martyrology day, I'm taking holiday and citing religious reasons."

If the employee was atheist or non-Christian, he/she couldn't get away with that.

Almost any day in history had an event happen, usually religious. Which was very true in Rome that had too many holidays and couldn't get enough work done.
OrionBlastar   |2008-05-06 21:23:14
Sorry used the wrong button, got a link instead of a quote and there is no edit button here.

Quote:
Martyrology-May 6th
Roman Martyrology-May 6th- on this date in various years-

At Rome, the Apostle and Evangelist St. John before the Latin Gate. He was bound and brought to Rome from Ephesus by the order of Domitian, and the Senate condemned him to be taken to that gate and placed in a cauldron of boiling oil, from which he came forth more healthy and vigorous than before.

At Damascus, the birthday of St. John Damascene, priest and doctor of the Church, renowned for sanctity and learning. By means of his writing and preaching, he courageously resisted Leo the Isaurian, in defending the veneration paid to sacred images. By order of this emperor his right hand was cut off, but commending himself before an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which he had defended, his hand was immediately restored to him, entire and sound. His feast day is the 27th of March.

At Cyrene in Africa, Bishop St. Lucius, who is mentioned by St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles.

At Antioch, St. Evodius, who, as the blessed Ignatius wrote to the people of Antioch, was consecrated first bishop of that city by the apostle St. Peter, and ended his life by a glorious martyrdom.

In Africa, the holy martyrs Heliodorus and Venustus and seventy-five others.

In Cyprus, St. Theodotus, bishop of Cyrinia, who having undergone grievous afflictions under Emperor Licinius, at length yielded his soul to God when peace was restored to the Church.

At Carrhae in Mesopotamia, St. Protogenes, bishop and confessor.

In England, St. Eadbert, bishop of Lindisfarne, famed for his teachings and his piety.

At Rome, the virgin St. Benedicta.

At Salerno, the translation of St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist. His revered body, previously transferred from Ethiopia to various countries, was finally taken to Salerno, and with great pomp was there placed in a church dedicated to his name.
OrionBlastar  - The origin of the word   |2008-05-06 21:14:49
if holyday.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holiday

Definition #1

Quote:

Main Entry:
1hol·i·day Listen to the pronunciation of 1holiday
Pronunciation:
 \ˈhä-lə-ˌdā, British usually ˈhä-lə-dē\
Function:
noun 
Etymology:
Middle English, from Old English hāligdæg, from hālig holy + dæg day
Date:
 before 12th century

1: holy day


From the middle-English for holy day.
wezlo  - re:   |2008-05-08 15:38:49
patronpeter wrote:
is this another startrek refference?

sigh
patronpeter   |2008-05-08 15:55:39
http://www.starblazers.com/home.phplol, thank you Google.
Only registered users can write comments!

3.20 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

 

Statistics

Members : 3819
Content : 1052
Content View Hits : 921919

Who's Online

We have 103 guests online