2006-10-22 19:47:51 · 19 answers · asked by . 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
an atheist is a person who does not want the responsibility it
takes to be part of something that is or is not, and chooses instead to be dormant on anything that is or is not...
2006-10-22 20:18:18 · answer #1 · answered by lee f 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
... Do you mean Easter and Christmas? Thanksgiving has nothing to do with religion...
Christmas and Easter don't hurt anyone. While they do have a basis in religion, you aren't told about it every day working its way up to the holiday (at least, I wasn't). It's more about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny than, "Oh, remember Jesus. All of this is for him." And trying to get everyone to work on religious holidays is idiotic- sure, some people might not believe in the religion, but they can at least acknowledge the fact that someone else does and respect them for it. As for why atheists don't work by themselves on Christmas and other such holidays (Christians probably wouldn't show up even if it was mandatory for Christmas day), just because you might not like the basic idea for a holiday doesn't mean you can't visit your family or something. Isn't that what most holidays are really about, anyway? Meeting up with family and catching up? Sure, there might be religious undertones in some holidays, but I think all of them encourage families to get in touch with their relatives.
Anyway, people can celebrate whatever holidays they want. This is supposed to be a free country. I don't see why that doesn't apply to holidays, since they are connected to religion.
This is just like asking why the Jewish population doesn't rise up against Christmas vacation. Just because they don't celebrate Christmas doesn't mean that they can't enjoy the time off, no matter what the reason.
2006-10-23 06:32:43 · answer #2 · answered by Nanashi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The festival of the harvest which we celebrate as Thanksgiving is much older than Christianity. So is Christmas. Long before B.C. the Romans celebrated the "birth of the sun" in the middle of winter. It is a time when we reaffirm the light coming to the world after the harshness of winter.
The Christian church only took the festival over for the promotion of their beliefs.
So they are really holidays for all of us.
2006-10-23 02:53:40 · answer #3 · answered by San Diego Art Nut 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
just because they have the day off, doens't men that they have to do anything religious. Besides, thanksgiving isn't relaly a religious holiday anyway. And I do know several that have tried to work on those days, but most places are closed and no one wants to pay the overtime for working the holiday....
2006-10-23 03:33:37 · answer #4 · answered by kveldulfgondlir 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You just don't get it at all. It amazes me that you have zero concept of what atheism is.
Truth be told, I've worked on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. And I don't know where you work but I want to work there because I don't get to "demand" to work any specific days the schedule is set by management according to the needs of the business.
If I could "demand" to work on certain days, why would I "demand" to work on days the business I work at is closed?
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(edit after a somewhat rude message from the asker of this question is as follows)
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"From: Jon Seisa
Subject: YOU DON'T GET IT
Message: You all entirely missed my point. If Atheists are so ADAMANT in their belief system, then why on Christian Holidays do not they STAY THE COURSE of that ADAMANT belief system that is “supposedly” so dear to their hearts rather than giving in to something they are against? The correct answer is because their belief system is hypocrisy, and they are hypocrites… not all your divergent and mis-focused answers about “taking free days off”, including Easter (which is on a Sunday), etc., etc., etc.
(And yes indeed, the Thanksgiving Day Feast has an authentic Christocentric (Theocentric) centrality originated by the Puritans to give THANKS TO GOD for a bountiful harvest with the help of the benevolent Wampanoag Indians, finally, after two severe winters and the death of half of all their people. How could you not know that the Biblical God of the Puritans has everything to do with Thanksgiving? The absence of this knowledge is an alarming deficit in our swiftly degenerating American Culture.) "
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Sir, you miss the point entirely, you have no idea what an atheist is - atheists don't have a belief system. Also, at no point did I imply that Thanksgiving was not a Christian holiday, it is. Also, I responded that I do work on those days - I didn't explain that I do it as a favor to my Christian co-workers who want them off. I'd even work them for a co-worker like you if I knew you needed them off to worship.
Atheists do not believe in God, end of story. There is no belief system to it any more than you have a specific belief system as to why you don't believe in unreal things like unicorns and Santa Claus. Why would I get rude to people over my absence of a belief like you do over the presence of yours? I'm sure you don't get rude to people about your non-belief of unicorns, do you? Would you fight and die for your non-belief of unicorns? Didn't think so. Is your belief that unicorns aren't real dear to your heart?
2006-10-23 02:59:58 · answer #5 · answered by catalamity 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps a good way to make all believe - for the sake of holidays, I would believe in anything you ask. However, I doubt if that is what you are looking for.
True Believers need not worry about any one - God is there to take care.
2006-10-23 03:05:37 · answer #6 · answered by small 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question.
I used to work at Boswell Hospital in Sun City, Arizona. I worked with Jews, Christians and Baha'is. On the Jewish and Christian holidays, the Baha'is requested to work so that they could have their holy days off. It was a beautiful feeling to be able to do that for them.
I'm wondering who everyone gives thanks to on Thanksgiving.?
2006-10-23 02:54:06 · answer #7 · answered by GypsyGr-ranny 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because A)Thanksgiving has nothing to do with God, it is about being thankful for what you have, such as family. B)Christmas is barely about Christ any more, and I view it as time to spend with my family, and I *have* worked on Christmas thank you.
2006-10-23 02:50:31 · answer #8 · answered by Sean P 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can still enjoy a holiday regardless of its origin.
Does the Queen's Birthday really warrant a holiday, especiallyi n Australia? Are we happy to ignore the origin of the break and enjoy the holiday? Yep.
2006-10-23 04:02:30 · answer #9 · answered by Vanguard 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My deep interest in nature, the world, existence and human beings is superior to any imagined reverence you feel for a make believe cypher of a supreme being. When I give thanks I really give thanks. You're just choking the turkey neck of self negation and mysticism backed up by force leading to death while I'm chowing down on the kernel of morality: man's mind and reason with the one driving goal of happiness in life.
2006-10-23 02:55:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What does God have to do with Thanksgiving?
2006-10-23 02:49:46 · answer #11 · answered by rabble rouser 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋