Why do Christians celebrate 4th of July, that day obviously has nothing to do with any God?

Question

Of course this is a nonsensical question. I don't live in the USA but I am reading on this forum all sorts of questions about American holidays and the use of words. I simply don't understand that debate.

Why does it matter if an Atheist celebrates Christmas? Why does it matter if a Muslim celebrates Thanksgiving? Why does it matter if an Atheist says OMG? Why does it matter if a Christian uses the word Thursday, and with that honors Thor? Why does it matter if Easter was originally a Pagan Holiday?

Why can't we just simply celebrate things together, no matter what the reason is?

Answer 1

Judgement and condemnation are the American way.

If there is anything that is consistent in American history it is hate.

Answer 2

You question would only apply if you were seeing a Japanese man in Japan celebrating this holiday, which he probably doesn't. It is an American holiday, so any American should celebrate it. It would be weird for Honduras to celebrate our independence the same as it is weird for an atheist to celebrate Christmas. It makes no sense either way. As for Thanksgiving, a Muslim should celebrate it if he lives in the USA or is from the USA, otherwise, it is just silly. Using the word Thursday does not pay tribute to anything, it is just the name of a day. Anyone can do that. Also, all holidays mostly originated from a pagan holiday. There are really no original Christian holidays. When the Catholic Church took over a place, they would adapt the cultures holidays and make the spiritual to appease the masses. Examples would be Christmas (Winter Solstice), All Saints Day and Hallows Eve (Halloween), Easter as you stated above and others.

Answer 3

But The 4th of July does have something to do with God. You must read the founding papers of the USA and see what they used to design this country. It was that the USA was built on religious freedoms. The First Amendment grants freedom of religion, just as it does free speech and free assembly. But there is so much more that without reading the founding papers one would never know how much of a belief in God formed the United States.

I understand what you are getting at and in some respects I agree. Labor Day is a good example of a Holiday that is not based on religion and in the US it is for everyone.

Answer 4

The 4th of July is not a religious holiday, its independence for our nation, so basically all Americans celebrate it, regardless of religion or lack of religion.

Atheists should not celebrate Christmas because its the celebration of the birth of Christ, even though we have no clue when He was really born. It's a religious holiday. You don't see atheists go around celebrating Hanukkah do you? Ramadan? Of course not, its just Christmas for some reason. I really don't understand why anyone who doesn't believe in Jesus would celebrate His birthday, totally illogical and atheists here on YA insist on a daily basis how very logical and intelligent they believe themselves to be, so it just doesn't compute.

Thanksgiving is all about us coming to this country and surviving, solely because the Native Americans saved our butts, then stealing it from them in any way we could. So its not a religious holiday, and any American can celebrate it, just like the 4th of July. Some Native American's even celebrate it, though I think I'd be more on the side of the ones who's protest it.

Easter may have gotten some of the silly eggs and candy nonsense from pagans, but it truly is the day Christ rose from the dead, so it's a purely religious holiday. Eggs and candy are just stupid add-ons, much like the Christmas tree, they have no real significance to the actual holiday at all.

Religious holidays should be celebrated by those who actually believe in them. National holidays should be celebrated by anyone who lives in that nation.

Answer 5

They don't. We celebrate it because on July 4th, 1776 the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence claiming out freeom from Britain and becoming our own country so we could trade with other countries and build up our own armies and make our own laws and form of government

Answer 6

4th of July (Independence Day) and Thanksgiving are cultural holidays not religious ones. Anyone can celebrate them without crossing the boundaries of their own religion. As for the others, Christians don't mind if others keep their holidays.

Answer 7

I live in Canada, but I believe that the 4th of July, like Canada day is simply to celebrate the foundation of our wonderful FREE countries, where ALL are welcome to celebrate and practice religions FREELY, whatever ilk or stripe, whether we agree with them or not.
For that is truly the definition of a free society!

Answer 8

oh good grief... i think there are far too many people who are worried about what goes on in their neighbor's house and not enough who worry about what is going on in their own house... It is too hard for the factions to put up with each other and they are far too territorial to share, that's why we can't just simply celebrate things together.

Answer 9

I'm with you. So long as they don't harm anyone, let each celebrate in his own way for his own reasons, for crying out loud. We have far more in common than most people bother to see.

Answer 10

It doesn't matter. Do whatever you want to do. Say whatever you want to say. Who cares what other people think?
Thank you for saying your first question was nonsensical, I was gonna say that it was a crazy question!

Answer 11

Celebration is the only time to enjoy, no matter who we are & no matter what our religion is...