Seperation of church and state?

Question

If the divide was even greater, would we do away with Christmas and Easter, or keep the holidays, minus the pagan and Christian associations, and rightfully call them 'Winter' and 'Spring' holidays. Maybe add a summer one and would the name 'Halloween' stay the same (since it is so distorted from 'All Hallow's Eve') or completely change it to another?

Answer 1

The 'divide' between church and state has only one purpose: To prevent the government from dictating a state religion (and all of the foolishness that goes along with that).

When the federal government, or a school system, or city hall, chooses to observe a holiday, that is not a religious endorsement (even though some suggest it is). It is usually a simple matter of practical scheduling.

For Example, there are 10 Federal holiday observances. Only one, Christmas, is connected to a traditional Christian Holiday. Many Schools have a 'spring break', but not so many have it during the week of Easter.

Private businesses are free to schedule holidays as they see fit, and even are permitted to do so based on a religious calendar.

The first amendment protects the people from government-dictated religion, it also insures that the people can worship (or not worship) as they choose. So the government does not have the power to do away with Christmas, Easter, Passover, Yom Kippur, or Ramadan anyway.

Answer 2

I certainly hope not! Holidays make life worth living!

All kidding aside, the chance that the divide between seperation between church and state will get greater, at this period in American history, is not likely. The reality is: the seperation is getting closer together. The founding fathers were intent upon creating a non-secular nation so the horrors of what happened in the secular European countries would not happen here. Unfortunately, the current government has completely negated the principle of non-secular rule and has applied "so-called" Christian values to everything from scientific inquiry, what woman can do with their bodies, what religious symbols can be put on loved ones graves, the defination of marriage, and labelling world governments as evil and therefore subjugated them into destruction. And yet, the hypocrites are killing innocent civilians by the hundreds in a country across the globe in a war that has been deemed altruistic, but in actuality it is for the control of wealth via oil.

As far as losing religious holidays I doubt that would happen. There are still many religious people in this country who enjoy and are intent at continuing tradition. Even many non-religious people enjoy and participate in some religious traditions. My only hope is that: as a diverse nation we will become accepting of other religious traditions as well. I'm not saying we should particate in all traditions, only that we recognize the right of others with traditions different from our own to observe them.

Answer 3

Easter is not a federal holiday, as it always falls on a Sunday. Christmas is used as a generally accepted date for a federal holiday because is happens during a time of high holy days for a large number of other religions, including Ramadan and Hanukkah. The rest of the federal holidays, when people don't have to work, are not religiously oriented (president's day, columbus day, labor day, etc.). The principle of separation of church and state is not violated by any of the official federal holidays. Halloween is not a holiday.

Answer 4

Since when is the separation of church & state synonymous with the abolition of holidays celebrated by religions?

To separate church & state you do not need to remove holidays, but if you're going to give days off in recognition for the observance of one religion's holidays then all religions should have that same courtesy.

Either you give every religion the same privileges or nobody gets any. It shouldn't be that the bigger religions get what they want while the smaller lesser-practiced ones get nothing.

Answer 5

Christmas is so secular that it is as much an American holiday as it is a Christian one. I would not be in favor of doing away with it. I like Christmas even though I know the reasons behind it are crap.

Easter already is not a national holiday. Look it up

Answer 6

The principle of separation between the church and state is very important. Its the basis of religious freedom. I live in Europe and know some about history, and how it was when the church and the state was almost the same thing. May God save us from such a state of things to happen again.

Answer 7

Most likely the government would mandate that companies had to give workers 'x' amount of days off for individual religious observances, which is fine with me and I suspect it would be fine with most companies as they would not have to close for those days anymore (unless it is a small mom and pop operation). Of course, other companies would be scrambling to now support the other religions in an effort to capitalize on them.

I would love to get fliers in the mail for a sale for Beltane

Bright Blessings )O(

Answer 8

Separating or not recognizing these days from the State would only affect those who work for the State. Everyone else in the private sector would operate as they always have.

In the end, who cares. People will celebrate what is important to them when and how they want.

Answer 9

The government has nothing to do with holidays that are not specifically for government purposes (like July 4th, Veteran's Day, etc.)

There would be no change.

Answer 10

Ah I remember when you said you would ask this later....

Does Halloween have anything to do with church?? I always thought Christians thought it was the deviles holiday...