Can an Atheist really celebrate Thanksgiving Day? The spirit of the Holiday is to give thanks to God.?

Question

This is not a joke. I am just curious how Atheists celebrate the day and handle the idea of Thanking God for something.

I am amazed at the lack of basic historical knowledge displayed in the posts about he origin and purpose of Thanksgiving.

Although it became a National holiday only under President Lincoln (the great great grandson of Obadiah Holmes the Bapist Preacher from Rhode Island), the holiday was designed to give thanks to God.

The Pilgrims & Puritains were religious refugees from Europe. They very much believed in God, and very much thanked Him for a bountiful harvest so that they could endure their second winter with ease.

The first winter you remember they lost half their number to starvation and disease because of a lack of food.

Tell me you will not give Thanks to God, I expect you not to you are atheists. But do not re-write our history. Read, learn.

Answer 1

I "celebrate" it by eating massive amounts of Turkey & potatoes and spending quality time with family and friends.

We usually have each person around the table express what they're thankful for at the moment or what they've been thankful for during the year, but it's not about thanking God... it's about not taking things for granted. It's about positive thinking.

Answer 2

The origin of the holiday is not about giving thanks to God, really. Keep in mind, Thanksgiving comes from the story of the pilgrims and the indians, where they each brought what they could, as a gesture of kindness and attempted peaceful relations. The Indians made up half of the guest list at that event, but they did not give thanks to the Christian God, because they were not Christians.

It's just about being thankful for what you have. A person can be thankful for something without acknowledging that appreciation to the Christian God.

Answer 3

We can be thankful or appreciative even if we don't believe in a higher power. When I sit at the table with my family and friends I am grateful that they are there with me,. I am grateful that I didn't undercook the turkey. I am thankful that I could work and make enough money to be able to afford the best food possible. I am grateful for my good health and the same for my loved ones. It has nothing to do with praying to any god.
I always thank for mom for 'making' me so i could enjoy a very interesting life on this planet.

Answer 4

Sure an atheist can celebrate a communal dinner with others on Thanksgiving Day.

Following dessert, they can consider thanking the cooks for a fine meal.

Then, a good atheist can head to the kitchen and help clean up the pots and pans.

Answer 5

This year I will celebrate by being with the only family that I still have regular contact with-my grandmother. I will celebrate Thanksgiving as a day to look how far I've come and what I've had to go through, and still coming out at the end.

And every some-odd years I celebrate my birthday on it :-D

Answer 6

Notice how when Halloween is over they skip thanksgiving (Except the turkey, football, basketball, blah, blah ,blah.) and then go straight to the "Commercialized" version of Christmas. (Some fat man in a suit giving you presents for being "Good" all year." What a bunch of BS. Who can claim they've been "Good" all year? Santa can't even say "Ho Ho Ho" anymore.(Sell-out))

Answer 7

I always thought Thanksgiving was a secular national holiday. But even if it is a christian holiday, I just celebrate it in my own secular way. Like christmas and halloween (once a pagan holiday) .

Answer 8

Ha ha, that's not what I was taught of thanksgiving. So I don't thank god, but the Indians who feed their future oppressors.

Answer 9

I'm a Christian.

As far as i'm concerned, whatever Atheists do or believe in during thanksgiving, they are welcome to enjoy celebrating the day with us and hope they respect our belief as well.

Answer 10

They celebrate the same as anyone. It's a commercial event, no gods are involved.