Atheists & Agnostics

jeff47

(26,549 posts)

3. Your history stops a few millennia too early.

Mon Apr 6, 2015, 04:48 PM

Apr 2015

Christian holidays were appropriated from other religions as part of recruitment. So you still got your spring fertility festival in April, but they called it Easter and applied their own theology.

Humans have had celebrations during certain parts of the year for our entire recorded history. We like having a big party in the middle of winter. We like having another big party in the spring. Those have nothing to do with religion, but have to do with being human and our far harsher existence before modern times.

Religions have attempted to co-opt those celebrations as a means to exert control. You are granting those religions the control they want - you're handing all festivals to them. You don't have to.

Celebrate "Easter" as the return of pleasant weather due to axial tilt. Celebrate "Christmas" as a chance to get together and bring some joy into a dark and cold time of year.

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So am I totally off base here? [View all] F4lconF16 Apr 2015 OP

Even if this qualified as a violation skepticscott Apr 2015 #1

I wasn't planning on spending anytime fighting it, for sure. F4lconF16 Apr 2015 #4

Well, the nutbag fundy right would make skepticscott Apr 2015 #7

I think you're a little off base Warpy Apr 2015 #2

Thanks for your response. F4lconF16 Apr 2015 #6

Your history stops a few millennia too early. jeff47 Apr 2015 #3

A fair point. F4lconF16 Apr 2015 #5

Choose your battles wisely. bvf Apr 2015 #8

I agree completely. F4lconF16 Apr 2015 #9

This doesn't bother me so much. Act_of_Reparation Apr 2015 #10

Thanks for the reply. F4lconF16 Apr 2015 #11

I see your point, and it is valid, Curmudgeoness Apr 2015 #12

That is exactly what I have been trying to get at, albeit very, very poorly. F4lconF16 Apr 2015 #13

At least some of the responses were from people who wanted to explain the history. beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #14

Oh, you old sourpuss. LiberalAndProud Apr 2015 #15

I think you do have a point LostOne4Ever Apr 2015 #16

You say in that thread: "based on originally religious ideas " AlbertCat Apr 2015 #17

What do bunnies and eggs have to do with religion? Binkie The Clown Apr 2015 #18

Egypt's Weird Spring Holiday onager Apr 2015 #19