Comment

Comment by Natalie A Sera on April 6, 2012 at 10:51am

An interesting article on doubt from a person of faith. I like the theme that even the most profoundly faithful need to consider doubt.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/admitting-doubts-ma...

Comment by Grinning Cat on April 6, 2012 at 9:41am

I agree, Flying Atheist, about celebrating our good fortune and not taking it for granted.

That and the ad on this site for a Humanistic Jewish congregation reminded me of a practice of some Jewish humanists that I learned about a few years ago: an elegant, concise reworking of the traditional grace before meals, which removes the imaginary middleman to become simply "Praised [or 'blessed'] are they who bring forth bread from the earth."

(Just five words in Hebrew! "ברוכים המוציאים לחם מן הארץ")

Comment by Chris Breman on April 6, 2012 at 1:29am

I teach elderly people, and I always enjoy their surprise when they learn that easter comes from Eostre and that Jesus wasn't born on the winter solstice.

Comment by The Flying Atheist on April 5, 2012 at 9:44pm

BTW, after Halloween, my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.  I think it's a great day, and religion plays no part in it for me.  I love the idea of an overly-bountiful and delicious meal to celebrate all that I have.  I have a wonderful family, great friends and a place to live that has a four walls, a roof, running water, heat, electricity and moderate creature comforts.  That's much more than what many other people have in this world and I'm grateful that I've been lucky enough to have those things.  For me Thanksgiving is both humbling and celebratory.  I also like Thanksgiving because it's a non gift-giving holiday.  The focus is on the true nature of the celebration.  

Comment by Paula T. on April 5, 2012 at 9:29pm

I stand corrected, the origins are pagan or began with other religions. I suppose secular is the buzz word lately and I am aware of the origins, it's just that I'm still working at getting over my anger regarding religion and finding more information about the various holidays we celebrate. Going to Catholic school meant I was sheltered from anything that didn't agree with Catholicism/Christianity and wasn't even aware of Judaism until I was close to being a teenager. I couldn't figure out why Jewish people didn't believe that Jesus was the son of gawd! I had no idea there are thousands of different sects of many, many religions.

I typed religiloons before correcting myself. Not sure if I've heard it or seen it before, but kinda like the sound of it!

Comment by Jason Fleming on April 5, 2012 at 9:06pm

You're right, they aren't secular and are probably rooted in paganism. But its OK to pretend.  The difference is acknowledging those things are fantasy and not reality.

Comment by The Flying Atheist on April 5, 2012 at 9:00pm

Natalie, if you're the odd one out, then you have company because I'm there with you.  I'm also quite aware of the religious/spiritual background for many of holiday customs which are now labeled as "secular."  Of course this history is rarely if ever explained to children (or even adults!)  That's information that I took upon myself to learn as an adult.  Unfortunately most people don't bother to trouble themselves.  That's why I always find it rather funny when religious people complain about the "secular" aspects of religious holidays.  They just haven't a clue! 

Comment by booklover on April 5, 2012 at 8:49pm

You are right Natalie!  I don't really consider them to be anything other than just an excuse to eat some good food, give people I love presents, and get-together.  I never taught my kids it was anything other than fun-stuff in life.  They are now 20 and almost 18, and they're both Atheists.  You are right about those holidays though!  They are pagan and not secular. We also have fun on all the secular holidays.  We just make them all secular and ignore what anyone else thinks they mean.

Comment by Natalie A Sera on April 5, 2012 at 8:24pm

And to add an afterthought -- holidays like the 4th of July, Earth Day and memorials of events seem to me to be more secular than the observances of Christmas and Easter. I'm perfectly happy to observe those, because there truly is no pagan or other spiritual history behind them.

Comment by Natalie A Sera on April 5, 2012 at 8:21pm

I know that I'm the odd one out, but I don't consider those customs to be secular. To me, they're pagan, and the pagan belief in spirits is just as unacceptable to me as the monotheistic religions' belief in god. If you don't acknowledge the spirit-based beliefs in these customs, you might as well go to church, because you don't HAVE to acknowledge the divinity of Jesus either -- communion is just a cracker and some wine, isn't it?

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