Hello fellow atheists,
I've had a couple ideas recently that I think could help spread secular discourse in a grass roots sense. I'm not quite sure if my goals here are beyond the reach of this forum though. So let's find out. So this topic will address the first idea: an atheist holiday.
I've done a google search for this as well as a search here, but the search terms "atheist holiday" are either so vague that hundreds of threads pop up, or with quotes, just 2 that don't seem to suggest what I am suggesting (so I'm sorry if such a thread exists and I missed it). I've seen google results for April 1st, but that seems like a bad idea to pair it up with April Fool's Day. And it seems like an insincere thing in any event. I've also seen a result for "National Day of Reason" held on the first thursday of May, which coincides with National Day of Prayer, as a protest, it appears, by what seems like an unconstitutional holiday (in the US.) And for similar reasons, I don't really think that day represents us in the best of lights, trying to jam up the religious sects.
But to the point, I think atheist should have a "holiday," which appears to be a contraction for "Holy Day" and thus self-defeating. But it also appears there are secular holidays world wide. And perhaps rather than calling it a "holiday," it could be called "(national) atheist day" or some such alternate name. The name is less important. But imagine that on a day like Darwin's birthday, or the date of his publication of his theory of evolution, we atheists celebrated "national atheist day" or w/e. Facebook posts across the nation/world would change their pictures, or put up messages of "Happy atheist day!" etc. It could be a chance to gently apply pressure and awareness of our cause, to invite non hostile thinkers a chance to ask why we believe what we believe, to bring it up in media and social media. And it would be celebrated on a day that has some meaning for our beliefs/reasons/movement, rather than competing with other celebrations on the same day.
If such a day already exists and I just missed it in my searches, please let me know. If not, I would certainly like input in suggesting important dates. I think my default position is the birthday of the publication of the theory of evolution. We could think up some traditions/rituals/memes/etc that kind of act as a symbol of the day, like a menorah, christmas tree/carols, easter bunny, etc.
What do you guys'n'gals think?
I've had a couple ideas recently that I think could help spread secular discourse in a grass roots sense. I'm not quite sure if my goals here are beyond the reach of this forum though. So let's find out. So this topic will address the first idea: an atheist holiday.
I've done a google search for this as well as a search here, but the search terms "atheist holiday" are either so vague that hundreds of threads pop up, or with quotes, just 2 that don't seem to suggest what I am suggesting (so I'm sorry if such a thread exists and I missed it). I've seen google results for April 1st, but that seems like a bad idea to pair it up with April Fool's Day. And it seems like an insincere thing in any event. I've also seen a result for "National Day of Reason" held on the first thursday of May, which coincides with National Day of Prayer, as a protest, it appears, by what seems like an unconstitutional holiday (in the US.) And for similar reasons, I don't really think that day represents us in the best of lights, trying to jam up the religious sects.
But to the point, I think atheist should have a "holiday," which appears to be a contraction for "Holy Day" and thus self-defeating. But it also appears there are secular holidays world wide. And perhaps rather than calling it a "holiday," it could be called "(national) atheist day" or some such alternate name. The name is less important. But imagine that on a day like Darwin's birthday, or the date of his publication of his theory of evolution, we atheists celebrated "national atheist day" or w/e. Facebook posts across the nation/world would change their pictures, or put up messages of "Happy atheist day!" etc. It could be a chance to gently apply pressure and awareness of our cause, to invite non hostile thinkers a chance to ask why we believe what we believe, to bring it up in media and social media. And it would be celebrated on a day that has some meaning for our beliefs/reasons/movement, rather than competing with other celebrations on the same day.
If such a day already exists and I just missed it in my searches, please let me know. If not, I would certainly like input in suggesting important dates. I think my default position is the birthday of the publication of the theory of evolution. We could think up some traditions/rituals/memes/etc that kind of act as a symbol of the day, like a menorah, christmas tree/carols, easter bunny, etc.
What do you guys'n'gals think?
Religious but open minded about the arguments of atheists? You may have spent your whole life learning about the arguments for religion. May I present to you 10 segmented hours for the case against it?
