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A Holiday for Atheism
December 28, 2015 at 10:21 am
I was thinking about answering that if Kwanzaa were as big a money maker as Xmas, it would get a lot more play. But it occurred to me that many of us don’t celebrate Xmas wither. That’s where the X comes in.
There’s no special day for atheists to celebrate. Then I remembered something TheRocketSergeon said. atheism should be the norm. It is the norm and having a special day for it would be like having a special day for people who have two opposing thumbs.
What is the purpose of having special days—besides making money? The purpose is to remind us of things.
When I was a child in Washington, DC, we had a day called Human Kindness Day. One year Stevie Wonder did a concert on that day. A riot broke out.
It really doesn’t matter if we celebrate special days, but if we could take those principles and that joy and generosity and use it throughout the year, then things would be different. Of course, in a capitalist’s society nothing has value unless it makes money for somebody, so I guess I’m preaching for a lost cause.
The god who allows children to be raped out of respect for the free will choice of the rapist, but punishes gay men for engaging in mutually consensual sex couldn't possibly be responsible for an intelligently designed universe.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
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RE: A Holiday for Atheism
December 28, 2015 at 11:15 am
(This post was last modified: December 28, 2015 at 11:17 am by Athene.)
My first thought was that it would be nice if people didn't have to be prompted to do positive things or demonstrate kindness...the cynic in me says that people are either inclined towards these things, or not.
But, generous people inevitably become distracted with the business of living at times and may appreciate being reminded; perhaps they want to do more, and benefit from designated days in which to focus their efforts.
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RE: A Holiday for Atheism
December 28, 2015 at 12:23 pm
I like 7/4. Gives me the perfect excuse to blow things up. Always been my favorite.
I don't have an anger problem, I have an idiot problem.
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RE: A Holiday for Atheism
December 28, 2015 at 2:24 pm
(December 28, 2015 at 12:23 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: I like 7/4. Gives me the perfect excuse to blow things up. Always been my favorite.
Well, I was born on 7/2, so I always thought the fireworks were for me. If you call me arrogant, I'll put a firecracker in your windows cookies.
The god who allows children to be raped out of respect for the free will choice of the rapist, but punishes gay men for engaging in mutually consensual sex couldn't possibly be responsible for an intelligently designed universe.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
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RE: A Holiday for Atheism
December 28, 2015 at 2:28 pm
(December 28, 2015 at 11:15 am)Thena323 Wrote: My first thought was that it would be nice if people didn't have to be prompted to do positive things or demonstrate kindness...the cynic in me says that people are either inclined towards these things, or not.
But, generous people inevitably become distracted with the business of living at times and may appreciate being reminded; perhaps they want to do more, and benefit from designated days in which to focus their efforts.
The cynic in you is rarely surprised at how things turn out.
But people need prompting wear seatbelts (which save their lives, ffs) so reminding them that it's time to do something nice is necessary.
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RE: A Holiday for Atheism
December 28, 2015 at 2:32 pm
TBH, the only reason Christmas gets the clout it does is because Christians dominate, and you can retail to them.
No matter what holiday you promote or the original intent behind it, people will gradually move to giving to people who don't necessarily need gifts anyway.
Which isn't to say I'm against holidays. I love holidays. I believe we should have seasonal celebrations and "keep" a season where it belongs - with seasonal foods and such. None of this "Christmas in July" shit.
It wouldn't hurt for more of us to learn to move with the rhythms of the planet we live on. Let charities handle asking for money and distributing it. That's what they're there for - to prod people properly.
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RE: A Holiday for Atheism
December 28, 2015 at 2:35 pm
Let's celebrate Darwin's Birthday. 2-12-1809
Fuck the jesus freaks.
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RE: A Holiday for Atheism
December 28, 2015 at 2:36 pm
My group already does that. It's pretty neat. We wear hats.
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RE: A Holiday for Atheism
December 28, 2015 at 2:36 pm
(This post was last modified: December 28, 2015 at 2:43 pm by Athene.)
(December 28, 2015 at 2:28 pm)Gawdzilla Wrote: (December 28, 2015 at 11:15 am)Thena323 Wrote: My first thought was that it would be nice if people didn't have to be prompted to do positive things or demonstrate kindness...the cynic in me says that people are either inclined towards these things, or not.
But, generous people inevitably become distracted with the business of living at times and may appreciate being reminded; perhaps they want to do more, and benefit from designated days in which to focus their efforts.
The cynic in you is rarely surprised at how things turn out.
But people need prompting wear seatbelts (which save their lives, ffs) so reminding them that it's time to do something nice is necessary.
I know. I kind of expressed that in the second half of my post.
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RE: A Holiday for Atheism
December 28, 2015 at 2:38 pm
(December 28, 2015 at 2:36 pm)thesummerqueen Wrote: My group already does that. It's pretty neat. We wear hats.
Pictures?
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