Comments on: All Days Are Holy http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:09:52 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Joshua http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-65710 Joshua Sun, 08 May 2011 08:41:29 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-65710 To the Christian (I cannot speak for faiths other than my own), such 'holy days' do not represent a day when God is more present than on another day, as you described. Rather they tend to celebrate events, either in the life of Jesus (Easter being an obvious one), or in the life of the Church (such as saints' days). On these days, God is as real, and as present, as he is on any other day of the year. However, Christians will relate to him in a particular on these days, such as by celebrating Easter; or by looking to the example set by the saint whose day it may be. 'to an atheist all days are holy. On every day, there are heartbreaking sunrises and beautiful sunsets; on every day, there are people coming together to do good for each other; on every day, there are crimes, tragedies, and pains. No day is set apart, no day is sanctified, no day is any more or less spiritual or sacred than any other. Every day presents us with the same opportunities to act, whether for good or for evil, and to make choices that will influence the subsequent direction of our lives.' Not just to an atheist! I completely agree with what you have to say here. However, it seems to me that you misunderstand the spiritual meaning behind 'holy' days. Pax Joshua To the Christian (I cannot speak for faiths other than my own), such 'holy days' do not represent a day when God is more present than on another day, as you described. Rather they tend to celebrate events, either in the life of Jesus (Easter being an obvious one), or in the life of the Church (such as saints' days). On these days, God is as real, and as present, as he is on any other day of the year. However, Christians will relate to him in a particular on these days, such as by celebrating Easter; or by looking to the example set by the saint whose day it may be.

'to an atheist all days are holy. On every day, there are heartbreaking sunrises and beautiful sunsets; on every day, there are people coming together to do good for each other; on every day, there are crimes, tragedies, and pains. No day is set apart, no day is sanctified, no day is any more or less spiritual or sacred than any other. Every day presents us with the same opportunities to act, whether for good or for evil, and to make choices that will influence the subsequent direction of our lives.'

Not just to an atheist! I completely agree with what you have to say here. However, it seems to me that you misunderstand the spiritual meaning behind 'holy' days.

Pax
Joshua

]]> By: Ceetar http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11628 Ceetar Tue, 02 Jan 2007 16:12:17 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11628 Well just as you said that holidays are for "occasions to remember events of particular significance in our past", I'd imagine it's the same on all Holy Days. These days are to remember past events, whether they are truly supernatural or not, it is still an important part of their history. More than the day itself being holier than any other, i think it's the act of reflection that takes place on such a day that makes peoplefeel 'closer to God'. Whether by memory or rememberence of a day long ago, it connects them and draws them in, just as a good story-teller draws an audience into their world. Relics are simply objects that have some link or trigger in a person's mind. Picking up a deceased relatives watch for instance, often brings back memories of that person. If you believe in that stuff, you could say it's opening a link between worlds, and if you don't, then it's simply trigger a certain part of the brain that had you not picked up the watch, wouldn't have been used at that moment. Maybe Christmas, and other holidays just feel 'Holier' because there _are_ people out there who use the argument 'It's christmas, i'll be nice today'. Maybe all this positive energy makes people feel holier. Or maybe it's because December 22nd was Global Orgasm day. Well just as you said that holidays are for "occasions to remember events of particular significance in our past", I'd imagine it's the same on all Holy Days.
These days are to remember past events, whether they are truly supernatural or not,
it is still an important part of their history. More than the day itself being holier than any other, i think it's the act of reflection that takes place on such a day that makes peoplefeel 'closer to God'. Whether by memory or rememberence of a day long ago, it connects them and draws them in, just as a good story-teller draws an audience into their world.

Relics are simply objects that have some link or trigger in a person's mind. Picking up a deceased relatives watch for instance, often brings back memories of that person. If you believe in that stuff, you could say it's opening a link between worlds, and if you don't, then it's simply trigger a certain part of the brain that had you not picked up the watch, wouldn't have been used at that
moment.

Maybe Christmas, and other holidays just feel 'Holier' because there _are_ people out there who use the argument 'It's christmas, i'll be nice today'. Maybe all this positive energy makes people feel holier. Or maybe it's because December 22nd was Global Orgasm day.

]]> By: Shawn Smith http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11572 Shawn Smith Mon, 01 Jan 2007 01:32:49 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11572 <blockquote>... I would not be surprised to find that daily prayer was not required back in the days when the Islamic Empire was in its heyday, and later became compulsory and more insiduous ...</blockquote> Paging Archi Medez, paging Archi Medez. Do you have any information as to whether or not this was the case? We could probably look it up ourselves, but that would be too much work for us lazy commenters, especially on New Years Eve. Thanks in advance.

... I would not be surprised to find that daily prayer was not required back in the days when the Islamic Empire was in its heyday, and later became compulsory and more insiduous ...

Paging Archi Medez, paging Archi Medez. Do you have any information as to whether or not this was the case? We could probably look it up ourselves, but that would be too much work for us lazy commenters, especially on New Years Eve. Thanks in advance.

]]> By: Simen http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11559 Simen Sun, 31 Dec 2006 10:40:29 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11559 "Well, Simen, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Islam, with more than a billion adherents world wide, requires praying while facing Mecca five times a day, every day. " Well, I don't know, but as valhar2000 says, it might well be that less prayer was required in the old islamic countries. But anyway, you don't need a holiday to do that. If you pray when you wake up and before you go to sleep, that's three times a day. Having three short breaks in a long work day doesn't seem like so much of a problem (well, I'd never have done it, but anyway). I was thinking more about having to go to a church, or mosque or whatever holy house the particular religion has and participate in some hour-long ritual. "Well, Simen, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Islam, with more than a billion adherents world wide, requires praying while facing Mecca five times a day, every day. "

Well, I don't know, but as valhar2000 says, it might well be that less prayer was required in the old islamic countries. But anyway, you don't need a holiday to do that. If you pray when you wake up and before you go to sleep, that's three times a day. Having three short breaks in a long work day doesn't seem like so much of a problem (well, I'd never have done it, but anyway). I was thinking more about having to go to a church, or mosque or whatever holy house the particular religion has and participate in some hour-long ritual.

]]> By: Korey http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11555 Korey Sun, 31 Dec 2006 05:19:37 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11555 Thanks to the link to Holyland Line! I've ordered candles to be lit for the salvation of your soul :-) Seriously, thank you so much for your website and all the very best for the coming year. Thanks to the link to Holyland Line! I've ordered candles to be lit for the salvation of your soul :-)

Seriously, thank you so much for your website and all the very best for the coming year.

]]> By: valhar2000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11551 valhar2000 Sun, 31 Dec 2006 02:56:49 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11551 And you can see where that got them. Anyway, considering the variety that there is and has been within Islam, I would not be surprised to find that daily prayer was not required back in the days when the Islamic Empire was in its heyday, and later became compulsory and more insiduous; you know, attempting to stem their decline with more prayer, instead of realizing that prayer (or religiosity) itself is bringing about that decline. And you can see where that got them.

Anyway, considering the variety that there is and has been within Islam, I would not be surprised to find that daily prayer was not required back in the days when the Islamic Empire was in its heyday, and later became compulsory and more insiduous; you know, attempting to stem their decline with more prayer, instead of realizing that prayer (or religiosity) itself is bringing about that decline.

]]> By: Shawn Smith http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11546 Shawn Smith Sat, 30 Dec 2006 23:10:35 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11546 <blockquote>Probably because nobody would care to believe in a god that demanded worship EVERY day - it would be too unpractical.</blockquote> Well, Simen, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Islam, with more than a billion adherents world wide, requires praying while facing Mecca five times a day, every day.

Probably because nobody would care to believe in a god that demanded worship EVERY day - it would be too unpractical.

Well, Simen, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Islam, with more than a billion adherents world wide, requires praying while facing Mecca five times a day, every day.

]]> By: toomanytribbles http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11544 toomanytribbles Sat, 30 Dec 2006 21:13:07 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11544 i'm guessing that they were selected to coincide with seasonal breaks and astronomical phenomena -- solstices, spring etc. people worked the fields and tended animals and social life was otherwise nil. the work was relentless and so a day off had to have a mighty good excuse. everyday worship could be confined to night prayers or a small shrine at home and social cohesion based on worship would be scheduled according to natural phenomena which people were more aware of way back then. our existence has changed drastically today and we can easily take a day off for a myriad of reasons. celebrating the anniversary of a perceived miracle or supernatural event, is superstitious behavior, of course, and actually believing that these particular holidays are more holy or supernatural or that certain objects posses magical powers are even moreso. i'm guessing that they were selected to coincide with seasonal breaks and astronomical phenomena -- solstices, spring etc. people worked the fields and tended animals and social life was otherwise nil. the work was relentless and so a day off had to have a mighty good excuse. everyday worship could be confined to night prayers or a small shrine at home and social cohesion based on worship would be scheduled according to natural phenomena which people were more aware of way back then.

our existence has changed drastically today and we can easily take a day off for a myriad of reasons.

celebrating the anniversary of a perceived miracle or supernatural event, is superstitious behavior, of course, and actually believing that these particular holidays are more holy or supernatural or that certain objects posses magical powers are even moreso.

]]> By: Simen http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11543 Simen Sat, 30 Dec 2006 21:00:11 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11543 But still, how can you choose such days on basis of their holiness? "Why should people be excused from work to attend church only on certain days?" Probably because nobody would care to believe in a god that demanded worship EVERY day - it would be too unpractical. But still, how can you choose such days on basis of their holiness?

"Why should people be excused from work to attend church only on certain days?"

Probably because nobody would care to believe in a god that demanded worship EVERY day - it would be too unpractical.

]]> By: toomanytribbles http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11541 toomanytribbles Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:37:28 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11541 absolutely not.. it's more a social matter of people coming together to mutually acknowledge the orthodoxy of their beliefs and to celebrate it with time-consuming rituals. from a practical standpoint, you sort of have to schedule said rituals. absolutely not.. it's more a social matter of people coming together to mutually acknowledge the orthodoxy of their beliefs and to celebrate it with time-consuming rituals. from a practical standpoint, you sort of have to schedule said rituals.

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11539 Ebonmuse Sat, 30 Dec 2006 18:58:38 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11539 Yes, and that bears on my conclusion. Why should people be excused from work to attend church only on certain days? Does that day possess some supernatural significance that makes it more important to hold services on those days than it is on other days? Yes, and that bears on my conclusion. Why should people be excused from work to attend church only on certain days? Does that day possess some supernatural significance that makes it more important to hold services on those days than it is on other days?

]]> By: toomanytribbles http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11538 toomanytribbles Sat, 30 Dec 2006 18:07:35 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/12/all-days-are-holy.html#comment-11538 from what i understand in some cultures, a holiday -- therefore holy day -- is a day where people are excused from work specifically in order to attend mass or whatever ritual is scheduled. just being the devil's advocate here ;). from what i understand in some cultures, a holiday -- therefore holy day -- is a day where people are excused from work specifically in order to attend mass or whatever ritual is scheduled. just being the devil's advocate here ;).

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