Why do atheist celebrate easter? - General

Just to show that they don't have to be delusional and still do egg hunting.

For more information, see today's Natalie Dee comic: [img]http://www.nataliedee.com/040410/im-godless-and-i-can-eat-it-all-day.jpg[/img]

why giving a shit about it???

[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;21165619]I thought they chose Christmas because it was close to the Saturnalia, thus they wouldn't be persecuted because the practices back then for Christmas were pretty similar to the Saturnalia.[/QUOTE] No, Christmas is the most blatant of the dumb moves. It takes place instead of common winter festivals which occurred across the globe. As you get further into winter, the sun peaks at a lower and lower point. The winter solstice occurs when it reaches the lowest point. The Roman calenders marked it as December 25th (It was fixed later to be the more accurate date of the 22nd, but by then the damage had been done). After that day, the sun begins to reverse the process and starts to peak higher each day. The festivals effectively serve to celebrate the beginning of the return of crop season. The degree of religiousness varies between cultures based on how much they worshiped the sun itself, but regardless of religion, the effects were and are quite real. Of course you could look at it the other way and point out that Jesus is actually just a metaphor for the sun anyways. All the Jesus stories tie in pretty damn close to the stories related to the sun and constellations. Hell, even Christmas has him dying on the cross (Sun goes down by the constellation crux during winter solstice) remaining dead for a few days (Sun peaks at roughly the same lowest point for a few days) and then coming back to life (Sun starts to peak at higher points. Many cultures celebrated this as a rebirth or resurrection of the sun.) Christianity is really just a pagan religion in disguise. Christians are just too dumb to actually figure it out.

My parents are atheist and we haven't done anything today.

Candy is delicious.

Why not? :3

Easter isn't actually the time when it all happened anyway - it's actually a takeover of a pagan festival, just like Christmas.

For the chocolate of course.

[QUOTE=JakeIsWin;21165652]There MAY be an elephant in my shoe, I don't know though, lets worship it. ^^^ Christianity. [editline]12:00PM[/editline] Also this.[/QUOTE] Lol you will never understand.

I haven't eaten any chocolate :(

Wow every single religious person ever asks me this like they don't know.

[QUOTE=Pvt. Ryan;21165617]there's nothing pagan about the resurrection of our lord and savior jesus christ numbskull[/QUOTE] Troll spotted of the port bough cap'n!!!!!

The atheists I know don't celebrate the holidays for typical reasons (like Christmas for the birth of Jesus), but we recognize them and practice the normal shit.

Free chocolate, and days off college. I wouldn't say I celebrate it though.

Because we can, we don't have to celebrate the whole religious part of it, I just like the candy and not having to do shit.

[QUOTE=GunFox;21166642]No, Christmas is the most blatant of the dumb moves. It takes place instead of common winter festivals which occurred across the globe. As you get further into winter, the sun peaks at a lower and lower point. The winter solstice occurs when it reaches the lowest point. The Roman calenders marked it as December 25th (It was fixed later to be the more accurate date of the 22nd, but by then the damage had been done). After that day, the sun begins to reverse the process and starts to peak higher each day. The festivals effectively serve to celebrate the beginning of the return of crop season. The degree of religiousness varies between cultures based on how much they worshiped the sun itself, but regardless of religion, the effects were and are quite real. Of course you could look at it the other way and point out that Jesus is actually just a metaphor for the sun anyways. All the Jesus stories tie in pretty damn close to the stories related to the sun and constellations. Hell, even Christmas has him dying on the cross (Sun goes down by the constellation crux during winter solstice) remaining dead for a few days (Sun peaks at roughly the same lowest point for a few days) and then coming back to life (Sun starts to peak at higher points. Many cultures celebrated this as a rebirth or resurrection of the sun.) Christianity is really just a pagan religion in disguise. Christians are just too dumb to actually figure it out.[/QUOTE] I think that was a smart move of the early Christians - keeping all converts happy by allowing them to continue celebrating their old traditions. That way they have less reason to regret their choice to convert and their families / communities would not be so fearful / angry at this 'new cult'. Also seems like an accepting / inclusive group then, not a divisive one which would alienate people for their harmless traditions. Not saying it wasn't a cynical move - basically something a PR / marketing firm would come up with. I know quite a few Christians who are fully aware of these similarities - they use pagan traditions and call them symbols for whatever event in their Christian calendar. So, I think it's a big call to say they're all stupid - at least based on this point alone.

Free candy. That is the only true answer to this thread.

Atheists like to spend time with their families too. Belief is not a requirement for someone to understand and enjoy the values of friendship and togetherness, which is what most celebratory holidays are about.

[QUOTE=Lankist;21168466]Atheists like to spend time with their families too. Belief is not a requirement for someone to understand and enjoy the values of friendship and togetherness, which is what most celebratory holidays are about.[/QUOTE] No we don't, we are all soulless bastards that want to kill everyone. Or is that just me?

Chastising an atheist for sharing values with you is seriously not the way to go. [editline]03:22PM[/editline] Automerge

come on guys, dont egg him on.

[quote=permabannedguy;21164302]answer: Because they are rebel kids who will never grow up.[/quote] they have a different opinion! Omg! Lets call 'em rebels!

[QUOTE=Dank Dave;21164477]I'm Jewish and I'm still going to an easter dinner.[/QUOTE] Jesus was Jewish, it's all good.

[QUOTE=PermabannedGuy;21164302]Answer: because they are rebel kids who will never grow up.[/QUOTE] Being an atheist =/= Being an idiotic religion-hating asshole

[QUOTE=Deadly-Virus;21168541]Being an atheist =/= Being an idiotic religion-hating asshole[/QUOTE] Being atheist =/= being not-religious.

Because I love chocolate and you will never take that away from me.

[QUOTE=SkinkYEA;21164818]Yeah, we'll show those Christians by sitting in front of a computer all day and worshipping zombies that do not exist, and bitching about my crappy suburban teenage life on the internet. That's what all atheists celebrate. Because atheists don't ever celebrate or worship anythi- wait what.[/QUOTE] Lighten up, it was a joke.

Candy is the obvious reason.

[QUOTE=Lankist;21168565]Being atheist =/= being not-religious.[/QUOTE] Um.