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Thread: Atheists and Easter..

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    God/dess loveandluxury's Avatar
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    Default Atheists and Easter..

    My husband and I are atheists. I'm really laid back and don't really care what other people do religiously, as long as they don't throw it in my face. My husband is the opposite and can be a bit of a "raging atheist" at times. We have a 2 year old son and Easter is coming up..

    So my best friend who has a 2 1/2 year old called me and asked if we wanted to meet her up at this huge Easter event in our town Saturday morning that the hospital is having. There will be moonwalks, games, an egg hunt.. the whole 9 yards. I told my husband about it and he is pissed off saying that I'm "conforming to society" by celebrating Easter. I'm simply going to take my 2 year old son to a fun and kid friendly event. What 2 year old wouldn't love to run around outside and get candy and play games on a beautiful spring day? I'm not taking him to church or doing an Easter dinner or celebrating the religious meaning of Easter so IMO, I'm not celebrating Easter.. and if I am for the sake of my kid, then so be it.

    The argument got to the point of him hanging up on me and we're not talking. I told him I'm taking my son up there and that's all there is to it, he doesn't have to go. I always looked forward to Easter and getting a basket every year. Why would I not give my child the pleasure just because of my personal beliefs? Am I right in this instance?

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  2. #2
    Chicagoeditor
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    Tell your hubby that Easter is basically an old pagan spring festival bolted onto the Christian tradition. (The Jewish Passover, which is my tradition, has the same roots.)

    He might get off knowing that Easter comes to us courtesy of the pagans---lots of people think pagan rites are hawt!

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    Veteran Member Alia_of_the_Knife's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    I'm atheist and I would say there is nothing wrong with a 2 year old playing easter games. The holiday isn't even christian. It's actually a pagan holiday celebrating fertility (eggs, rabbits, spring, all sex symbols) but the christians don't know that. So you are actually partaking in ancient pagan festivities.

  4. #4
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    It's just a spring holiday. Sheesh. He needs to lighten up. Is your kid never going to celebrate Christmas or any other American holidays just because some people give them religious significance? Sounds like a Jehovah's Witness, and those were some of the most miserable kids I've ever met.

  5. #5
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    ^ True dat.

    & To deny a 2 year old a chance at fun and socializing with other little kids is sooooooo mean. Hubby will get over it.

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    God/dess Bella21's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    That's ridiculous. My bf and I are both Athiests but we still do stuff with his family on holidays because his mom loves them (his family are also athiest). Your husband's "conforming to society" argument is BS because he's limiting his life with that very comment. To not conform means to do what the hell you want... which can mean looking for colored eggs in a park if you feel like it.
    If you think school is hard, try being stupid.

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    Featured Member Lunarobverse's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    From another atheist (albeit one who doesn't have any children myself), I'd say your husband is being a bit harsh. The Easter thing sounds more like a kid's social event than a religious indoctrination. Let the kid go have fun!

    I can't find the quote right now but I think even Richard Dawkins, one of the more militant atheists of the moment, has said that he's not such a stick-in-the-mud that he doesn't get offended when people say "bless you" when he sneezes and doesn't rant and rail when someone wishes him a "Merry Christmas" or the like.

    I celebrate Christmas because my family and friends do, not because I believe in God. And this Easter I'll be going over to my sister's house for delicious baked ham and deviled eggs and candy and cake and to visit with my family. Mmmmm... deviled eggs. Those taste so much better with a sprinkling of mild irony on Easter.
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    Featured Member AznExtasy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    I agree your husband should lighten up about that. He might've had some very bad experiences with religion, but a child having fun and finding eggs has nothing to do with the religious aspect of Easter. It's like holiday shopping for Christmas, same concept. People have a lot of fun doing those activities and they don't have to be religious to participate.

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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    ^^ Exactly. All Easter is to most people, religious or not, is pretty eggs, candy, bunnies... Why not? My whole family is agnostic and we celebrate all the typical holidays.

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    God/dess loveandluxury's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    Quote Originally Posted by Lunarobverse View Post
    I can't find the quote right now but I think even Richard Dawkins, one of the more militant atheists of the moment, has said that he's not such a stick-in-the-mud that he doesn't get offended when people say "bless you" when he sneezes and doesn't rant and rail when someone wishes him a "Merry Christmas" or the like.
    I think that's what got him on this whole raging atheist spell. He has them from time to time. Richard Dawkins is speaking in Austin tonight and he is going to go see him tonight and get a book signed. I think I'm going to spend the rest of the day looking for that quote and once I find it I'm going to call him and let him know he needs to lighten up.

    Thanks everybody for your input! I'm so frustrated right now. We'll be egg hunting on Saturday morning with or without my husband.

    Animals are my friends, and I don't eat my friends.
    - George Bernard Shaw

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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    I'm assuming if it's a town event, they won't be busting out Jesus all over? I think we need to institute an Easter version of Festivus-all the candy, none of the guilt/death.

    Ummm...can I come? I wanna go on the moonwalk(that's like a bouncy castle right?) and hunt eggs.

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    Featured Member Lunarobverse's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    I had completely mis-remembered the quote but I found the original source for my recollection about Richard Dawkins here.

    The part I (badly mis-)remembered is this part:

    Does your wife ever say "Bless you" after you sneeze, just to annoy you? DOUG MACKENZIE DODDS, Reading


    Bless you, I'd have to be dreadfully literal-minded to be annoyed by that. What do you take me for, one of those people who sends Christmas cards to The Archers?
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    God/dess virgoamm's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    Now that's just silly. I'm agnostic and I still celebrate holidays like Christmas and have big family dinners on Easter just out of tradition.

    And when I have kids one day, I most certainly plan on making them easter baskets and having them go on egg hunts.

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    Veteran Member Lapaholic's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    L&L u and ur hubby should go - i cant think of a more unChristian holiday than Easter tho its prolly the most important - well Christmas is too, actually for the worlds largest ( dont quote me on that! ) religion, Christians have pretty un-religious holidays since most of them were assimilated or merely adopted from the Romans and thereafter.

    He should relax ... enjoy it for what it is... a spring has sprung festival with happy little kids looking for easter eggs and gorging themselves on sugar.

    Of course maybe he just doesnt like hard boiled eggs or chocolate bunnies- that would be a different problem!! haha

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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    hehe...mean ole grumpypants husby doesn't like the Easter Bunny. Screw him, have fun with the kiddies.

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    Senior Member muhuwahaha's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    hardcore atheists are just as annoying as Jehovah's witnesses.

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    Veteran Member LadyLuck's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    You are correct about this and he is way over reaching. But pushing the whole "I' right, you're wrong" thing won't help even though it's true. I suggest going with Pagen/Spring festival idea mentioned earlier in this topic along with it's a fun thing for your kid.

    Good luck and remember to pick your battles.
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    Senior Member juggernutz's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    Quote Originally Posted by RoseLeigh View Post
    I'm assuming if it's a town event, they won't be busting out Jesus all over? I think we need to institute an Easter version of Festivus-all the candy, none of the guilt/death.

    Ummm...can I come? I wanna go on the moonwalk(that's like a bouncy castle right?) and hunt eggs.
    You mean like Ostara March 21st or Beltaine April 30th? If Christianity has got you down, get you some of that old time religion.
    "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

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    Senior Member juggernutz's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    Quote Originally Posted by muhuwahaha View Post
    hardcore atheists are just as annoying as Jehovah's witnesses.
    Well, being fanatical about anything is probably not a great idea.

    Moderation in all things, including moderation.
    "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    Being atheist isn't about denying fun things in your life. If its fun and not hurting anybody than why not. Haha if chuch was fun I'd probably go I looooved easter egg hunts when I was a kid.

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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    Quote Originally Posted by juggernutz View Post
    You mean like Ostara March 21st or Beltaine April 30th? If Christianity has got you down, get you some of that old time religion.
    I've already got it! The Hellenic sort. Though one could argue that really I'm a chocolate-ist.

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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    To the OP:

    easter, like christmas, is at this point both a cultural and religious holiday. you don't have to do both (or either). there are plenty of Christians who don't even celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday OR a cultural one, for example.

    there are plenty of cultural activities relating to Easter that an atheist can do with their child. the particular thing you mentioned is a case in point.

    in short, you are right.

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    God/dess krchab99's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    im not doing easter this year im not religious and hubby is in iraq im not in a candy bunny kinda mood.

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    Banned Katrine's Avatar
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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    Hardcore atheism rules! Join us in reality! Easter egg hunt=way to keep Baptist kids busy while their parents sip on Liserine.

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    Default Re: Atheists and Easter..

    DUDE WTF! I'm a converting Jew and I'm still having fun on Easter with my friends. Tell him to get off his high horse.


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