7 Ways to Celebrate The National Day of Reason - Religion, God, and Theology

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7 Ways to Celebrate The National Day of Reason

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03-29-2014 , 06:09 AM

Mightyboosh

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7 Ways to Celebrate The National Day of Reason

I was wondering if any of the American Atheists who post here will be participating in this in any way? Also curious what people think about what it's called. It's perfectly possible to Reason your way to a religious belief and I think it's dangerous to put Reason and Religion in opposition like this, or is it an effective tactic?

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03-29-2014 , 08:50 AM

Roonil Wazlib

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Wear your National Day of Reason yellow shirt with pride

Whoever thought atheists would like wearing yellow shirts can not reason very well imo

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03-29-2014 , 09:06 PM

BeaucoupFish

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As a response to the state-endorsed National Day of Prayer, I think it is aptly named. Also, you don't need to be an atheist to see the problem of a "prayer day" in a supposedly secular nation. Secular != atheist.

But who looks good in yellow?

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03-31-2014 , 03:28 AM

Doggg

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I don't see any problem with a prayer day. I don't see any problem with bringing prayer back to the schools, either.

So much for that.

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03-31-2014 , 07:45 AM

Mightyboosh

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Originally Posted by Doggg

I don't see any problem with a prayer day. I don't see any problem with bringing prayer back to the schools, either.

Praying in school, to a specific deity, is promoting a specific deity and religion, and that's not allowed in the US. I don't think it should be allowed in the UK either but religion, and specifically the CoE, has been around much longer here and has many fingers in many pies.

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03-31-2014 , 03:27 PM

Roonil Wazlib

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Maybe instead of holidays we could introduce some days to celebrate significant scientific achievements

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03-31-2014 , 07:39 PM

Aaron W.

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Originally Posted by Mightyboosh

Praying in school, to a specific deity, is promoting a specific deity and religion, and that's not allowed in the US.

Praying in a school cannot be prevented as a matter of free speech. Prayer by school officials in a school context can be prevented as a matter of separation. It all depends on the context.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/See_You_at_the_Pole

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In the U.S., school-sponsored prayers in public schools have been found unconstitutional, but prayers organized by students themselves are allowed and protected by free speech rights.

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03-31-2014 , 11:34 PM

mangler241

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I'll make sure to celebrate the National Day of Reason by praying and fasting.

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03-31-2014 , 11:39 PM

batair

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Originally Posted by Doggg

I don't see any problem with a prayer day. I don't see any problem with bringing prayer back to the schools, either.

So much for that.

How about a satanist student who wants to pray to Satan?

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04-01-2014 , 12:27 AM

#10

Aaron W.

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Here are ideas for your group to do together on May 1, 2014:

1) Lobby your elected leaders.
2) Organize a march through your community.
3) Hand out brochures educating the public about the importance of separation of church and state.
4) Wear your National Day of Reason yellow shirt with pride
5) Have a game night in honor of reason, especially with games that promote deduction and reasoning.
6) Host a National Day of Reason dinner
7) Attend a sporting event with a group, all wearing National Day of Reason yellow shirts

When two out of the seven ideas involve wearing a yellow shirt, you know you need to hire a new marketing coordinator. If I were a secularist, I'd find this article to be depressing. Is that really the best you can do "to be visible and active in contrast to the Congressionally-mandated National Day of Prayer"?

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04-01-2014 , 01:12 AM

#11

uke_master

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meh, it isn't my preferred form of social activism.

I also don't think "reason" is the correct rallying call for secularists. As in, I don't like the false dichotomy of "religion" vs "reason". As a pretentious ******* who like to imply that believing in religion is the mark of idiocy, even I find the comparison to be distastefully self congratulatory.

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04-01-2014 , 05:54 AM

#12

Mightyboosh

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Originally Posted by uke_master

Yeah that's my reaction too but what concerns me is that it might cause a backlash or act as a deterrent. What do you think?

Another atheist own goal maybe.

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04-01-2014 , 05:55 PM

#13

uke_master

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There's been a lot of talk over the years on this forum over the efficacy of the tactics of the four horsemen. As in, does getting this super prominent writers with millions of copies of their books sold effectively saying "religion is moronic for reasons A,B,C" form an effective tactic at making society less religious. I have tended to fall into the "yes it does" camp. But there are certainly a strong backlash and people who get turned off of atheism because of these people as well. So to whatever extent trying to organize around "reason" is seen as an affront to religious people, presumably similar dynamics are at play.

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04-02-2014 , 12:55 PM

#14

Boellie

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5. Have a game night in honor of reason, especially with games that promote deduction and reasoning.

I am not even in the US, but I'll just play poker to support reason.

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04-02-2014 , 03:47 PM

#15

Roonil Wazlib

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But there are certainly a strong backlash

These types have a strong reaction to anything, anything that does not conform to their current worldview.

You will never change their minds. What they were taught at birth is infallible and no evidence to the contrary will ever shake their firm belief.

The smarter we get as a society, the fewer of these types there are around.

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04-02-2014 , 04:16 PM

#16

Aaron W.

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Originally Posted by Roonil Wazlib

Constructing an argument around "these types" is very "true Scotsman" and I doubt you will ever change your mind about your characterization of "these types" despite the plainly obvious fact that people change their minds about all sorts of things all the time, and that such reactions have little to do with "smarter."

Oh, beautiful irony. One just might characterize the staunchest of atheists in exactly the same way.

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04-02-2014 , 04:52 PM

#17

uke_master

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Originally Posted by Boellie

5. Have a game night in honor of reason, especially with games that promote deduction and reasoning.

I am not even in the US, but I'll just play poker to support reason.

I love having "poker and politics" nights where friends chat about politics around the poker table, but it actually could be a pretty easily modified to a "poker and religion" night

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04-03-2014 , 08:39 AM

#18

Boellie

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Discussing religion while playing poker would probably lead to me spewing hate and chips.
Not a good idea.

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04-03-2014 , 07:53 PM

#19

BrianTheMick2

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mightyboosh

Praying in school, to a specific deity, is promoting a specific deity and religion, and that's not allowed in the US. I don't think it should be allowed in the UK either but religion, and specifically the CoE, has been around much longer here and has many fingers in many pies.

Given that, what do you think we are going to do to celebrate it? Not really much point to the holiday. I guess I could go to a church and do some reasoning and not praying there, but that would be a bother.

My plan is to do exactly the same thing I would do on any other day. I'll do some reasoning and not do any praying. I'll probably eat a sandwich for lunch and do so in a reasonable manner. I do like sandwiches, and I like eating them in a reasonable manner.

If I already missed the day, would you kindly tell me when it was? I can then tell you whether I had a sandwich on that particular day.

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04-04-2014 , 08:35 AM

#20

Mightyboosh

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Originally Posted by BrianTheMick2

Given that US schools don't allow the promotion of specific deities/religions what are you going to do on the National day of Reason that is intended to coincide with the widely regarded as unconstitutional 'National Prayer day' (and that has nothing to do with praying in schools)? I dunno, why don't you confuse a few people for fun?

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Originally Posted by BrianTheMick2

My plan is to do exactly the same thing I would do on any other day. I'll do some reasoning and not do any praying. I'll probably eat a sandwich for lunch and do so in a reasonable manner. I do like sandwiches, and I like eating them in a reasonable manner.

If I already missed the day, would you kindly tell me when it was? I can then tell you whether I had a sandwich on that particular day.

Maybe you can find reason to have a chat with Dave while you're at it, say Hi for me. Thanks for the input.

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04-04-2014 , 09:53 AM

#21

Robin Agrees

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Originally Posted by BrianTheMick2

Brian loves his food whenever I read his posts sooner or later he mentions food. I wonder if he is obese.

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04-04-2014 , 10:43 AM

#22

BrianTheMick2

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Originally Posted by Mightyboosh

It isn't unconstitutional. My point is that we just don't care. We don't need to care.

It is no different than Flag Day (I'm not a nationalist), Lief Erikson Day (really?!? Vikings?!?), Loyalty Day (not a nationalist), National Aviation Day (I'm not against planes, but really?!?), National Maritime Day (wtf), Pan American Aviation Day (a second airplane day?!?), Patriot Day (ok, come on, really?), Stephen Foster Memorial Day (wtf), White Cane Safety Day (do we really need a day to remind us not to knock down blind people?) and Wright Brothers Day (3 days celebrating airplanes?).

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04-04-2014 , 10:48 AM

#23

Robin Agrees

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What about a "food day" Brian would you like that? You could organise a gathering of people who could all sit and listen to you on a big stage about your like of sandwiches and other foods you mention on 2+2. Maybe you could show the audience on how to make a great sandwich? And you go into detail about your favourite types of sandwiches and food in general. Honestly I would be the first one to sign up and would not bore me at all. What else do you like Brian? Do you like lemons?

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04-04-2014 , 11:00 AM

#24

Robin Agrees

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BrianTheMick2 National Day of Sandwiches and other Foods he likes.

Its a million dollar idea. I tells yeh!

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04-04-2014 , 11:04 AM

#25

Aaron W.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Mightyboosh

Given that US schools don't allow the promotion of specific deities/religions what are you going to do on the National day of Reason that is intended to coincide with the widely regarded as unconstitutional 'National Prayer day' (and that has nothing to do with praying in schools)? I dunno, why don't you confuse a few people for fun?

I'm curious as to where you get your belief that it's widely regarded as unconstitutional.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Prayer

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The court further stated that "the President is free to make appeals to the public based on many kinds of grounds, including political and religious, and that such requests do not obligate citizens to comply and do not encroach on citizens' rights.

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