According to AP, Schools in Berlin have recognized World Humanist Day as a holiday on a par with All Saints’ Day, Yom Kippur and Eid al-Fitr.
The decision means Berlin pupils who subscribe to humanism — a philosophy that rejects the existence of deities — can apply for a day off to celebrate their belief in the same way as Christians, Muslims and Jews do for their holy days.
Arik Platzek, a spokesman for Germany’s Humanist Association, said Wednesday the decision “is a positive signal and a good example.”
He says it will be the first sanctioned holiday for humanists in any of Germany’s 16 states “and as far as we know worldwide.”
World Humanist Day was conceived in 1986 and takes place annually on June 21. It often falls on the solstice.
http://atheistalliance.org/regional-reports/western-europe/1030-berlin-grants-humanist-pupils-own-holiday
According to AP, Schools in Berlin have recognized World Humanist Day as a holiday on a par with All Saints' Day, Yom Kippur and Eid al-Fitr. The decision means Berlin pupils who subscribe to humanism — a philosophy that rejects the existence of deities — can apply for a day off to celebrate their belief in the same way as Christians, Muslims and Jews do for their holy days. Arik Platzek, a spokesman for Germany's Humanist Association, said Wednesday the decision "is a positive signal and a good example." He says it will be the first sanctioned holiday for humanists in any of Germany's 16 states "and as far as we know worldwide." World Humanist Day was conceived in 1986 and takes place annually on June 21. It often falls on the solstice. http://atheistalliance.org/regional-reports/western-europe/1030-berlin-grants-humanist-pupils-own-holidayI'm sure Germany has it's problems, current day, but I think one of the reasons it has become so progressive is that it went through the horrors of WW1 and 2. Without those horrible events, those collapses of society, I doubt they would have learned the lessons that now allow them to become progressive. I've said this before on CFI, but I'm afraid the same might be true for the US. The Nazis of our day, the Tea Partiers, Koch brothers, etc. need to take total control, collapse our society, so that we can come to our senses about fanatical conservatism, and finally get back on the progressive path.
It’s a dumb move on their part. If humanists want to to put their money where their mouth is, they should reject this “holyday”, because it places the quasi-religion of humanism on the same level as real religions.
According to AP, Schools in Berlin have recognized World Humanist Day as a holiday on a par with All Saints' Day, Yom Kippur and Eid al-Fitr. The decision means Berlin pupils who subscribe to humanism — a philosophy that rejects the existence of deities — can apply for a day off to celebrate their belief in the same way as Christians, Muslims and Jews do for their holy days. Arik Platzek, a spokesman for Germany's Humanist Association, said Wednesday the decision "is a positive signal and a good example." He says it will be the first sanctioned holiday for humanists in any of Germany's 16 states "and as far as we know worldwide." World Humanist Day was conceived in 1986 and takes place annually on June 21. It often falls on the solstice. http://atheistalliance.org/regional-reports/western-europe/1030-berlin-grants-humanist-pupils-own-holidayI'm sure Germany has it's problems, current day, but I think one of the reasons it has become so progressive is that it went through the horrors of WW1 and 2. Without those horrible events, those collapses of society, I doubt they would have learned the lessons that now allow them to become progressive. I've said this before on CFI, but I'm afraid the same might be true for the US. The Nazis of our day, the Tea Partiers, Koch brothers, etc. need to take total control, collapse our society, so that we can come to our senses about fanatical conservatism, and finally get back on the progressive path.Progressivism kills societies, not conservatism.
...]Progressivism kills societies, not conservatism.Examples?
...]Progressivism kills societies, not conservatism.Examples?The Western world.
...]Progressivism kills societies, not conservatism.Examples?The Western world.The Western world is a product of largely conservative ideas and actions, slowly beaten back by liberal ideas. If it weren't for liberals the world would be, well, like it was when the Church was all.
...]Progressivism kills societies, not conservatism.Examples?The Western world.The Western world is a product of largely conservative ideas and actions, slowly beaten back by liberal ideas. It was mainly conservative until the mid 20 century, then liberal ideas became more common, and the decay started.
I'm sure Germany has it's problems, current day, but I think one of the reasons it has become so progressive is that it went through the horrors of WW1 and 2. Without those horrible events, those collapses of society, I doubt they would have learned the lessons that now allow them to become progressive. I've said this before on CFI, but I'm afraid the same might be true for the US. The Nazis of our day, the Tea Partiers, Koch brothers, etc. need to take total control, collapse our society, so that we can come to our senses about fanatical conservatism, and finally get back on the progressive path.I applaud your insight, though you're not the first regarding the lessons those "good German people" learned after being fooled into being absolute fools, cowards, and horrendous monsters during the late thirties and early forties. Unfortunately, we are playing much higher stakes these days - and we don't have a decade or two learn from our many mistakes and make it seem like it was all alright again. Though I dare say no one learned from those WWI and WWII mistakes to begin with. Oh well, we were warned: Beware the Military Industrial Complex and a dumbing down of the citizenry a democracy depends on. From here on in, it's history, as they say.
...]Progressivism kills societies, not conservatism.Examples?The Western world.The Western world is a product of largely conservative ideas and actions, slowly beaten back by liberal ideas. It was mainly conservative until the mid 20 century, then liberal ideas became more common, and the decay started.The Western World was a product of consuming natural resources and trampling on less "powerful" people. Along with the ideal that the PARTY (for those who could afford it) was what it was all about Take it back to the spice trade and beyond. . . . . Dare ya...
Oh yea, back to the Thread: GREAT IDEA !
We should start a movement and get a holiday here in the United States :coolsmile:
Oh yea, back to the Thread: GREAT IDEA ! We should start a movement and get a holiday here in the United States :coolsmile:Well, it can't really be a holy day. But for establishment clause purposes, atheists have the same protection as religious identifiers. And "holiday" has a broader meaning, these days. So, yeah, we should celebrate June 21st as the "no-such-thing-as-God-day". And if we can think of, and implement, ways to commercialize it, then, there you go. However, I still don't like the assumed firm association of humanism with atheism. All atheists are definitely not humanists. And, in my opinion, all humanists are not atheists.
I’m sure Germany has it’s problems, current day, but I think one of the reasons it has become so progressive is that it went through the horrors of WW1 and 2. Without those horrible events, those collapses of society, I doubt they would have learned the lessons that now allow them to become progressive. I’ve said this before on CFI, but I’m afraid the same might be true for the US. The Nazis of our day, the Tea Partiers, Koch brothers, etc. need to take total control, collapse our society, so that we can come to our senses about fanatical conservatism, and finally get back on the progressive path.There already were elements of progressivism in German society before the World wars, e.g. Their excellent education system, but militarism, nationalism and colonialism shoved it aside. Remember that there were active socialist and Communist parties competing with the Nazis but the industrialists backed them hoping to control the masses but the monster devoured them too. A lesson for our 1%ers to learn BTW. Our far right wingers are taking a page out of Mein Kampf with their anti immigrant campaign and allowing the consolidation of corporations into monopolistic giants. I just hope we don't mimic the Germans, "from darkness through blood into the light". We don't need another Revolution nor another Civil War. Cap't Jack
Progressivism kills societies, not conservatism.Conservatism killed more Americans than progressivism in one war, started by conservatives bent on keeping an inhumane institution. Cap't Jack