• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!
  • Welcome to our archives. No new posts are allowed here.

Do Atheists Celebrate Thanksgiving?

X Factor

Anti-Socialist
Dungeon Master
DP Veteran
Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
61,606
Reaction score
32,215
Location
El Paso Strong
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Conservative
Stupid question, right? I ask in all sincerity. How can one be thankful if there's nobody to thank?
 
Stupid question, right? I ask in all sincerity. How can one be thankful if there's nobody to thank?

Well, can't one just be "thankful?" When I use the words, "I'm so thankful so have you in my life," as an example, I'm not really thanking God. I'm being appreciative. Thanksgiving isn't a Christian holiday at any rate. It was a celebration of a successful growing season and a bountiful harvest.
 
Stupid question, right? I ask in all sincerity. How can one be thankful if there's nobody to thank?

Excuse me, when did Thanksgiving become a religious holiday? :rofl
 
Stupid question, right? I ask in all sincerity. How can one be thankful if there's nobody to thank?
Well it's a stupid question because it's predicated on the strawman that people have only G-d to thank.
 
Well, can't one just be "thankful?" When I use the words, "I'm so thankful so have you in my life," as an example, I'm not really thanking God. I'm being appreciative.
Ok so is it fair to say you're thankful to that person for being in your life?

Thanksgiving isn't a Christian holiday at any rate. It was a celebration of a successful growing season and a bountiful harvest.
Sure, I'm not saying atheists shouldn't celebrate Thanksgiving all, but Thanksgiving denotes some sense of gratitude. I'm asking toward who or what is that gratitude directed? Especially as you point out, a successful growing season and harvest could not really be attributed to any person.
 
Ok so is it fair to say you're thankful to that person for being in your life?

Sure, I'm not saying atheists shouldn't celebrate Thanksgiving all, but Thanksgiving denotes some sense of gratitude. I'm asking toward who or what is that gratitude directed? Especially as you point out, a successful growing season and harvest could not really be attributed to any person.

Surely you don't believe that successful growing seasons and harvests are a reward from a deity?

Be grateful for the hard work the farmers put in.
 
Stupid question, right? I ask in all sincerity. How can one be thankful if there's nobody to thank?

What about being thankful for the food that farmers grow, the hard work of your neighbors and community who help society to function, for all the material gifts we are given each and every day? For life itself?

The feeling of thankfulness does not require a recipient to be generated.
 
Stupid question, right? I ask in all sincerity. How can one be thankful if there's nobody to thank?

Atheists have plenty of people to thank, their friends, family, people they admire, etc. Thanksgiving isn't about religion, or thanking a deity.
 
The feeling of thankfulness does not require a recipient to be generated.

See, and I guess I disagree with this. Feelings of happiness, joy, things like that do not require a recipient, but gratitude does. Afterall, isn't that what thanks and gratitude are? Being thankful for something someone has done for you or on your behalf?
 
See, and I guess I disagree with this. Feelings of happiness, joy, things like that do not require a recipient, but gratitude does. Afterall, isn't that what thanks and gratitude are? Being thankful for something someone has done for you or on your behalf?

Even atheists have aspects of their life which they didn't necessarily control. The difference is that, instead of attributing this luck to a deity, they simply recognize it as being luck.

They are grateful for their luck, even if there is no actual being that they can direct that gratitude to.

The same kinds of things that you are thankful to God for are things an atheist is simply thankful for.
 
also, "thankful" can mean simply being conscious of a benefit that one has received. It doesn't necessarily mean "grateful".
 
Any excuse for a party, no matter who co-opted it in their name. At one place I worked, we had a calendar showing all the holy days and festivals around the world, and nearly every day was a party day!
 
I'm thankful that there's football on Thanksgiving, even if it is always the cryin's and cowplops.
 
maybe they may thank their relatives and their friends for being a part of their lives.
 
maybe they may thank their relatives and their friends for being a part of their lives.

Guess you've never been to a thanksgiving dinner :2razz:

Quite often you're trying to stop everyone from killing eachother.
 
thanksgiving is an american tradition yes but ı know its meaning.but ı dont understand what you mean...
 
To be honest, if I do a holiday, it's usually because other people want to. This year I'm doing Thanksgiving because I'm living near my dad and he wants to do it. I suspect Christmas will be the same (even though neither of us are Christian). It doesn't bother me in the slightest; I just have no personal compelling motivation to do it myself.

When left to my own devices, I don't really do holidays much. Even my own birthday is, at most, calling a couple friends 'round and having a few drinks and talking. Sometimes not even that.

I party when I feel like partying, which rarely happens to coincide with a holiday. I sometimes do New Year's, I guess. I did Halloween this year for the first time in ages.

I've never gotten the idea that we pick days to be thankful, or care about our loved ones, or whatever. I try to do that every day rather than kicking up a fuss on a designated day.

But regardless, I don't really see what Thanksgiving has to do with a deity. I can be thankful for my loved ones, or the farmers who grew my food, or just my luck. I don't have to assign that to a deity.
 
Stupid question, right? I ask in all sincerity. How can one be thankful if there's nobody to thank?

Of course we celebrate Thanksgiving. Why wouldn't we? It's an American holiday. I celebrate Christmas too, though not the religious aspect of it. There's lots to be thankful for in this world, you don't need to believe in a god to understand that.
 
I'm thankful that there's football on Thanksgiving, even if it is always the cryin's and cowplops.

I would be but I highly doubt there would be a god to attribute this thankfulness towards, so as much as I want to be thankful for football I am stymied.

damn my atheism.
 
Ok so is it fair to say you're thankful to that person for being in your life?

Sure, I'm not saying atheists shouldn't celebrate Thanksgiving all, but Thanksgiving denotes some sense of gratitude. I'm asking toward who or what is that gratitude directed? Especially as you point out, a successful growing season and harvest could not really be attributed to any person.

The what is life in general and the situation you are in, thankful I am born in the country I live in, thankful I have all that I do, and that the things I take for granted all too often in life are blessings indeed. It is time to reflect on this and the things which I take for granted. Even if I think there is no god for me to attribute as being responsible for these blessings, they are blessings still the same. I have food, decent housing, sanitation, leisure, a wonderful girlfriend and wonderful people in my life, which brings us to the who; family, friends, loved ones, anyone and everyone who has had a positive impact or steered me through life.
 
Last edited:
Ok so is it fair to say you're thankful to that person for being in your life?

I think so. I thank Tom at least twice at week for being in my life. Lucky Girl!!!

Sure, I'm not saying atheists shouldn't celebrate Thanksgiving all, but Thanksgiving denotes some sense of gratitude. I'm asking toward who or what is that gratitude directed? Especially as you point out, a successful growing season and harvest could not really be attributed to any person.

You really do pose an interesting question. I guess I'd say that Christians share their Thanksgiving thanks with a prayer:

We Give Thanks

Our Father in Heaven,
We give thanks for the pleasure
Of gathering together for this occasion.
We give thanks for this food
Prepared by loving hands.
We give thanks for life,
The freedom to enjoy it all
And all other blessings.
As we partake of this food,
We pray for health and strength
To carry on and try to live as You would have us.
This we ask in the name of Christ,
Our Heavenly Father.

Read more: 10 Great Thanksgiving Prayers

Atheists and others might share their Thanksgiving thanks with a toast like this:

"The measure of a man/woman is by the company he/she keeps. Well, I feel very rich and fulfilled because all of you are here with me. Thank you for being apart of my life and of this wonderful gathering today! Lets remember those who cannot be here today, and include them in our merryment! LET EAT!!!"

And Bart Simpson fans might say something like this:

Rub-a-dub-dub. Thanks for the grub.

:rofl

Happy Thanksgiving X!!
 
Back
Top Bottom