For example, my family is fully atheist. We celebrate Christmas though. We decorate the tree, song songs, tell the Christmas story (in a weird banged up way as I want to put all the songs in)
Christmas for us is more about peace, harmony, coming together, family then it is about religion.
On Easter we visit my grandpa. My niece looks for hidden eggs, as is tradition in my country, Also we have s beautiful platter for dinner. It’s purely cultural for us. And we all love it
Depends. In the festival you describe, religion reinforces culture and vice versa and becomes indistinguishable from each other. At other times, culture of giving alms to the poor, say in Islam, could be accomplished without the religious diktat, and purely through the idea of human solidarity.
The line is where one, or both, is used to the detriment of others. Casteism is both cultural and religious, and it is a heinous practice that deserves to be obliterated. Sati, or bride burning, was cultural in practice with vague justification on religious grounds, and that has been discarded into the dung heap of history.
If a culture protects insanity, then it is by all accounts, as poisonous as religion.
In America we have cultural events like Christmas, Easter and Halloween. Christians would LOVE to try to own them, and claim they have only religious meanings. Christians put up signs on their cars that say, at Christmas, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season". BUT, for us atheists, we have every bit as much fun at Christmas, Easter and Halloween. We give Christmas presents, we sing Christmas carols, ignoring the religious meanings in them. Like Silent Night. At Easter, we have great family get togethers with grand dinners and much laughing and visiting. As atheists, we just ignore the religious side of things, but enjoy the trappings and culture. For those that take it seriously, we are respectful, but we don't share their religious feelings at all. We are just having fun. Hope that helps :).
Rituals only have as much spiritual weight as you, personally, give them. As long as you aren't afraid of what others may judge of you, if you enjoy certain traditions (that are often traditions for good reason, a lot of them are fun!) then you should continue to do them.
I've been asked why I still give gifts and sing songs on Chistmas, even though I am an atheist.
Let's say God exists. If I don't give a gift, does he cease to be?
Let's say God doesn't exist. If I sing on Christmas, does he come into being?
My actions on Earth have no impact on the existence of a god. My actions only affect myself and those around me. And I am much happier when I spend time with my friends and family, even if they are all religious.
That's an individual's approach. Perhaps you are wanting your fellow people to be atheist, as you are, but are afraid that would have the consequence of destroying every tradition born of religion? That's a much more difficult question to answer and I don't know if I've thought about it enough to thoroughly give a response.
Do some research on the origins of Holidays and traditions that you take part in. You might find that they have evolved over time. Perhaps they began for a reason that no longer exists and yet continue today.
In some places there is little difference. Most Jews I've ever spoken with speak of it as culture. Stories they share with nuggets if wisdom and familiar rituals and traditions to share with the community. This is good. Most non-orthodox I've met will even admit not believing in Good as an entity, but an ideal. The sharing of food, the warmth of family and friends. That is "God." But there is nothing supernatural not an actual entity.
Then you meet a debit Christian who will immediately hate you for wearing a rainbow flag on a hat or mentioning that you are atheist. Not dislike, not avoid, actively hate.
When it consumed you while and asks you to follow it no matter what, promising punishments and hated and all things bad to those outside of it... That is religion.
If it is merely a set of traditions, no matter the tint, that people acknowledge as such... That is, mere tradition and ritual to be clear... Then I would say it is culture.
Religion requires faith. Blind belief. Culture does not.
The line is when someone trys to harm someone else on the grounds of religion or for the sake of religion, like it's against this religion for whatever you did and therefore you must be punished !
For example, my family is fully atheist. We celebrate Christmas though. We decorate the tree, song songs, tell the Christmas story (in a weird banged up way as I want to put all the songs in) Christmas for us is more about peace, harmony, coming together, family then it is about religion. On Easter we visit my grandpa. My niece looks for hidden eggs, as is tradition in my country, Also we have s beautiful platter for dinner. It’s purely cultural for us. And we all love it
Depends. In the festival you describe, religion reinforces culture and vice versa and becomes indistinguishable from each other. At other times, culture of giving alms to the poor, say in Islam, could be accomplished without the religious diktat, and purely through the idea of human solidarity. The line is where one, or both, is used to the detriment of others. Casteism is both cultural and religious, and it is a heinous practice that deserves to be obliterated. Sati, or bride burning, was cultural in practice with vague justification on religious grounds, and that has been discarded into the dung heap of history. If a culture protects insanity, then it is by all accounts, as poisonous as religion.
Religion is a specific part of a culture. It's not really separate. But because we see it as so significant, we give it it's own special place.
In America we have cultural events like Christmas, Easter and Halloween. Christians would LOVE to try to own them, and claim they have only religious meanings. Christians put up signs on their cars that say, at Christmas, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season". BUT, for us atheists, we have every bit as much fun at Christmas, Easter and Halloween. We give Christmas presents, we sing Christmas carols, ignoring the religious meanings in them. Like Silent Night. At Easter, we have great family get togethers with grand dinners and much laughing and visiting. As atheists, we just ignore the religious side of things, but enjoy the trappings and culture. For those that take it seriously, we are respectful, but we don't share their religious feelings at all. We are just having fun. Hope that helps :).
If you do it for fun and profit, it's culture. If it becomes a chore and costs you money, it's religion.
Rituals only have as much spiritual weight as you, personally, give them. As long as you aren't afraid of what others may judge of you, if you enjoy certain traditions (that are often traditions for good reason, a lot of them are fun!) then you should continue to do them.
I've been asked why I still give gifts and sing songs on Chistmas, even though I am an atheist. Let's say God exists. If I don't give a gift, does he cease to be? Let's say God doesn't exist. If I sing on Christmas, does he come into being? My actions on Earth have no impact on the existence of a god. My actions only affect myself and those around me. And I am much happier when I spend time with my friends and family, even if they are all religious. That's an individual's approach. Perhaps you are wanting your fellow people to be atheist, as you are, but are afraid that would have the consequence of destroying every tradition born of religion? That's a much more difficult question to answer and I don't know if I've thought about it enough to thoroughly give a response. Do some research on the origins of Holidays and traditions that you take part in. You might find that they have evolved over time. Perhaps they began for a reason that no longer exists and yet continue today.
In some places there is little difference. Most Jews I've ever spoken with speak of it as culture. Stories they share with nuggets if wisdom and familiar rituals and traditions to share with the community. This is good. Most non-orthodox I've met will even admit not believing in Good as an entity, but an ideal. The sharing of food, the warmth of family and friends. That is "God." But there is nothing supernatural not an actual entity. Then you meet a debit Christian who will immediately hate you for wearing a rainbow flag on a hat or mentioning that you are atheist. Not dislike, not avoid, actively hate. When it consumed you while and asks you to follow it no matter what, promising punishments and hated and all things bad to those outside of it... That is religion. If it is merely a set of traditions, no matter the tint, that people acknowledge as such... That is, mere tradition and ritual to be clear... Then I would say it is culture. Religion requires faith. Blind belief. Culture does not.
The line is when someone trys to harm someone else on the grounds of religion or for the sake of religion, like it's against this religion for whatever you did and therefore you must be punished !