Thanksgiving and religion

**linscomb** · 11-20-07, 01:20 PM

Is Thanksgiving a religious holiday? If so, should it be?

(Relevent article found on slate.com)

**cosmictraveler** · 11-20-07, 01:59 PM

I don't think the Native Americans would think so.

**Tiassa** · 11-20-07, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by Cosmictraveler

I don't think the Native Americans would think so.

I wasn't going to post this, but ... well, now that you mention it ....

http://slog.thestranger.com/files/20...rdfront030.jpg

http://slog.thestranger.com/files/20...nterior031.jpg

Go figure. I ain't sayin' a word. However, as David Schmader notes, "I’m not sure what to think. But thanks!"

**Michael** · 11-20-07, 05:48 PM

What tribe is that?

**cosmictraveler** · 11-20-07, 06:05 PM

Stillaguamish (tribe)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stillaguamish are a Native American tribe located in northwest Washington state in the United States near the city of Arlington near the river that bears

their name, the Stillaguamish River. The tribe petitioned for recognition from the United States Government in 1974, and received recognition on February 7

th, 1979. The enrolled population of the tribe was 237 in 2003. The tribe helps manage salmon populations in the Stillaguamish River watershed. As part of

this effort, the tribe has a hatchery which releases chinook and coho salmon, runs educational activities about salmon, and voluntarily does not fish for

chinook salmon on the Stillaguamish River. The tribe also operates the Angel of The Winds Casino near Arlington, Washington.

**Baron Max** · 11-20-07, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by linscomb

Is Thanksgiving a religious holiday? If so, should it be?

Well, golly, think about it ......it's called "thanksgiving" ...like "giving thanks". So, just what or who would one be "thanking"? The trees? The dirt for growing corn? The turkey who "willingly" allowed itself to be killed and butchered, roasted and eaten?

Nope, couldn't be none of those things, could it. So ...what's left?

Baron Max

**snake river rufus** · 11-20-07, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Baron Max

Well, golly, think about it ......it's called "thanksgiving" ...like "giving thanks". So, just what or who would one be "thanking"? The trees? The dirt for growing corn? The turkey who "willingly" allowed itself to be killed and butchered, roasted and eaten?

Nope, couldn't be none of those things, could it. So ...what's left?

Baron Max

But all of those things are more real than what you are alluding to.
For example dirt really does grow corn. The fictional jesus does not really save.

**Baron Max** · 11-20-07, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by snake river rufus

But all of those things are more real than what you are alluding to. For example dirt really does grow corn. The fictional jesus does not really save.

Perhaps, but we don't ordinarily give thanks to ....the dirt, do we? Or do you have a special sorta' religion that I don't know about?

Baron Max

**Killian_1_4** · 11-20-07, 06:56 PM

Even if it was a religious holiday, it wouldn't change much of who celebrates it.

**maxg** · 11-20-07, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Baron Max

Well, golly, think about it ......it's called "thanksgiving" ...like "giving thanks". So, just what or who would one be "thanking"? The trees? The dirt for growing corn? The turkey who "willingly" allowed itself to be killed and butchered, roasted and eaten?

Nope, couldn't be none of those things, could it. So ...what's left?

Baron Max

How about thanking the freakin' Indians who fed them when they were starving.

**~~grimace~~** · 11-20-07, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by snake river rufus

The fictional jesus does not really save.

How do you know?

**snake river rufus** · 11-20-07, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by Baron Max

Perhaps, but we don't ordinarily give thanks to ....the dirt, do we? Or do you have a special sorta' religion that I don't know about?

Baron Max

It's not logical to have any religion.

**snake river rufus** · 11-20-07, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by grimace

How do you know?

The word 'fictional' is a give away.

**Baron Max** · 11-21-07, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by maxg

How about thanking the freakin' Indians who fed them when they were starving.

They did! They invited them to the big feast, the big party.

Baron Max

**Baron Max** · 11-21-07, 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by snake river rufus

It's not logical to have any religion.

It's not logical to fuck without the intent to procreate, either, but we often do it when we feel like it. Lots of things in life that we do that isn't logical, but we still do 'em.

Baron Max

**snake river rufus** · 11-21-07, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by Baron Max

It's not logical to fuck without the intent to procreate, either, but we often do it when we feel like it. Lots of things in life that we do that isn't logical, but we still do 'em.

Baron Max

Very poor analogy. Sex also gives pleasure and hopefully with a real person.
Religion?

**Grantywanty** · 11-21-07, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by snake river rufus

Very poor analogy. Sex also gives pleasure and hopefully with a real person.
Religion?

So you would think it was OK to be religious if it made you feel good and you could also do this in the company of others?

(I won't even raise the issue of masturbation. Perhaps you are against that.)

**snake river rufus** · 11-21-07, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by Grantywanty

So you would think it was OK to be religious if it made you feel good and you could also do this in the company of others?

(I won't even raise the issue of masturbation. Perhaps you are against that.)

I'm too old to be against much of anything. Believing in the supernatural is really never "OK". Doing it out loud and in public?

**maxg** · 11-21-07, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by Baron Max

They did! They invited them to the big feast, the big party.

Baron Max

Correct--hence the origin of Thanksgiving. Perhaps from the pilgrims point of view they may have been thanking God but the Indians didn't see it that way and certainly part of the celebration was the thanking of other people.