Atheism and holidays

This is an International Atheist Day poster, featuring Psalm 14:1, along with two common symbols of atheism : (1) the scarlet letter, which traditionally represented adultery (2) the hammer and sickle, which is used by many atheist states in which the promotion of militant atheism is a tenet of Marxist-Leninist ideology

Atheism has no holidays. The Jewish comedian Henny Youngman joked about atheism, "I once wanted to become an atheist but I gave up . . . they have no holidays."[1]

Atheism is a worldview (see: Atheist worldview). Another worldview that lacks holidays is the Jehovah's Witnesses religion (See also: Retention rate of American atheists and Jehovah's Witnesses).

## Contents

* 1 Darwin Day
* 2 Atheism and Christmas
* 3 Ray Comfort and International Atheist Day
* 4 Notes

## Darwin Day[edit]

See also: Atheist cults and Atheism and science

Darwin Day is an unofficial celebration of Charles Darwin's birthday, February 12. It is supported by various atheist, irreligious, antichristian, and evolutionist groups and organizations as well as schools and biology programs.

Since World War II a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position which employs methodological naturalism have been atheists and agnostics.[2]

There is a cult of personality and type of religiousity currently surrounding Charles Darwin. Stephen Jay Gould wrote the following in 1978: ""... all theories [of natural selection] cite God in their support, and ... Darwin comes close to this status among evolutionary biologists ...".[3] In 2002, Michael White similarly wrote: "Of course today, for biologists, Darwin is second only to God, and for many he may rank still higher."[4]

## Atheism and Christmas[edit]

See also: Atheism and Christmas

In December 2003, the University of Warwick reported:

“  |  Dr. Stephen Joseph, from the University of Warwick, said: "Religious people seem to have a greater purpose in life, which is why they are happier. Looking at the research evidence, it seems that those who celebrate the Christian meaning of Christmas are on the whole likely to be happier.[5] |  ”

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See also: Atheism and Christmas

## Ray Comfort and International Atheist Day[edit]

The apologists Ray Comfort and Grady Scott have suggested that April 1st should be International Atheist Day, in reference Psalm 14:1, which states "The fool hath said in his heart, 'There is no God'."[6][7]

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ Youngman, Henny (1980 or bef.). Earliest attestation. Retrieved from GoogleBooks.
2. ↑
* Dr. Don Batten, A Who’s Who of evolutionists Creation 20(1):32, December 1997.
* Jonathan Sarfati, Ph.D.,F.M., Refuting Evolution, Chapter 1, Facts and Bias
3. ↑ http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar1.html
4. ↑ http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar1.html
5. ↑ http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/A/20037338.html
6. ↑ Former Atheist Activist Patrick Greene Responds to Critics. The Christian Post (9 April 2012). Retrieved on 1 April 2013. “He also once threatened to sue "180" film creator and open-air preacher Ray Comfort for a bumper sticker produced by Comfort's ministry that suggested April Fool's Day should also be called "National Atheist's Day."”
7. ↑ National Atheist's Day. The Christian Library (2000). Retrieved on 1 April 2013. “But what better day could one pick for National Atheists Day than April 1st, April Fools Day? The Bible makes this clear. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good" (Psalm 14:1). The Bible says that anyone who denies God is a fool!”