Obama Leaves God out of Thanksgiving Speech, Riles Critics

Originally posted by OldCorp
Since I'm having a Bruno Mars Day -

- I'll address everyone all at once.

There are some very interesting facts about the origin of Thanksgiving in America. It is believed that the celebration of Thanksgiving in America was probably originated from the harvest-home ceremonies. These harvest-home ceremonies were originally held in England. During such ceremonies certain days were reserved to thank God for blessing the people with plentiful crops and bountiful harvest.

Therefore later it became a tradition, according to which, even in modern times this holiday takes place late in the Fall Season, after the crops have been collected. Although the form of celebrations of thanksgiving has changed a lot with the time but traditionally still it is the time for serious religious contemplation, church services and prayers. These days the Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in the United States as a family affair, complete with sumptuous dinners and happy reunions and get together.

However the fact about the origin of the Thanksgiving is that the first observance of Thanksgiving in America was entirely religious in nature and it did not involve any form of feasting. It was on 4th December 1619 when a group of 38 English settlers arrived at Berkeley Plantation on the James River...a location, which is now known as Charles City, Virginia. The charter of this group required that the day of their arrival to that place, be observed as a Day of Thanksgiving to God. ~ Thanksgivingnovember.com

Don't like that answer? How about Wikipedia's entry?

Thanksgiving Day is an annual holiday celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. Historically, thanks have been directed towards God, accompanied with feasting and prayer. ~ Wiki

I'm sorry to disagree with you guys, but Thanksgiving was originally observed as a totally religious celebration. The move to secularize religious holidays has been growing for many years. Some are calling Thanksgiving the "Fall Harvest Feast" or some such nonsense, but that won't change the origin of the holiday.

We are fast approaching the "Winter Festival" season too; some might recognize this as CHRISTmas. This is not a celebration of the Winter Solstice, it's not secular X-Mas, but rather a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ - my Lord and Savior. Even though research suggests Christ was not actually born on Dec. 25th, that is still the traditional date of the celebration, and is the reason for the holiday.

Was Jesus born on December 25, or in December at all?

Although it’s not impossible, it seems unlikely. The Bible does not specify a date or month. One problem with December is that it would be unusual for shepherds to be “abiding in the field” at this cold time of year when fields were unproductive. The normal practice was to keep the flocks in the fields from Spring to Autumn. Also, winter would likely be an especially difficult time for pregnant Mary to travel the long distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem (70 miles). ~ Source

I understand that many of you don't believe in God; that's OK, because you will soon enough. I don't hold that against any of you, nor am I going to say that you are going to Hell. In the first place, it's not my place to judge who is deserving of that fate; in the second place, I'm a believer in Universal Dispensation. Pastor Rob Bell is a friend of mine, and we both believe that the traditional view of Hellfire and damnation is incorrect. Hell was created for the Devil and the rebellious angels, and NOT for the souls of mankind. God is a loving Father, and there is no way - in my opinion - that He would send His children into eternal damnation because they never heard the true Word. Assuming WWIII doesn't start over Iran and Syria, I hope to have him on as a guest on my show in the near future to talk about this. I was going to go into this, but I'll save it for another time.

Anyway, to sum it up, despite the efforts of Atheists to secularize traditionally religious holidays, to deny their true origins is a failure of Ignorance Denial.

Thanksgiving was originally celebrated religiously. December 25th used to be a day for the veneration of pagan deities until Origen decided to co-opt it for Jesus. Doesn't mean we need to go sacrifice a cow to Mithras just because that's how it used to be celebrated.

www.christianitytoday.com...

Thanksgiving is ultimately a day about giving thanks. Some people do that via worshiping God, some people do that via worshiping football, others are just grateful minus the worship. It doesn't mean that their Thanksgiving is any less of one by not praying to Jesus or Nick Saban.

Originally posted by Equidae

Thanksgiving is ultimately a day about giving thanks.

To whom, if not God?

I'm getting ready to put on my DJ hat and go to work. For some reason, people like to listen to music when they dance. I'll respond to any posts when I get back.

Peace out.


*wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle yeah

Originally posted by OldCorp

Originally posted by Equidae

Thanksgiving is ultimately a day about giving thanks.

To whom, if not God?

I'm getting ready to put on my DJ hat and go to work. For some reason, people like to listen to music when they dance. I'll respond to any posts when I get back.

Peace out.


*wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle yeah

edit on 11/26/2011 by OldCorp because: (no reason given)

Being thankful does not mean you need a God to 'be thankful to.' For me I assess the good things in my life, if there is a person to thank for one then I thank them, otherwise I just take it as something I need to appreciate because I could have easily not had that in my life. Being in the Marines, on deployment, whatever, never led me to feel that there was a deity that needed thanking or otherwise.

Originally posted by OldCorp
To whom, if not God?

Sometimes I am thankful TO someone else, but sometimes, I just feel gratitude without it being aimed at someone. As others have said, a deity not required to give thanks and to take it a step further, an object of gratitude is not necessary, either. I can be grateful FOR things, without being grateful TO someone.

In a way it pushes me to be a more generous person. If the reason that I am thankful ultimately lies with another person, then I should do what I can do continue that cycle so another person has a reason to be thankful. This isn't because I want to be thanked, but being in a position to be thankful implies something good has happened to you. And I like for good things to happen to all people.

Originally posted by OldCorp
reply to post by Wrabbit2000

 

The ultimate Christmas gift indeed.

Originally posted by ImmortalThought
This is news?

One day the people are upset because there is no seperation between church and state and the next its headlined on MSM when he does seperate the two.

I guess leaving out god in a thanksgiving speech makes him the antichrist right? (Just waiting to see that thread)

The separation of church and state does not require the US to be a secular nation. The only thing that means is that there is to be no national religion that has a part in dictating policy. An avowed Atheist will NEVER be elected President because 80% of the American public identifies with the Christian faith in one form or another.

edit on 11/26/2011 by OldCorp because: (no reason given)

No **** sherlock. Unfortunate for both of us that the american public is ignorant to this and still get upset about who said and who didnt say G O D. Someone who is athesist doesnt worry about these things and can govern without the big man in the sky playing a role. But, no won't elect a president who has chosen not believe in something for the same reason some chose to believe in something.

And how sad is that?

Blinded by religon

reply to post by Equidae


We'll just have to agree to disagree I suppose. Like I said, I don't do the hellfire/brimstone/eternal damnation thing, so we're all good brother. Again, thank you for your service; I would have given my left nut to have gone with you. BTW, I'm thankful - to God - that you're home in one piece.

SEMPER FI

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic

Originally posted by OldCorp
To whom, if not God?

Sometimes I am thankful TO someone else, but sometimes, I just feel gratitude without it being aimed at someone. As others have said, a deity not required to give thanks and to take it a step further, an object of gratitude is not necessary, either. I can be grateful FOR things, without being grateful TO someone.

You know what that is? That feeling that you get inside when you're grateful? That's your conscience telling you that this was something special, something that you might not even deserve. That little voice in your head, that feeling in the pit of your stomach; That's God, inside of you. He's with us all of the time, part of us, even if we don't like to admit it.

Originally posted by OldCorp
reply to post by Equidae

 

We'll just have to agree to disagree I suppose. Like I said, I don't do the hellfire/brimstone/eternal damnation thing, so we're all good brother. Again, thank you for your service; I would have given my left nut to have gone with you. BTW, I'm thankful - to God

- that you're home in one piece.

SEMPER FI

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic

Originally posted by OldCorp
To whom, if not God?

Sometimes I am thankful TO someone else, but sometimes, I just feel gratitude without it being aimed at someone. As others have said, a deity not required to give thanks and to take it a step further, an object of gratitude is not necessary, either. I can be grateful FOR things, without being grateful TO someone.

You know what that is? That feeling that you get inside when you're grateful? That's your conscience telling you that this was something special, something that you might not even deserve. That little voice in your head, that feeling in the pit of your stomach; That's God, inside of you. He's with us all of the time, part of us, even if we don't like to admit it.

Oorah right back at you! I understand the feeling, but it's all an ethical cluster# (like any war I suppose?) And I appreciate the sentiment. I don't get offended when people say they'll pray for me. You're taking time out of your day to wish me well, and that alone is what matters.