USA Thanksgiving Day

Well a couple of very interesting articles have turned up which are well worth a look.

One is to declare this "Thanksgiving; An Interfaith Celebration"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/interfaith-thanksgiving-c_b_1110631.html

The other is one about the speech Abraham Lincoln gave declaring the first Thanksgiving day in 1863
http://scottufford.com/2011/11/23/abe-lincolns-thanksgiving-proclamation-whats-yours/

In many ways these ideas are intertwined.

Of course this is a very American holiday but we could take these thoughts for the whole World in regard to the 25th December. Historically we know that this is a birthday which was not a real date, Jesus was born most likely in August or September, assuming that this person existed and was not a composite character created from several individuals. December 25th was, in essence a crucial day in the earlier Roman Empire where religous freedom was allowed. It suited the sun worshippers and was the birth date of the God Mithra, one of the most important deities in the Roman pantheon, represented by the esymbol of a lamb.

So historically December 25th was created as a celebratory day that could be accepte by all of the major sects in the empire. Sadly this did see the death of religous tolerance in teh Roaman Empire and the imposition of the Catholic Church. maybe its time we liberated Christmas Day as the day of interfaith thanksgiving, goodwill and tolerance world wide. As a non Christian who has, for the last 4 years, presented the address at our Centre's last meeting before our Christmas closure, this is the message that I try and present to people.

Maybe it is an idea which could be spread throughout the world, to share a day of peace where all people meet to share the common idea of peace and tolerance.

Jim

Christmas is kind of like that now, Jim.

Where it hasn't been destroyed by crass commercialism and materialism.


Jim

Sadly yes and no Jim it would be good if it was made that way by all the people of the world , it might just help cut away the crass commercialisation putting the day into perspective.