http://agnosticism.tribe.net/thread/bca1ba6c-561b-435c-b652-7fe4305ab7a3?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://agnosticism.tribe.net/thread/bca1ba6c-561b-435c-b652-7fe4305ab7a3#f1408dc0-5eb2-4ada-b940-223ffb35d071 Secular Solstice and Equinox Celebrations: Community without the Dogma A great way to create a community without all the dogma is through Secular Solstice & Equinox Celebrations. I think Freethinkers should challenge traditional religious holiday celebrations. Such as "Christmas" and "Easter" for example. There are perfectly valid and scientific reasons to celebrate the solstices and equinoxes. And especially the winter solstice and the spring equinox ... without any need for religious under pinnings at all. We do *NOT* need religion to celebrate these natural phenomena whatsoever. Challenge Religious Tradition with Secular Solstice and Equinox Celebrations. Today, we find Freethinkers getting involved in the winter solstice fun: "ATHEISTS: There has been a recent increase in solstice observances by Atheists in the U.S. For example, The American Atheists and local Atheist groups have organized celebrations for 2000-DEC, including the Great North Texas Infidel Bash in Weatherford TX; Winter Solstice bash in Roselle NJ; Winter Solstice Parties in York PA, Boise ID, North Bethesda MD, and Des Moines IA; Winter Solstice Gatherings in Phoenix AZ and Denver CO: a Year End Awards and Review Dinner (YEAR) in San Francisco, CA." http://www.religioustolerance.org/winter_solstice.htm 1st Ever Winter Solstice Webcast: "For the first time ever, the 2007 Winter Solstice illumination of the passage and chamber at Newgrange will be streamed live on the internet. The webcast and an exhibition at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the re-discovery of the Winter Solstice Phenomenon at Newgrange by Professor O’Kelly in 1967. The Winter Solstice event from inside the chamber at Newgrange will be broadcast on the mornings of Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd December 2007. If conditions are good the rising sun will illuminate the passage and chamber between 8:58am and 9:15am GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)." "Each year the winter solstice event attracts much attention at Newgrange. Many gather at the ancient tomb to wait for dawn, as people did 5,000 years ago." http://www.newgrange.com/webcast.htm ; Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:29:53 GMT http://agnosticism.tribe.net/thread/bca1ba6c-561b-435c-b652-7fe4305ab7a3#f1408dc0-5eb2-4ada-b940-223ffb35d071 Rocky 2008-12-05T18:29:53Z