“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.” Exodus 12:12
Have you ever stopped to think that while you’re celebrating Passover you’re really celebrating the death of thousands[millions?] of people and animals at the hand of your God? Happy Passover!
April 18, 2014 at 11:35 am
Yes the thought has crossed my mind. Growing up as a young boy I have memories of reading through the Hagaddah 2 nights every year and wondering about some of the nasty stuff in there.
That’s the beauty of secular humanism for me. I can enjoy celebrating Passover because it’s a wonderful time to gather together with family and think about some of the more peaceful and beautiful traditions that have been passed down. And of course the food is unbeatable in my family – never forget the food. 🙂
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April 18, 2014 at 12:19 pm
Howie, do you follow Rabbi Chaloms blog?
He’s an exceptional man, head of the Humanist movement, and an atheist Rabbi.
http://hjrabbi.wordpress.com/author/hjrabbi/
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April 18, 2014 at 2:24 pm
That’s a cool suggestion John – I’ve never seen his blog but I’m following now.
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April 18, 2014 at 3:02 pm
Thanks for the link! Interesting reading over there.
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April 18, 2014 at 3:57 pm
He’s a good, intellectually honest man. If you ever get the chance, read some of Rabbi Wine’s works. Chalom took over from him (upon his death) as the head of the Jewish Humanist Movement.
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April 18, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Kind of like Christmas for ex-Christians. Lots of good family time, good food, and tradition without the baggage. 🙂
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April 18, 2014 at 4:25 pm
Exactly Ruth! Actually I think you may get a kick out of this – my wife and I celebrate Ancestor’s Day, Passover/Hanukkah, and Christmas and both of us are atheists. 🙂
We celebrate Ancestor’s Day because she grew up Buddhist, Jewish holidays from my family, and then Christmas is just a bonus! Actually, when I became Christian I never really got into the Christmas thing too much, but turns out that her family likes to pick up whatever holidays that are common where they live. So even though they are Buddhist they picked it up when they moved to the US and so my wife couldn’t live without all the Christmas fun! 🙂
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April 19, 2014 at 1:12 pm
I know several Buddhists. In my work I’ve gotten to know quite a few Indian Buddhists. The sure know how to throw a party! 😀
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April 19, 2014 at 3:23 pm
My wife also knows how to throw a good party. I think Buddhists are probably good at this because they’ve had many many lives to go through and practice. 😉
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April 19, 2014 at 3:37 pm
Ha! That must be it. 🙂
I should also add that some of the Indians I know are Hindu. They throw equally good parties!
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April 18, 2014 at 12:50 pm
Yes, but God was making a point, so it’s cool.
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April 18, 2014 at 3:01 pm
I’m sure they deserved it. After God hardened Pharaoh’s and all. And I’m sure they all were part of the slave driving team and their kids and their livestock.
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April 19, 2014 at 1:43 pm
The only point that biblegod seems to make consistently is that he’s inconsistent
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April 18, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Nope. But that’s because (1) I don’t celebrate Passover, and (2) I don’t believe that any of the shit that is in the Bible actually happened.
Maybe there was some widespread epidemic or sickness that occurred in ancient Egypt at that time, like when the bubonic plague decimated up to half of the population of Europe in the 14th century. And maybe whoever wrote the Bible many centuries later used that plague-like occurrence in Egypt, if it actually happened, as a dramatic device for this fable.
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April 18, 2014 at 3:02 pm
Me too, Doobster. Or is that me either? Anyway, I’m with you on it.
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April 18, 2014 at 3:36 pm
Well, if you’re evil, that’s what you get! 🙂
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April 18, 2014 at 3:42 pm
:devil:
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April 18, 2014 at 3:43 pm
Dang it! I did it wrong… 👿
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April 18, 2014 at 3:49 pm
Stopping to think about it…what you’re celebrating, what you believe… what a novel idea!
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April 18, 2014 at 3:57 pm
Yeah, it’s not just some cutsie little kid’s story with lambs where the firstborn of the Israelites are spared. And even all of them might not have been. I have no idea if they all followed all those instructions to the letter.
What if the family could only eat most of the lamb? Like that Travel Channel show, Man vs. Food. Yikes! What if they managed to stuff it all down by those last two bites?
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April 18, 2014 at 3:59 pm
Keep asking those questions, I think it’s great to get people thinking! When I was a Christian, I certainly didn’t consider most of those things, I didn’t know what I was getting behind!
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April 18, 2014 at 4:02 pm
I think that it’s all about how it’s framed when you’re getting sucked in! I never thought about them either. But now? I wonder how it never crossed my mind.
When you’re being told you’re a dirty rotten sinner and you need a savior those things fade into the background. Then when you’re taught about it, you’re taught about the evil taskmasters and that hardhearted ole Pharaoh. It’s like magic….slight of hand.
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