(162) Does God Fit Into Your Holiday?

Shoulder to Shoulder

In this episode, Pesach and Doug dive into a thought-provoking article from The Free Press written by an atheist mother who now regrets stripping her family’s holiday celebrations of their religious roots. Can a holiday still hold deep meaning when its spiritual essence is removed? The discussion explores whether it’s possible to celebrate religious holidays without religion, while still experiencing their transformative power. As Doug and Pesach navigate themes of obligation, obedience, and tradition, the conversation takes a fascinating turn: have modern, secular interpretations of holidays like Christmas caused us to lose sight of God? And even among those who emphasize the divine core of religion, do we sometimes make religion serve its people rather than helping people serve God? Join Pesach and Doug as they wrestle with how faith—or the lack of it—shapes the way we find meaning in celebration.