Why is 1st April called "World Atheist Day"?

[Tigers!]

A little gem I found yesterday (1/4). Thought it might have been a prank but now am not so sure.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Sajara]

It is a slight against Atheists. April 1st is also known as April Fools day. It is the religious trying to make fun of Atheists.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

We should hijack it and make it a thing we're proud of and celebrate, just to piss them off.

 

[Hickdive]

It's April Fool's day and there's a bit in the babble that says "the fool hath said in his heart 'there is no god.'"

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

No. Stop. It hurts, honestly.

 

[Angry Floof]

Nice! I'm sorry I missed this yesterday.

If the book of the petty psycho god, the violence, the slavery, the hypocrisy, the contradictions, the cruelty, the stupidity, the magical talking animals, etc., says I'm a fool, then that is indeed something to celebrate!

 

[lpetrich]

Psalm 14:1 -- The fool has said in his heart "There is no god"

Matthew 5:22 -- ... whoever calls someone a fool shall be in danger of hell fire.

 

[The Colourful Jester]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/atheist.asp

It's an old joke, and one I quite like despite the slight.

 

[whichphilosophy]

A little gem I found yesterday (1/4). Thought it might have been a prank but now am not so sure.

Anyone have any ideas?

This is one I recall. I don't think there is any special festival for this. It may less known than March 13, Ron Hubbard's birthday.

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/atheist-day/

The History of Atheist Day

The origins of Atheist Day can be traced back to a spoof story that was published on the internet in 2003. Atheist Day was originally about a fictional case of an Atheist who had decided to sue the government. The reason for the fictional lawsuit was a simple one—unlike all the major religions, there was no day for Atheists, to which the judge said that April 1st (i.e. April Fool’s Day) was their holiday. While this case was just a hoax, the story spread quickly and was actually accepted as fact. Although the day is best known to be an occasion for pranks, Atheists in fact claimed the day for their own as well. And then they did something very their style: they decided to claim it doesn’t actually exist, after all!