Hipsters repaint bike lanes in brush off to Hasids - Brooklyn, NY

@andyp, Yes.

Hang on.

I'm not saying having a rest day is a good idea* because* its associated with occult mumbo jumbo. I'm not. I'm saying its good for us to have just one day a week when we don't have to work, shop, all that stuff. The reasons we have sabbaths are humanistic. They perform a valuable social function. I'd say the religious aspect is an afterthought. A bit like fasting. Abstaining from killing sheep during lent is a way of ensuring a good lambing season (less stressed ewes means less deaths during lambing). We just found a story about Jesus abstaining to justify what is an ancient animistic practice that stems from animal husbandry. Similarly, many faiths won;t eat pork. It's not because Jehovah Allah God told them not to! It's becasue pigs have a high number of diseases in the meat due to a high core temperature, so eating pork is alot more risky (especially where there's no refridgeration) than eating say fish, fowl or sheep.

I agree with the benefits of having a day of rest, but having it enforced by religious zealousness is unnecessary. Taking time to relax, not do chores, not watch TV, etc etc should be a personal choice, and if anyone decides that the actually want to do work or eat pork or stop fasting they should not have to suffer the displeasure, resentment or criticism of their community. That is what is bogus about a large number of religious activities... they are based on sensible reasons but that is not a reason to have those activities forced upon people who belong to the religion. But meh, that is a whole other can of worms...