Changes

When the [[Julian calendar]] was replaced by the [[Gregorian calendar]] in 1582 AD, ten days were deleted in order to bring the calendar in synchronism with the seasons. But the sequence of the days remained the same. Thus, 1582-OCT-4 (a Thursday) was followed by 1582-OCT-15 (a Friday), and the Sabbath of 1582-OCT-16 happened exactly 7 days after the previous Sabbath of OCT-9.<ref>''Has the Calendar been Changed?'' "Christian holy days: The weekly Sabbath: is it to be Saturday or Sunday?" [http://www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move Religuious Tolerance.org]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref>

When the [[Julian calendar]] was replaced by the [[Gregorian calendar]] in 1582 AD, ten days were deleted in order to bring the calendar in synchronism with the seasons. But the sequence of the days remained the same. Thus, 1582-OCT-4 (a Thursday) was followed by 1582-OCT-15 (a Friday), and the Sabbath of 1582-OCT-16 happened exactly 7 days after the previous Sabbath of OCT-9.<ref>''Has the Calendar been Changed?'' "Christian holy days: The weekly Sabbath: is it to be Saturday or Sunday?" [http://www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move Religuious Tolerance.org]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref>

Even in the 21st century Judaism still observes the seventh-day as the Sabbath - from sunset (the end of the day) Friday until sunset on the end of Saturday.  

Even in the 21st century Judaism still observes the seventh-day as the Sabbath - from sunset (the end of the day) Friday until sunset on the end of Saturday.  

==Sabbatarians==

==Sabbatarians==

Some Christian denominations (usually referred to as [[Sabbatarians]]) still observe God's seventh-day Sabbath, but the majority observe the tradition of first-century Christians who celebrated the Sabbath on Sunday.  This may have been to separate themselves as a community from the Jews who were under Roman persecution after the Zealot Revolt, but it is more likely that Christians chose Sunday as it was the day of the Resurection of Christ thereby becoming the most holy day of the week. Since the Roman religion of [[Mithra]]ism observed Sunday as their day of religious observance, converts to Christianity before the fourth century AD from that religion may have also contributed to the popularity of a Sunday observance. In 321 AD, while still a pagan sun-worshipper, the Emperor [[Constantine]] declared that Sunday was to be the day of rest throughout the Roman Empire:<blockquote>''On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country however persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not suitable for gain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost.''<ref>''Why and When the Weekly Sabbath was Moved'' "The weekly Sabbath: is it to be Saturday or Sunday?" [http://www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move ReligiousTolerance,org]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref></blockquote>

Some Christian denominations (usually referred to as [[Sabbatarians]]) still observe God's seventh-day Sabbath, but the majority observe the tradition of first-century Christians who celebrated the Sabbath on Sunday.  This may have been to separate themselves as a community from the Jews who were under Roman persecution after the Zealot Revolt, but it is more likely that Christians chose Sunday as it was the day of the Resurrection of Christ thereby becoming the most holy day of the week. Since the Roman religion of [[Mithra]]ism observed Sunday as their day of religious observance, converts to Christianity before the fourth century AD from that religion may have also contributed to the popularity of a Sunday observance. In 321 AD, while still a pagan sun-worshipper, the Emperor [[Constantine]] declared that Sunday was to be the day of rest throughout the Roman Empire:<blockquote>''On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country however persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not suitable for gain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost.''<ref>''Why and When the Weekly Sabbath was Moved'' "The weekly Sabbath: is it to be Saturday or Sunday?" [http://www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move ReligiousTolerance,org]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref></blockquote>

[[James Cardinal Gibbons]], [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] educator and archbishop of [[Baltimore]] 1877-1821, was blunt about the change: "You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify. The Catholic Church correctly teaches that our Lord and His Apostles inculcated certain important duties of religion which are not recorded by the inspired writers... We must, therefore, conclude that the Scriptures alone cannot be a sufficient guide and rule of faith."<ref> ''The Faith of Our Fathers'', (1917), p. 89) quoted in ''Which Day Is the Sabbath?'' [http://www.ucg.org.uk/UCG_BI_Literature/booklets/SS/daysabbath.htm UCG]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref>  

[[James Cardinal Gibbons]], [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] educator and archbishop of [[Baltimore]] 1877-1821, was blunt about the change: "You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify. The Catholic Church correctly teaches that our Lord and His Apostles inculcated certain important duties of religion which are not recorded by the inspired writers... We must, therefore, conclude that the Scriptures alone cannot be a sufficient guide and rule of faith."<ref> ''The Faith of Our Fathers'', (1917), p. 89) quoted in ''Which Day Is the Sabbath?'' [http://www.ucg.org.uk/UCG_BI_Literature/booklets/SS/daysabbath.htm UCG]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref>  

Jesus observed the seventh-day Sabbath not because it was Judaic tradition or the culture of the time.  Jesus' teaching in these verses is summarized by Freedman: "At times Jesus is interpreted to have abrogated or suspended the Sabbath commandment on the basis of controversies brought about by Sabbath healings and other acts. Careful analysis of the respective passages does not seem to give credence to this interpretation. The action of plucking ears of grain on the Sabbath by the disciples is particularly important in this matter. Jesus makes a foundational pronouncement: "The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). The disciples' act of plucking grain infringed against the rabbinic halakhah of minute casuistry in which it was forbidden to reap, thresh, winnow, and grind on the Sabbath. Jesus reforms the Sabbath and restores it to its rightful place as designed in creation, where the Sabbath is made for all mankind and not specifically for Israel, as claimed by normative Judaism. It was God's will at creation that the Sabbath have the purpose of serving mankind for rest and [to] bring blessing."<ref>Freedman, David Noel ''Sabbath'' "The Anchor Bible Dictionary" vol. v; pp 855-856 (Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group; 1992) ISBN 0-3854-2583-X</ref>

Jesus observed the seventh-day Sabbath not because it was Judaic tradition or the culture of the time.  Jesus' teaching in these verses is summarized by Freedman: "At times Jesus is interpreted to have abrogated or suspended the Sabbath commandment on the basis of controversies brought about by Sabbath healings and other acts. Careful analysis of the respective passages does not seem to give credence to this interpretation. The action of plucking ears of grain on the Sabbath by the disciples is particularly important in this matter. Jesus makes a foundational pronouncement: "The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). The disciples' act of plucking grain infringed against the rabbinic halakhah of minute casuistry in which it was forbidden to reap, thresh, winnow, and grind on the Sabbath. Jesus reforms the Sabbath and restores it to its rightful place as designed in creation, where the Sabbath is made for all mankind and not specifically for Israel, as claimed by normative Judaism. It was God's will at creation that the Sabbath have the purpose of serving mankind for rest and [to] bring blessing."<ref>Freedman, David Noel ''Sabbath'' "The Anchor Bible Dictionary" vol. v; pp 855-856 (Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group; 1992) ISBN 0-3854-2583-X</ref>

==The Seventh Day Adventists==

==The Seventh Day Adventists==

"Seventh-day" means the observance of the original Sabbath, Saturday, is still a sacred obligation. Adventists argue that just as the rest of the Ten Commandments had not been revised, so also the injunction to "remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" remained in full force. But this theological point in the late 19th century turned the young group into a powerful force for religious liberty. Growing into its full stature in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, these Adventists opposed Sunday laws on every side. Many were arrested for working on Sunday.  In fighting against the real threat of a legally established National Day of worship, these Sabbatarians had to fight for their liberty on a daily basis. Soon, they were fighting for religious liberty on a broader, less parochial basis.  The fear that other Protestants would establish a Christian Sunday expanded into opposition to the establishment of a "Christian" identity for the nation, and opposition to school prayer. This led to alliances with secularists in the American political spectrum.<ref> Douglas Morgan, ''Adventism and the American Republic: The Public Involvement of a Major Apocalyptic Movement.'' (2001)</ref>  

"Seventh-day" means the observance of the original Sabbath, Saturday, is still a sacred obligation. Adventists argue that just as the rest of the Ten Commandments had not been revised, so also the injunction to "remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" remained in full force. But this theological point in the late 19th century turned the young group into a powerful force for religious liberty. Growing into its full stature in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, these Adventists opposed Sunday laws on every side. Many were arrested for working on Sunday.  In fighting against the real threat of a legally established National Day of worship, these Sabbatarians had to fight for their liberty on a daily basis. Soon, they were fighting for religious liberty on a broader, less parochial basis.  The fear that other Protestants would establish a Christian Sunday expanded into opposition to the establishment of a "Christian" identity for the nation, and opposition to school prayer. This led to alliances with secularists in the American political spectrum.<ref> Douglas Morgan, ''Adventism and the American Republic: The Public Involvement of a Major Apocalyptic Movement.'' (2001)</ref>  

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Bechtel, Florentine. "Sabbath." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia''. Vol. 13. (1912). [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13287b.htm online]

* Bechtel, Florentine. "Sabbath." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia''. Vol. 13. (1912). [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13287b.htm online]

* Slater, Thomas. "Sunday." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' Vol. 14. (1912) [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14335a.htm online]

* Slater, Thomas. "Sunday." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' Vol. 14. (1912) [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14335a.htm online]

==References==

==References==

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{{reflist|small}}

[[Category:Christianity]]

[[Category:Christianity]]

[[Category:Judaism]]

[[Category:Judaism]]

[[Category:Bible]]

[[Category:Bible]]