Atheists vs. Public Christmas Display

[Ecurb Noselrub]

Here's an article about an atheist group from Wisconsin protesting a Christmas display in Henderson County, Texas, because one of the displays showed a nativity scene.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/10/atheist-group-seeks-banner-to-join-christmas-display/?test=latestnews

[history_geek]

*sees the word "F(au)ox News* in the link*

....aaah, shiiiit....what are they up to now...

*reads the link*

"At this season of the Winter Solstice, LET REASON PREVAIL. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

Well if someone is really tring to put that up with xmas decorations feels a little...excessive to me. Then again, it's Faux News, so I'll leave my judgement on te matter until I have more info on this whole thing...

[Sandra Craft]

Here's an article about an atheist group from Wisconsin protesting a Christmas display in Henderson County, Texas, because one of the displays showed a nativity scene.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/10/atheist-group-seeks-banner-to-join-christmas-display/?test=latestnews

It seems to me they're not against the display on gov't property, they want to add their own opinion to it which is another matter.  Frankly, I wish we could keep all kinds of holiday display off any kind of government property just to avoid the appearance of promoting anything religious at all.  In fact, I wish they'd rescind Xmas as a Federal holiday and I write that as a Federal employee.  It would be worth it just to avoid all this nonsense.  It isn't like festive holiday decorations aren't up every other place, or that people are going to forget it's Xmas if they don't see a manger scene in front of the courthouse.  And it certainly isn't as if we're outlawing Xmas the way the original Puritans did.

[Sweetdeath]

I just wish I could disappear all together from the U.S from Nov to Jan. I'm so sick of Xmas. I'm only 25 and it's like...ENOUGH. I never enjoyed it as a kid, and i seem to hate it even more as an adult. People give me very strange looks when I say I don't celebrate xmas, so i don't accept xmas presents, you know. Bleh, I  don't get why it's a federal holiday either.

[Sandra Craft]

Bleh, I  don't get why it's a federal holiday either.

Custom, tradition, nonsense like that. 

[Crow]

Its nice to have public holidays, and the Christmas time of year seems like a good time of year to have one as so many belief systems have some sort of celebration around this period. It also makes sense economically as well.

Bleh atheists moaning about some pointless bs when there is so much more they could be trying to achieve is just as bad as moaning theists in my books. This sort of thing will just piss people off.

[Tank]

Bleh, I  don't get why it's a federal holiday either.

Custom, tradition, nonsense like that. 

Precisely.

[Gawen]

I would be fine with nativity scenes if those who put such displays on Government property would also put up Kwanza, Jewish, Muslim, Wiccan, etc., displays at appropriate times.

[DeterminedJuliet]

I would be fine with nativity scenes if those who put such displays on Government property would also put up Kwanza, Jewish, Muslim, Wiccan, etc., displays at appropriate times.

Agreed. The only issue here is that it's a government building officially endorsing one religion over another.

That being said, wanting to put up a banner that publicly says "Btw, all this stuff is bullshit", even if it's true, is kind of a dick move. I think there are better venues for that fight, really. I think it just gives more credence to the argument that all atheists are asshats.

[Tank]

I would be fine with nativity scenes if those who put such displays on Government property would also put up Kwanza, Jewish, Muslim, Wiccan, etc., displays at appropriate times.

Agreed. The only issue here is that it's a government building officially endorsing one religion over another.

That being said, wanting to put up a banner that publicly says "Btw, all this stuff is bullshit", even if it's true, is kind of a dick move. I think there are better venues for that fight, really. I think it just gives more credence to the argument that all atheists are asshats.

Agreed. If atheists want theists to mind their own business it's incumbent on atheists to do the same thing.

[Asmodean]

Agreed. If atheists want theists to mind their own business it's incumbent on atheists to do the same thing.

Asmo, he minds his own business. And still some assholes intrude on his harmony with their books and their crosses and their preachy ways.

[Tank]

Agreed. If atheists want theists to mind their own business it's incumbent on atheists to do the same thing.

Asmo, he minds his own business. And still some assholes intrude on his harmony with their books and their crosses and their preachy ways.

JW's and Mormon's 

[Asmodean]

JW's and Mormon's 

Yes. Them.  And then there are those people, dressed in what looks like kitchen curtains and grandma's trousers, who approach The Asmno on the street, wondering if he has some time to talk about Jesus or whether he let the said individual into his life and soul... Can't one of them just bum a smoke for a change?! Or ask for directions?!

[Ecurb Noselrub]

That being said, wanting to put up a banner that publicly says "Btw, all this stuff is bullshit", even if it's true, is kind of a dick move. I think there are better venues for that fight, really. I think it just gives more credence to the argument that all atheists are asshats.

This is sort of the way I see it.  Atheists have a voice in literature, media, etc., and their message seems to be getting out and having an impact.  To spend time protesting a baby Jesus in an East Texas, predominantly Christian county seems to be 1) a waste of time; 2) causing people to miss the core of the message; and 3) promoting the asshat idea.  Pick your battles wisely.

[Whitney]

I would be fine with nativity scenes if those who put such displays on Government property would also put up Kwanza, Jewish, Muslim, Wiccan, etc., displays at appropriate times.

Agreed. The only issue here is that it's a government building officially endorsing one religion over another.

That being said, wanting to put up a banner that publicly says "Btw, all this stuff is bullshit", even if it's true, is kind of a dick move. I think there are better venues for that fight, really. I think it just gives more credence to the argument that all atheists are asshats.

Ya, I think it sets everything back when atheist groups pull stuff like this....and this particular group pulls the same stunt every year; same wording.  It's actually been displayed in at least one location.

I'm fine with everyone being able to display stuff as long as the gov building has room for it (which most probably don't.  But instead of offensively styled wording; I think it would be more fun and effective to put up a big shrine to the flying spaghetti monster (slap a santa hat on him to be cute) and then explain what he is on a sign....people will wonder what in the world and go read about it.  Honey...not vinegar!