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
*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...
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on December 11, 2011, 02:37:25 AM
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.
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.
Quote from: Sweetdeath on December 11, 2011, 04:01:18 AM
Bleh, I don't get why it's a federal holiday either.
Custom, tradition, nonsense like that.
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.
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.
Quote from: Gawen on December 11, 2011, 12:32:44 PM
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.
Quote from: DeterminedJuliet on December 11, 2011, 12:35:05 PM
Quote from: Gawen on December 11, 2011, 12:32:44 PM
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.
Quote from: Tank on December 11, 2011, 12:46:50 PM
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.
Quote from: Asmodean on December 11, 2011, 12:49:27 PM
Quote from: Tank on December 11, 2011, 12:46:50 PM
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 >:(
Quote from: Tank on December 11, 2011, 12:52:04 PM
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?!
Quote from: DeterminedJuliet on December 11, 2011, 12:35:05 PM
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.
Quote from: DeterminedJuliet on December 11, 2011, 12:35:05 PM
Quote from: Gawen on December 11, 2011, 12:32:44 PM
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!
http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-messages-displace-ca-park-nativity-scenes-194651974.html
Atheist messages displace Santa Monica, Ca park nativity scenes. Won the spots by lottery.
Quote from: Gawen on December 14, 2011, 12:30:52 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-messages-displace-ca-park-nativity-scenes-194651974.html
Atheist messages displace Santa Monica, Ca park nativity scenes. Won the spots by lottery.
In other words it was god's will?
Quote from: Tank on December 14, 2011, 12:31:48 PM
Quote from: Gawen on December 14, 2011, 12:30:52 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-messages-displace-ca-park-nativity-scenes-194651974.html
Atheist messages displace Santa Monica, Ca park nativity scenes. Won the spots by lottery.
In other words it was god's will?
Must've been. Otherwise God is indifferent to nativity displays or not strong enough to keep them.
Quote from: Gawen on December 14, 2011, 12:30:52 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-messages-displace-ca-park-nativity-scenes-194651974.html
Atheist messages displace Santa Monica, Ca park nativity scenes. Won the spots by lottery.
brilliant, I love the 'Happy Solstice' poster. Shame they didn't do one depicting the birth of Mithras!
Quote from: Gawen on December 14, 2011, 12:38:01 PM
Quote from: Tank on December 14, 2011, 12:31:48 PM
Quote from: Gawen on December 14, 2011, 12:30:52 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-messages-displace-ca-park-nativity-scenes-194651974.html
Atheist messages displace Santa Monica, Ca park nativity scenes. Won the spots by lottery.
In other words it was god's will?
Must've been. Otherwise God is indifferent to nativity displays or not strong enough to keep them.
I think God IS indifferent to nativity displays. It's become a matter of tradition...nothing more. I'm glad the Atheist organization is giving these churches a run for the spaces. My thinking, however, is that next year there will be many more Christians that apply for spaces. It will even out eventually.
Quote from: AnimatedDirt on December 14, 2011, 04:21:24 PM
Quote from: Gawen on December 14, 2011, 12:38:01 PM
Quote from: Tank on December 14, 2011, 12:31:48 PM
Quote from: Gawen on December 14, 2011, 12:30:52 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-messages-displace-ca-park-nativity-scenes-194651974.html
Atheist messages displace Santa Monica, Ca park nativity scenes. Won the spots by lottery.
In other words it was god's will?
Must've been. Otherwise God is indifferent to nativity displays or not strong enough to keep them.
I think God IS indifferent to nativity displays. It's become a matter of tradition...nothing more. I'm glad the Atheist organization is giving these churches a run for the spaces. My thinking, however, is that next year there will be many more Christians that apply for spaces. It will even out eventually.
It'll become a war by proxy ;D
Quote from: Tank on December 14, 2011, 04:27:20 PM
Quote from: AnimatedDirt on December 14, 2011, 04:21:24 PM
I think God IS indifferent to nativity displays. It's become a matter of tradition...nothing more. I'm glad the Atheist organization is giving these churches a run for the spaces. My thinking, however, is that next year there will be many more Christians that apply for spaces. It will even out eventually.
It'll become a war by proxy ;D
This is why I say just keep religious displays of
any kind off Gov't property, to avoid this kind of nonsense. Put them up everywhere else -- on your business, on your home, on your church, on your club, whatever -- just keep the Gov't out of it. It's not going to destroy the holidays if that one facet of society has nothing to do with them.
Personally, I think some of the atheist displays had no other point but to insult Xtians at Xmas, which was both pointless and rude. The Happy Solstice greeting was nice, but that banner can just as easily be hung from a private home.
Quote from: BooksCatsEtc on December 14, 2011, 06:29:24 PM
Personally, I think some of the atheist displays had no other point but to insult Xtians at Xmas, which was both pointless and rude. The Happy Solstice greeting was nice, but that banner can just as easily be hung from a private home.
I agree with this, its not like there isn't a wealth of other celebrations that christmas borrows from, as tank mentioned there is Mithras, but there is also Yule, Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, Meán Geimhridh, and Brumalia. All of which are a celebration of the soltice in someway that have had an effect on the christian or modern celebration of christmas. May as well try and engage people through culture rather than telling them its a load of nonsense.
Quote from: DeterminedJuliet on December 11, 2011, 12:35:05 PM
Quote from: Gawen on December 11, 2011, 12:32:44 PM
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.
I agree and it fuels the negative stereotype that atheists are bitter, angry god haters and not simply rational people who find no compelling evidence for a belief in a god.
Quote from: Gawen on December 14, 2011, 12:30:52 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-messages-displace-ca-park-nativity-scenes-194651974.html
Atheist messages displace Santa Monica, Ca park nativity scenes. Won the spots by lottery.
The chain link fencing around the displays gave me a good laugh. It kinda made it look like Baby Jesus was in jail. ;D
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg502.imageshack.us%2Fimg502%2F1921%2Fjailjesus.jpg&hash=1b2ee01518c87131038753a1a0c34ba98ff9bc7e) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/502/jailjesus.jpg/)
Is it just me, or does the bearded fellow not look quite pissed enough..? He HAS been told he's not the father, right? He should be stoning the chick with the lamb, is what he should be. They did it back then, you see... Oh wait, they still do...
Is it just me or do his fists look a bit clenched? Looks kind of tense to me...
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on December 15, 2011, 12:58:07 AM
Is it just me or do his fists look a bit clenched? Looks kind of tense to me...
Looks like someone is getting the beatdown .
Things are heating up down in Athens, Henderson County, Texas. The Wisconsin atheists are threatening legal action, and the Athens Christians are saying "come and take it." Should be fun.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/14/texas-town-braces-for-battle-with-atheists-over-nativity-scene/?test=latestnews
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on December 15, 2011, 02:22:42 AM
Things are heating up down in Athens, Henderson County, Texas. The Wisconsin atheists are threatening legal action, and the Athens Christians are saying "come and take it." Should be fun.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/14/texas-town-braces-for-battle-with-atheists-over-nativity-scene/?test=latestnews
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ft0.gstatic.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AANd9GcQ0LdsF0Kz_Lh8D6yCFuWxxuTmZSczMIiIoEY6rtyRm1kN1j1pzqWHu2g&hash=8ce9d2258176808fd47e55a511f0205db4f986cc)
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on December 15, 2011, 12:58:07 AM
Is it just me or do his fists look a bit clenched? Looks kind of tense to me...
He probably just opened the third box from the wise guys and found a smelly pile of muryh in it.
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on December 15, 2011, 03:43:28 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on December 15, 2011, 12:58:07 AM
Is it just me or do his fists look a bit clenched? Looks kind of tense to me...
He probably just opened the third box from the wise guys and found a smelly pile of muryh in it.
...OR he is waiting for the passers by to pass so he can start stoning ;D