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Atheists take aim at Christmas

Gibberish

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Alongside a Nativity scene at the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington, a sign put up by an atheist organization celebrates the winter solstice. But it's the rest of the sign that has some residents and Christian organizations calling atheists Scrooges for attacking the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth.

"Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds," the sign says in part.

Atheists take aim at Christmas - CNN.com

You can see a picture of the sign at the link.

I agree with the Atheists right to display their own religious message next to the nativity scene but I don't agree with the way they are doing it. There is no reason for them to blatantly attack religion in their message. If they would have written the sign describing their believes and the purpose of Winter Solstice without the attacks then there would no issue here.

Do you think the atheists went to far with the sign? Should they not be able to place a sign at all?

I would love to agree with the Atheists here but they are making it hard.
 
Atheists take aim at Christmas - CNN.com

You can see a picture of the sign at the link.

I agree with the Atheists right to display their own religious message next to the nativity scene but I don't agree with the way they are doing it. There is no reason for them to blatantly attack religion in their message. If they would have written the sign describing their believes and the purpose of Winter Solstice without the attacks then there would no issue here.

Do you think the atheists went to far with the sign? Should they not be able to place a sign at all?

I would love to agree with the Atheists here but they are making it hard.

If Christians are allowed to place holiday displays on government property then all religions should be granted the same right. However, the sign comes off as incredibly arrogant and condescending. I find it ironic that a lot of anti-Christian people are just as fanatical and closeminded about other religions beliefs who dare to believe in a deity. If people want to believe in a deity or not believe in a deity that is their right. Who gives a ****?
 
pew pew pew

Take that Christmas!

Heheh.
I think that in reality, people out there have too thin of skin on both sides of the issue. This is the atheists lashing out, and it's not appropriate. But I don't see any one side being in the right or wrong wholly. I think people need to just calm down a bit on this issue. There's freedom of religion in this country which means that people are free to practice and express their beliefs, this includes atheists as well. But we should just take note of that. It's ok to be an atheist, it's ok to be a Christian, it's ok to be whatever religion you wish so long as in the exercise of that religion you do not infringe upon the rights of others. What they said about the manger scene is IMO crap. Furthermore, I don't know why it even matters. If the community wants it up, then it can go up. Their land, their choice as far as I'm concerned.

I don't know, at some point I don't get the bickering over religion. We all have our ideals and beliefs and we're free to have them and express them. But that doesn't necessitate being a jerk. Yes, winter solstice is the source of pretty much all winter celebration, including Christmas. So what? Things change, society changes, people change. It's now ascribed predominately in this country as a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Let it go. Stagnation has never been good for our species. It's slow death. But I do see some on the other side being just as bad, particularly Sean Hannity whom I believe uses this as nothing more than ratings propaganda. Let it go. People have different beliefs and feelings, let them have it. So long as you ain't hurting anyone, there's no big deal. There's atheists, there's theists of all different creeds; good. It means we're free to believe as we want. In the end, we all inhabit this chunk of rock orbiting our sun; so we might as well enjoy the ride.

Sometimes I think people just have way too much time on their hands. They should try playing WoW.
 
It did also give Bill O'Reilly an excuse to start up his annual War on Christmas nonsense.
 
Atheists take aim at Christmas - CNN.com

You can see a picture of the sign at the link.

I agree with the Atheists right to display their own religious message next to the nativity scene but I don't agree with the way they are doing it. There is no reason for them to blatantly attack religion in their message. If they would have written the sign describing their believes and the purpose of Winter Solstice without the attacks then there would no issue here.

Do you think the atheists went to far with the sign? Should they not be able to place a sign at all?

I would love to agree with the Atheists here but they are making it hard.

This atheist totally agrees with your assessment. The minute I saw that winter solstice thing, I thought, "OBNOXIOUS." The nativity scene is not put on display to insult atheists, yet the atheists put on a display that insults Christians. To me, that only hurts the atheist's stance.
 
I don't understand it when Atheists proselytize. They could have done something really cool, but instead decided to be asses.

If they are trying to make a point, they could have done it in a far better way that doesn't inspire hatered and angst. I'd have just put up a massive sign saying something like: "Atheism... because Nothing's better. :mrgreen:"

That's kind of festive, don't you think?
 
I don't understand it when Atheists proselytize. They could have done something really cool, but instead decided to be asses.

If they are trying to make a point, they could have done it in a far better way that doesn't inspire hatered and angst. I'd have just put up a massive sign saying something like: "Atheism... because Nothing's better. :mrgreen:"

That's kind of festive, don't you think?

I personally think that they should have done an empty nativity scene.
 
If Christians are allowed to place holiday displays on government property then all religions should be granted the same right. However, the sign comes off as incredibly arrogant and condescending. I find it ironic that a lot of anti-Christian people are just as fanatical and closeminded about other religions beliefs who dare to believe in a deity. If people want to believe in a deity or not believe in a deity that is their right. Who gives a ****?
I'm Catholic, but don't hold grudges against other beliefs, this one makes me sick though. I think the Athiest and Nihalist movements forget one thing, absence of belief is still belief.
 
Since when has the "winter solstice" meant enough to atheists that they feel the need to publically recognize a fact of science and in the same hand disparage the beliefs of others? Where are their public postings during spring solstice, summer solstice and fall solstice? No. This stm to be nothing but a small group of atheists taking the low road to slam the religious beliefs of others.
 
I'm Catholic, but don't hold grudges against other beliefs, this one makes me sick though. I think the Athiest and Nihalist movements forget one thing, absence of belief is still belief.

I just get sick of religious bickering. Both sides are egotistical as hell and think that their views would benefit everyone. People are different and some beliefs work better for some than others. Christians like to promote their beliefs because they genuinely believe that they are saving others. Atheists like to promote their beliefs because they think that they are superior in some way and have an inability to understand why some people would willingly believe in a higher power.
 
Since when has the "winter solstice" meant enough to atheists that they feel the need to publically recognize a fact of science and in the same hand disparage the beliefs of others? Where are their public postings during spring solstice, summer solstice and fall solstice? No. This stm to be nothing but a small group of atheists taking the low road to slam the religious beliefs of others.
I've known quite a few athiests in my lifetime and most are basically good people who simply have a different view of the afterlife, some, I'd say about 10-15% of the ones I've known are like this group of athiests and they are the most arrogant, condescending pieces of trash I'd ever seen, it's unfortunate for the good ones however because the bad ones are so loud and obnoxious they are all the rest of us see.
 
I just get sick of religious bickering. Both sides are egotistical as hell and think that their views would benefit everyone. People are different and some beliefs work better for some than others. Christians like to promote their beliefs because they genuinely believe that they are saving others. Atheists like to promote their beliefs because they think that they are superior in some way and have an inability to understand why some people would willingly believe in a higher power.
Completely agree.
 
I've known quite a few athiests in my lifetime and most are basically good people who simply have a different view of the afterlife, some, I'd say about 10-15% of the ones I've known are like this group of athiests and they are the most arrogant, condescending pieces of trash I'd ever seen, it's unfortunate for the good ones however because the bad ones are so loud and obnoxious they are all the rest of us see.

Agreed. The vocal minority, and not atheists alone, have the ability to caste all of their group in a negative light.
 
Agreed. The vocal minority, and not atheists alone, have the ability to caste all of their group in a negative light.
Absolutely, all belief systems have the obnoxiously overzealous.
 
Atheists take aim at Christmas - CNN.com

You can see a picture of the sign at the link.

I agree with the Atheists right to display their own religious message next to the nativity scene but I don't agree with the way they are doing it. There is no reason for them to blatantly attack religion in their message. If they would have written the sign describing their believes and the purpose of Winter Solstice without the attacks then there would no issue here.

Do you think the atheists went to far with the sign? Should they not be able to place a sign at all?

I would love to agree with the Atheists here but they are making it hard.

Repost... I already posted this in the Religion and Philosophy subforum :2wave:
 
Gibberish;1057837764I said:
I agree with the Atheists right to display their own religious message next to the nativity scene but I don't agree with the way they are doing it.

Okay this is confusing; you are saying atheist’s right to display their own religious message? I thought atheism had no religion?

:confused:

Main Entry: atheist !A-thE-ist
Pronunciation: \ ˈā-thē-ist \
Function: noun
Date: 1551
Results
1551 one who believes that there is no deity

I am trying to figure out why they can display their message of hate for those that happen to believe in Christ.
 
Last edited:
Okay this is confusing; you are saying atheist’s right to display their own religious message? I thought atheism had no religion?

:confused:

Main Entry: atheist !A-thE-ist
Pronunciation: \ ˈā-thē-ist \
Function: noun
Date: 1551
Results
1551 one who believes that there is no deity

I am trying to figure out why they can display their message of hate for those that happen to believe in Christ.

Just because they don't believe in a deity doesn't mean that not believing in a deity isn't considered a belief in and of itself. What personally confuses me is why it mentions Winter Solstice. It's not like this is actually a holiday for Atheists. I could see that being the case if some Wiccans had posted the sign. Then again, I've yet to meet any Wiccans who are as arrogant or pushy as some Atheists are.

I also don't think that the message has anything to do with hatred, but rather their feeling of superiority over others who believe in a deity. A lot of Atheists are just as pushy and fanatical as Christians can be.
 
I am trying to figure out why they can display their message of hate for those that happen to believe in Christ.

That pretty much sums up the sign, IMO.

But free speech is the reason why they can display the message. (Not a religious one). It's not freedome of religion, for the nativity scene either because that is not technically necessary for the practice of the Christian religion either.

So both displays are a technically version of free speech. I just think one is a disgrace to people like myself who are atheist and would rather not be associated with these clowns.
 
Okay this is confusing; you are saying atheist’s right to display their own religious message? I thought atheism had no religion?

:confused:

Main Entry: atheist !A-thE-ist
Pronunciation: \ ˈā-thē-ist \
Function: noun
Date: 1551
Results
1551 one who believes that there is no deity
Semantics isn't the point of this thread.


I am trying to figure out why they can display their message of hate for those that happen to believe in Christ.

This is the point. Atheists don't celebrate the Winter Solstice. The Atheists message is nothing more then an attack on Christianity. They simple took a sign and stated a older celebration that Christianity took over to ease the transition from paganism to Christianity.

This I don't agree with.

Now if a Pagan group that celebrates the Winter Solstice placed the sign along with a description of the their holiday beliefs then there would be no issue here.
 
That pretty much sums up the sign, IMO.

But free speech is the reason why they can display the message. (Not a religious one). It's not freedome of religion, for the nativity scene either because that is not technically necessary for the practice of the Christian religion either.

So both displays are a technically version of free speech. I just think one is a disgrace to people like myself who are atheist and would rather not be associated with these clowns.

You're okay in my books even if you are religiously and politically confused. :mrgreen:
 
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