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Atheist Action Halts Calif. Nativity Display; Churches Go to Court

And what principle is that? The one where they shouldn't have to walk done the street and see anything remotely religious because it offends them? Look, I am an atheist also, but I fight when religion actually encroaches on my rights. When they try and do away with evolution in school and replace it with creationism. That's a fight. Raising a stink about a nativity scene in a public park? That's just petty and pathetic.


Dont get me wrong, i really dont care about this story. This is very trivial and not worth any fight.
I think they are just pointing out that there's a law on the books on this and they would like to see it enforced.
I think they just want the separation of chruch and state to be invoked here.
 
I'm not holding your hand through this conversation.


All they did was exercise their constitutional right to freedom of expression, the same as the churches. But people, I'm assuming backers of the churches, didn't like their message so they defaced their displays. No church displays were vandalized. The City cancelled the displays because it just didn't want to deal with the BS.

It was the vandalism that predicated the action. The people who committed the vandalism have no one to blame but themselves.
 
Never said that, my point is where does it stop?
easy question deserves an easy answer
it stops when there is no more governmental participation/endorsement
 
So because they followed the law, their stuff got vandelized and the city cancelled the practice it's their fault? Sorry, don't see that.

As much as you want to blame the atheists, it's the fault of those that decided to vandelize.
but it is much more fun to blame the victim
 
Oh look... atheists organizing themselves into taking a united stance... an ideological united stance against a religion, which is also an ideology. Much like a religion would. Amazing. Who would have ever perceived that atheism could start being dogmatic.

Me. That's who.
 
All they did was exercise their constitutional right to freedom of expression, the same as the churches. But people, I'm assuming backers of the churches, didn't like their message so they defaced their displays. No church displays were vandalized. The City cancelled the displays because it just didn't want to deal with the BS.

It was the vandalism that predicated the action. The people who committed the vandalism have no one to blame but themselves.

The atheists knew what they were doing. Theirs wasn't a message of good will, or of giving, but one of intolerance. Again, I am not saying that the vandals are excusable, but I am not letting the atheists off the hook.
 
These atheist are what give us a bad name. You can't stand to see a nativity scene? Really? You going to get Christmas banned altogether? The whole holiday is based on pagan foundations, so to fight any part of the holiday is to effectively fight the entire holiday. It's silly, it's petty, and it's not what any decent atheist would/should do. Pathetic.

Did you read this? This was shut down because people didn't like the atheists display. The theists vandalizes the atheists displays and that's why this was shut down.

Now.I think that religious displays on public property are fine, I don't have a problem. But.that door swings both ways. I don't see the point of making a display to mock religion over Christmas, but it's not my place to stop it. It's a free country. But this one ain't our fault. Lay blame where blame is due.
 
The fact that they flooded the city for spaces in the park, while not illegal, is ridiculous. Their message isn't one of christmas cheer, or in any way supporting the season, it was merely an anti-religious message. They turned what used to be a nice trip for a family to take to get in the spirit and turned it into a spectacle. It's a park, it's a Christmas display, have a damn heart.

Free ****ing country!!!:
 
easy question deserves an easy answer
it stops when there is no more governmental participation/endorsement

This wasn't infringing on anybodies rights. It was a church being allowed to display a nativity scene at a public park. Let's not turn this into a referendum on religion violating our constitutional rights.

but it is much more fun to blame the victim

Yea, the atheists are the victims. They didn't get to protest the nativity scene. Boo hoo. What about the families that took their children down to that park for the last 60 years?
 
Did you read this? This was shut down because people didn't like the atheists display. The theists vandalizes the atheists displays and that's why this was shut down.

Now.I think that religious displays on public property are fine, I don't have a problem. But.that door swings both ways. I don't see the point of making a display to mock religion over Christmas, but it's not my place to stop it. It's a free country. But this one ain't our fault. Lay blame where blame is due.

Prove it was a theist.

I am not saying that the atheists were legally wrong, but morally they are.
 
There is no denying that atheists cannot stand for others to have the faith in God that the atheists lack. Actually, it's far beyond that, atheists are enraged that others have faith. Atheists are always on the attack. Much of that rage and hate appears to be the pathology of the homosexuals who have been demanding others not have faith for 40 years, but there is more.

Why would that be? Why wouldn't atheists simply mind their own business and keep their lack of beliefs to themselves and not worry about what others believe? Contrary to their constant braying, atheists are not inconvenienced by the fact that others display their faith. Often their mantra is separation of church and state or some other such terrible event that will happen if others are allowed to have faith in God.

Atheists are truly pitiful, doomed creatures with nothing of substance to offer civilized society. The rest of us thank God that we are not in those circumstances.
 
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I'm not holding your hand through this conversation.

Freedom of.expression. This isn't hard. Theists as well as atheists have it. Just be cause atheists voice their beliefs does not mean others may encroach. And that is 100% what's going on here.
 
The atheists knew what they were doing. Theirs wasn't a message of good will, or of giving, but one of intolerance. Again, I am not saying that the vandals are excusable, but I am not letting the atheists off the hook.

Well, let's take a look at those hateful displays.

16337310_BG1.jpg

Atheist-Sign-in-Santa-Monica.jpg

12_19_2011_nativity_sign.jpg

ap_santa_monica_atheist_nativity_damon_vix_ll_121119_wblog.jpg

A quote from Jefferson and Kennedy and wishing people a happy solstice. Now the last one was a little in your face but it still is just expressing an opinion about myths. There's no constitutional right against being offended.
 
Explain that to the children who don't get to enjoy the nativity scenes down at the park anymore.

The theists did that by vandalizing atheist expression. Jesus tap dancing christ on a pogo stick.
 
Atheist Action Halts Calif. Nativity Display; Churches Go to Court



Just so I get this right, these churches are suing the government claiming their rights to freedom of speech were violated because the government wouldn't provide them a soapbox and place in the park?

Found this gem lower down...



So the city ended the practice because the religulous were vandalizing the other displays.

They shouldn't waste their time or money on this since they have no case.

Damon Vix is obviously an asshole for stepping in on and trying to ruin their tradition but you can't do anything about that.
 
So here is an image of the atheists diorama:

121119-atheist-damon-vix-hmed-630a.photoblog600.jpg

I have no problem with it. They are just expressing their opinion like the Christians are.
 
Prove it was a theist.

I am not saying that the atheists were legally wrong, but morally they are.

This is messed up. The most likely answer is that it was vandalized for its message and that would mean theists. Regardless, it is that act of vandalism that shut this down, not atheists voicing an opinion. For chuck's sake.
 
Freedom of.expression. This isn't hard. Theists as well as atheists have it. Just be cause atheists voice their beliefs does not mean others may encroach. And that is 100% what's going on here.

This isn't about freedom of expression. It goes beyond that. You have a Happy Solstice sign, and the rest don't do anything to promote the season. They are just there to be a nuisance. What's next, going around telling children that Santa isn't real? I am all about people expressing themselves, but when you're a dick about it, it just hurts your message.

Well, let's take a look at those hateful displays.

View attachment 67138304

View attachment 67138305

View attachment 67138306

View attachment 67138307

A quote from Jefferson and Kennedy and wishing people a happy solstice. Now the last one was a little in your face but it still is just expressing an opinion about myths. There's no constitutional right against being offended.

I believe I avoided using the word hate because I don't think it is hateful. I think it is a disgusting time for the message. Just like when I see anti-abortion protestors outside an abortion clinic.
 
This is messed up. The most likely answer is that it was vandalized for its message and that would mean theists. Regardless, it is that act of vandalism that shut this down, not atheists voicing an opinion. For chuck's sake.


I am not arguing about what it was shut down. My argument is about the timing of the message. I completely understand why the city shut it down, but to put all of the blame on the vandalism is wrong.
 
Even as a person who believes in God, I don't want the government involved one way or the other. Just take down the whole barn, sell the nativity scene to a church and be done with it. If need be, put up a sign for a short while that says "The Government of the City of (Insert Name Here) neither endorses nor disparages either side in the question of the existence of a divine presence. Please carry on believing or not believing as you like."
 
This isn't about freedom of expression. It goes beyond that. You have a Happy Solstice sign, and the rest don't do anything to promote the season. They are just there to be a nuisance. What's next, going around telling children that Santa isn't real? I am all about people expressing themselves, but when you're a dick about it, it just hurts your message.



I believe Ioh for chuck's sake this is exactly freedom of expression. Door goes both ways. Freedom has consequences, get used to it.
 
There is no denying that atheists cannot stand for others to have the faith in God that the atheists lack. Actually, it's far beyond that, atheists are enraged that others have faith. Atheists are always on the attack.

Why would that be? Why wouldn't atheists simply mind their own business and keep their lack of beliefs to themselves and not worry about what others believe? Contrary to their constant braying, atheists are not inconvenienced by the fact that others display their faith. Often their mantra is separation of church and state or some other such terrible event that will happen if others are allowed to have faith in God.

Atheists are truly pitiful, doomed creatures with nothing of substance to offer civilized society. The rest of us thank God that we are not in those circumstances.

That's a rather broad brush you are painting a rather bigoted portrait with.
Now that's not saying that there aren't some atheists who are as you say.But can you prove that ALL think and are the same way?

May I point out that the statement you made,"Atheists are truly pitiful, doomed creatures with nothing of substance to offer civilized society. The rest of us thank God that we are not in those circumstances." is actually just your opinion,and there is no evidence to suggest that you have been empowered by religious people throughout this planet to be their official spokesperson.
 
Damon Vix, an atheist who led the non-believers' cause but is not a party to the lawsuit, has denied he was seeking to drive the church displays out of the park. He said in a local radio interview last year that his aim "was to try to create what is called equal protection under the law."

This is my point. They weren't there to spread a message about the season. They just wanted to upstage the nativity scenes. It's pathetic.
 
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