I feel that putting a nativity scene on government property to be inflamatory because it makes it look as though my government supports xianity. Just like xians find saying that there is no god to be inflamatory.
"You feel" is not a compelling reason, the fact is you have a freedom
OF not
FROM religion. No one who is reasonable feels offended by someone else's expression of belief, we are talking about a direct attack within the context of this story. I don't find saying "there is no god" to be inflamatory, but the Time, Place, and Manner of this particular sign in this particular news story is offensive.
You don't see the irony behind those words? :doh
In order for this to be an irony, I would have to be of the mindset that I am absolutely right that there is a god and you would have to be absolutely wrong, I do believe there is a god but can entertain others ideals as well, I am not the one telling Atheists to stop talking about their beliefs, I am the one, along with most moderate Christians, Atheists, and other faiths saying not to do it next to an expression of someone else's religion. I am also NOT the one saying no municipality should be able to express their majority beliefs on public property, regardless of my own worldview. In other words, if these Atheists feel so challenged that they must suppress others expressions of faith, why? Other than a less than solid belief.
So it should depend in part on who gets their trappings in the space first?
The nativity scene was placed on public property, secular property.
You got one thing right, it was placed on public property, what part of that makes the Atheists placing a sign in it's direct area okay?
The Constitution provides that the majority cannot infringe on the rights of the minority. Your attitude and position is that of a xian who simply believes in mob rule, the strongest (greatest numbers) rule over the weak (the few) but I believe that somewhere in the bible (sermon on the mount) that your god claims the meek shall inherit the earth. Of course that was written when xianity was the minority...
You make a lot of assumptions, first, I am a Catholic, but not a devout, I haven't been inside a church in years, since the last wedding I attended. Second, I don't take anyone's free and protected expression being attacked or infringed, which is why I am on the Christian's side here, not because I am affiliated with said beliefs, third, I am not advocating, as I have already stated, majority rule, however, you are taking this victimized minority stance, MOST people of various faiths are NOT offended by others expression, so sorry if YOU INDIVIDUALLY are.
That's pretty much how I feel about xians who continue to ignore other peoples feelings in favor of their own desire to be powerful over others. I believe this is the reason xians refuse to stop putting their religious trappings on public property; to display their power over the rest of us.
You would see it that way, and trust me, you and others like you are the furthest things from our minds, until someone pulls stupid **** like we are seeing now, or the prayer bans in school, etc. Don't attack us and you won't hear anything from us, keep these attitudes up though, and it will eventually get ugly.
Basically your attitude, we can do as we please because there is more of us than you... in my opinion, it's not very Christ-like. But then, who ever said xianity was Christ-like? Not the actions of xians...
Our attitude huh? Have you ever considered that whining and asserting rights you don't have get irritating and bring this to you.