Tis the Season . . . to Bring Some Freethinking Cheer!
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a state/church watchdog and the nation's largest association of atheists and agnostics, is making its mark on December.
In addition to erecting a jaunty "Reason's Greetings" billboard in downtown Olympia on East 5th Avenue (cross street Jefferson), the Foundation and its membership have aplaced a Winter Solstice sign in the Washington State Capitol for the month of December.
The engraved sign reads:
"At this season of the Winter Solstice, may 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."
The sign bears the Freedom From Religion Foundation name and states that it is placed on behalf of Washington State Foundation members, who number close to 700.
The back of the sign reads: "State/Church: Keep Them Separate."
"Our sign is a reminder of the real reason for the season, the Winter Solstice," says Annie Laurie Gaylor, Foundation co-president.
The Winter Solstice, the shortest and darkest day of the year, takes place on Dec. 21. This natural holiday signals the return of the sun and the new year, and has been celebrated for a millennia in the Northern Hemisphere with festivals of light, evergreens, feasts and gift exchanges.
The sign is a response to the state's decision to capitulate to a
religious-right group which sued the state to display a nativity scene,
which was placed last December and will reappear this December on the
third floor. Gaylor said she believed the state should not have settled
the case, saying that a nativity scene does not belong in a core
government building. But since the privately-owned creche will be on
display, the Foundation wants to be sure nonreligious views are
represented in the State Capitol as well.
"The Christians really stole 'Christmas,' but we nonbelievers are willing to share it with them!" Gaylor said.
"Christians don't own the month of December," added Foundation co-president Dan Barker.
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The bible never says Jesus was born on December the 25th nor does it state that we should celebrate his birthday. If people were thinking right we would be celebrating Jesus everyday by following his law . Not once or twice a year, by special days. I think the idea of Christmas is sick especially since " Christians " Support lying to children by telling them Santa is real. Is lying held up by the bible??? NO it is condemned!!! I am a Christian and I think it should be Happy x-mas.
Hmmm...sounds like someone needs to take a turn underneath the mistletoe....
I don't think there is anything sick about a holiday completely centered around giving, good cheer, and being thankful. So lighten up and enjoy the holiday spirit.
Comes from Norse beliefs
The above statement is so true!!! Enjoy something in this life and Christmas is just the thing!
"The Christians really stole 'Christmas,' but we nonbelievers are willing to share it with them!" Gaylor said.
Who'd they steal it from? Christmas was originally a religious holiday to celebrate the birth of Christ. It seems to me that secular society stole Christmas for commercial purposes. I reject the idea that it was originally a secular Holiday. It's just a coincidence that it comes at the same time of the year as some Pagan Holiday.
Christmas tree
It being in winter (the bible clearly shows it being in spring NOT winter)
yule log
etc...
If you can't bring yourself to say "Happy Christmas" but baulk at "Happy Holidays" why not just wish everybody a cool Yule?
M. Glass
Reposted from my blog, with minor edits:
Firstly, regardless of how un-Constitutional it is to have a federal holiday respecting only one religion yet ignore all the others, Christmas is a federal holiday. That means that every U.S. citizen has a right to participate. Christmas was secularized the moment it was made an official federal U.S. holiday, thanks to the Founder’s mandate for separation of Church and State. This is why we call these times ‘the Holidays’, because all of us celebrate them regardless of faith or lack of it. No religion has an exclusive claim to it, period. The idea that atheists and other non-Christians are not allowed to display holiday spirit in their own way when Christians are allowed to do so freely and on our tax dollars is lunacy.
Most people are aware that Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc, were originally Pagan holidays. The Pagan elements of these holidays still shine through: Easter eggs for fertility rites, carved pumpkins to chase spirits away, and Yule logs for sun worship. These holidays existed long before Christianity came about. Even if Christmas were not a federal holiday and thus secularized, Christianity has only transformed these holidays into its own. Winter is a time of celebration around the world, in most cultures, for those with and without gods. The winter holidays belong to Pagans as much as they belong to atheists, Christians, Jews, Africans, Muslims, Hindus, etc. The religious have no right to exclude others, nor should they think that everyone in America is Christian and thus that we atheists should feel like we don't belong.
The idea that having a small placard up as our only voice during the holidays is war on ‘your’ Christmas (that Christianity stole from the Pagans, of course), suggests that the religious think non-Christians are less American and less worthy of having the same rights as you simply because of our beliefs. That idea is the same one our Founders fought against.
-An atheist celebrating the holidays, American-style.
It actually is an offshoot of the Jewish holiday Passover which celebrated an event in the old Testament. Jesus was in Jerusalem to celebrate that holiday. The time of Easter and Passover coincide on the calendar. If your going to make your claims at least be accurate. Halloween still is a Pagan Holiday. Christmas may roughly coincide on the Calendar with some Pagan Holiday but the idea that a holiday meant to celebrate the birth of Christ was originally a Pagan Holiday stretches your credibility to the limit.
PS, I do not practice a religion or believe on a deity. I won't call myself an atheist because I don't want to be associated with people like you. I just like to see people be accurate and truthful. I also believe that Atheistic activism like yours gives atheism a bad name. Stop it, I don't like it. It's unnecessary and a waste of time. You Atheistic activists are just as bad as the religious fanatics in pushing your beliefs. What Hypocrisy!!! Leave the Christians, Jews and Muslims alone. Their beliefs and holidays do no harm and don't offend me in the least.
To be honest the Catholic church used to have a ton more holidays in medieval times, it was one of the ways to indoctrinate the masses of non believing Europeans with Christian rites instead of the various pagan celebrations. It's much more probable that the biggest Christian celebrations took place on the days of the biggest non christian celebrations to offer an alternative. Chance had as much to do with xmas as did that anyone knows that's the actual birth date of Jesus. Many European and latin American countries still celebrate a wide variety of holidays dedicated to the christain saints: a medieval practice that has been carried on into modern times.
And while I agree with you that any believers' holidays don't offend me, I have to add that the waste comes when they want to use public money or have any and / or all government bodies to support them. Christmas trees in their front yards I support but not in front of city hall on public grounds.
In my opinion it's really the Christians that are stretching the credibility because there is nothing in the Bible to designate an exact date of the birth of their Christ, nor is there any part of Christmas: exchanging gifts, trees, decorations, Saint Nicholas, flying deer, mistletoe or what have you that can be supported by the writings in the new testament.
The cost of Christmas decorations is insignificant. You won't get very far with that argument. I like seeing holiday decorations from any religion in public places. It makes people feel good. I like religious holidays as it promotes good will and good feelings. I don't understand why you object.
The constitution says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" As long as all religions are free to express their religion one could say that prohibiting religious symbols or Christmas trees etc on government property could be unconstitutional.
to individuals doing what they want on their property. I even drive around to see them myself. But to think that the government does anything cheaply is to fool yourself.
Oh, I know many a religious person would love that you were a constitutional lawyer to defend that point of view but the fact is the opposite is true when on public grounds. Any use of any religious symbol on public grounds is saying that a local or federal government entity is supporting one religion over others and therefore is an infringement on the rights of all those who do not subscribe to that faith.
Religious people have never been able to understand (or maybe they understand but they can't accept) the fact that our founding fathers worked very carefully to make sure religion stayed out of any governing body, thus assuring that all would be free to practice how they best saw fit.
They've been been trying to get this reversed since the days of Adams, Jefferson and Madison.
You said "Any use of any religious symbol on public grounds is saying that a local or federal government entity is supporting one religion over others and therefore is an infringement on the rights of all those who do not subscribe to that faith."
That is true only if only one religion is allowed to display religious symbols. If any and all religions are given equal access then your argument falls apart. If other religions fail to take advantage then that's their problem.