It’s that time of year again: houses are brightly lit, trees are sparkling with tinsel and parents are battling for the last remaining Elmo. In recent years, though, we’ve been hearing more about a “war” on Christmas, as public displays become increasingly scarce and “Merry Christmas” becomes “Happy Holidays.” Are Scrooges stealing your holiday, or are times changing for the better?
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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