Nativity Scene Controversy in Central Texas

[JuNii]

but if those atheist groups want to put that up now... then go ahead... with a nice banner under it saying who donated the banner that is on display.

funny how things like this comes up during the silly season and not say... Thanksgiving... where people give thanks to WHO en mass?... or Halloween, a celebration of pagan rituals featuring supernatural beings... or Easter that celebrates what exactly? the resurrection of who? yet none of these groups sends out a peep on those days.

Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Easter don't have Christians trying to reclaim the holidays for their religion.

ah, so it isn't about religion... it's about Atheists singling out Christians! Gotcha.

Thanksgiving... about the pilgrims giving thanks to God for their bounty.
Halloween otherwise known as All Saints Day, All Hallowed eve, Saimhain...
Easter... the reported day that Christ rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. of course there's nothing to Reclaim there.

[JuNii]

Never said it was an atheist symbol. I was trying to say that a Religiously neutral symbol should be satisfying to Atheists.

Why should it, if the Christians get their pro-Christian symbol?

you're running around in circles.

if it's the symbolism that is actually eating you. then you and the other Atheists should get together and create a symbol for yourselves. heck, the Church of the FSM created one. go ahead and make yours.

[Kobeanare]

I've seen state properties filled with witches and skeletons and devils on Halloween

Not religious.

... you got the President going to church on Easter and Thanksgiving being shown on the news...

And? You can't ban him from going to church. It also doesn't cost taxpayer money. The news itself isn't run by the government.

Television shows people praying around a roasted turkey during thanksgiving feasts

Television is not run by the government.

[Kobeanare]

if it's the symbolism that is actually eating you. then you and the other Atheists should get together and create a symbol for yourselves.

Yeah, atheism doesn't work that way.

[JuNii]

I've seen state properties filled with witches and skeletons and devils on Halloween

Not religious.

isn't witchcraft seen as a pagan ritual? devils not religious? then neither are Angels.

... you got the President going to church on Easter and Thanksgiving being shown on the news...

And? You can't ban him from going to church. It also doesn't cost taxpayer money. The news itself isn't run by the government.

Lol... so it's not that it's religious... but apparently the courthouse Paid for the display with taxpayer funds... can you back this up? and isn't the President the Government? so showing him going to church is the Government endorsing a religion if a display put infront of the courthouse showing that the government endorses that religion then having the head of the government going to church is also the government endorsing that religion.

[JuNii]

if it's the symbolism that is actually eating you. then you and the other Atheists should get together and create a symbol for yourselves.

Yeah, atheism doesn't work that way.

and I didn't say that's how it works. I said if YOUR gripe is about the symbolism, then go and get a symbol. but apparently your whole arguement is "Whaaa, they get to show off their beliefs but we can't because there's absolutely no way for us to do that without the world identifying the message as coming solely from us."

[Kobeanare]

Yeah, atheism doesn't work that way.

and I didn't say that's how it works. I said if YOUR gripe is about the symbolism, then go and get a symbol. but apparently your whole arguement is "Whaaa, they get to show off their beliefs but we can't because there's absolutely no way for us to do that without the world identifying the message as coming solely from us."

Of course there is. You just don't like any of them because you think they're douchey.

[Kobeanare]

Not religious.

isn't witchcraft seen as a pagan ritual? devils not religious? then neither are Angels.

It sure as hell isn't being used in a religious sense.

[quote Lol... so it's not that it's religious... but apparently the courthouse Paid for the display with taxpayer funds... can you back this up? and isn't the President the Government? so showing him going to church is the Government endorsing a religion if a display put infront of the courthouse showing that the government endorses that religion then having the head of the government going to church is also the government endorsing that religion.[/quote]
First amendment gives the President the right to go to church, for the same reason it gives the court the right to put up the nativity scene. It also gives atheists the right to put up their banner, just as they have the right not to go to church. It's not that complicated.

[Conserative Morality]

ah, so it isn't about religion... it's about Atheists singling out Christians! Gotcha.

Someone's got a persecution complex.

Let me give you a hint, this isn't the first century AD.

Thanksgiving... about the pilgrims giving thanks to God for their bounty.
Halloween otherwise known as All Saints Day, All Hallowed eve, Saimhain...
Easter... the reported day that Christ rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. of course there's nothing to Reclaim there.

None of those have a significant cultural element trying to make them religious holidays again. The truth is that the religious meaning of those holidays has been bled dry by commercialism and secularism. And Christians know this. They know that Christmas is the only holiday they have any chance of making into a religious holiday again. So they fight for it by trying to make the government support their views of Christmas, while those of us who aren't all that enamored with the idea of the government being used as a tool to change the nature of a holiday from primarily cultural to primarily religious get upset over that.

Is that simple enough for you?

[Neutraligon]

This happens every year. It's a courthouse, and part of the government, religious scenes (or scenes claiming there is no religion) have no right to be placed there. Since the all idea seems a bit overwhelming for the courthouse lawn (as well as to damn expensive) I would think not putting anything up sounds good. These scenes belong on private property not on government owned land.

If they just have(:palm:) to put something up a nice sign in blinking lights that says happy holidays sounds seems to get the idea across quite well.

Although, I do find it interesting that no one complains about the tree lighting ceremony and Christmas party in Washington DC each year.

[Tmutarakhan]

The Christians don't try to hijack the courthouse on those days. Why can't they put their creches up on their own property? It's not like they don't have any buildings.

really? I've seen state properties filled with witches and skeletons and devils on Halloween... you got the President going to church on Easter and Thanksgiving being shown on the news... yet nary a peep at those times. Television shows people praying around a roasted turkey during thanksgiving feasts... and the silence from these groups is really deafening.

That's not at all the same as saying that the COURTHOUSE belongs to Christians.

Although, I do find it interesting that no one complains about the tree lighting ceremony and Christmas party in Washington DC each year.

The tree is no more religious (given the shortage of Wodenists these days) than the Easter Egg Roll.

[Neutraligon]

Although, I do find it interesting that no one complains about the tree lighting ceremony and Christmas party in Washington DC each year.

The tree is no more religious (given the shortage of Wodenists these days) than the Easter Egg Roll.

True and the same could be said for the Christmas party. It is more of a national symbol than a religious one.

[Bitchkitten]

If the Christians get their nativity scene then the atheists should get their banner.

: “At this season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth & superstition that hardens hearts & enslaves minds.”

They don't want the banner, take down the nativity scene. Our government should be religiously neutral. Either everybody or nobody should get a say.

[Neutraligon]

If the Christians get their nativity scene then the atheists should get their banner.

: “At this season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth & superstition that hardens hearts & enslaves minds.”

They don't want the banner, take down the nativity scene. Our government should be religiously neutral. Either everybody or nobody should get a say.

I'm kinda interested in how the everybody would fit on the lawn. Also, how would placement be decided(I guess first come first serve?)

[Saint Jade IV]

If the Christians get their nativity scene then the atheists should get their banner.

: “At this season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth & superstition that hardens hearts & enslaves minds.”

They don't want the banner, take down the nativity scene. Our government should be religiously neutral. Either everybody or nobody should get a say.

My thoughts exactly.

[Maxen von Bismarck]

If the Christians get their nativity scene then the atheists should get their banner.

: “At this season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth & superstition that hardens hearts & enslaves minds.”

They don't want the banner, take down the nativity scene. Our government should be religiously neutral. Either everybody or nobody should get a say.

You keep it up and I'm going to start oppressing you too.

Coming to a lawn near you:



(Start of the Theocratic Uber-Right-Wing Christ'Merka comes free of charge, of course)

[Neutraligon]

If the Christians get their nativity scene then the atheists should get their banner.

: “At this season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth & superstition that hardens hearts & enslaves minds.”

They don't want the banner, take down the nativity scene. Our government should be religiously neutral. Either everybody or nobody should get a say.

You keep it up and I'm going to start oppressing you too.

Coming to a lawn near you:

(Start of the Theocratic Uber-Right-Wing Christ'Merka comes free of charge, of course)

As long it's not on government owned land I don't care (and that is the problems these atheists have)

[Maxen von Bismarck]

But you should care! These manger scenes travel on government owned roads. They are produced by factories that, through one form or another, receive government money. Good God man, They are built to specifications outlined by federal safety standards! The government even unfairly creates for them their own special holiday, this 'Christ Mass.' How much more can the government support them before you are willing to take a dramatic stand against these clay figures of doom? Even the mere presence of them is a clear assault on our dearly held beliefs. Besides, not having their spiteful Christian faces staring back at us makes everyone happy (who doesn't like a cultural wasteland of conformity?).

[Bitchkitten]

If the Christians get their nativity scene then the atheists should get their banner.

: “At this season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth & superstition that hardens hearts & enslaves minds.”

They don't want the banner, take down the nativity scene. Our government should be religiously neutral. Either everybody or nobody should get a say.

You keep it up and I'm going to start oppressing you too.

Coming to a lawn near you:



(Start of the Theocratic Uber-Right-Wing Christ'Merka comes free of charge, of course)

If it's not a publically owned lawn I couldn't care less.

[Maxen von Bismarck]

You keep it up and I'm going to start oppressing you too.

Coming to a lawn near you:



(Start of the Theocratic Uber-Right-Wing Christ'Merka comes free of charge, of course)

If it's not a publically owned lawn I couldn't care less.

Ah, so I can put it on your lawn?

[Bitchkitten]

If it's not a publically owned lawn I couldn't care less.

Ah, so I can put it on your lawn?

Sure. Just remember I'm a Texan with a concealed carry permit.

[Tmutarakhan]

If the Christians get their nativity scene then the atheists should get their banner.

: “At this season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth & superstition that hardens hearts & enslaves minds.”

They don't want the banner, take down the nativity scene. Our government should be religiously neutral. Either everybody or nobody should get a say.

I'm kinda interested in how the everybody would fit on the lawn. Also, how would placement be decided(I guess first come first serve?)

In Pittsburgh, where I lived in the late 80's early 90's, there was a fine annual tradition of Creche Litigation. One year, after a court ruled that the creche would be fine if accompanied by symbols from other religions and secular holiday decorations, we got a display with the creche, a menorah, a crescent with Salaam ("peace") in Arabic script, a tree (for the Wodenists, I assume), and a Santa sleigh (for the Capitalists), and a goofily-grinning Frosty the Snowman (for the believers in World Ice Theory?) The reindeer sort of clashed with the sheep, and the Magi's camels, and it was hard not to wonder how Frosty stayed unmelted in the Middle East.

[Neutraligon]

If it's not a publically owned lawn I couldn't care less.

Ah, so I can put it on your lawn?

Just as long as I can have you arrested for trespassing on my privately owned land.

[Faberry States]

I love destroying the constitution.

[Neutraligon]

I'm kinda interested in how the everybody would fit on the lawn. Also, how would placement be decided(I guess first come first serve?)

In Pittsburgh, where I lived in the late 80's early 90's, there was a fine annual tradition of Creche Litigation. One year, after a court ruled that the creche would be fine if accompanied by symbols from other religions and secular holiday decorations, we got a display with the creche, a menorah, a crescent with Salaam ("peace") in Arabic script, a tree (for the Wodenists, I assume), and a Santa sleigh (for the Capitalists), and a goofily-grinning Frosty the Snowman (for the believers in World Ice Theory?) The reindeer sort of clashed with the sheep, and the Magi's camels, and it was hard not to wonder how Frosty stayed unmelted in the Middle East.

Can I post this on great NSG quotes. Pretty Please...