Nativity Scene Controversy in Central Texas

[The Soviet Technocracy]

Militant atheists are hated for no reason at all. They don't crash planes into skyscrapers or bomb abortion clinics, yet they're decried as some sort of boogeyman collective.

Stalin, Lenin, Mao, Pol Pot, effectively Hitler, and the French Revolution are all examples of where militant atheism leads in the general mind. These are all more recent than Catholic jihadistic crusades and the US news dose not do a good job of covering the Islamic violence or even the Hindu conflicts. Thus when someone self identifies with any group that promotes violence (Islam, atheist, clan, drug gangs) I have the right to be concerned and reserved. If I identify myself as a Christian to a Wiccan (or Jew) I would expect to be viewed with the same concern as their frame of reference reinforces "burring time" and Pogrom.
The other reason they are hated is the wet blanket effect they have on a party. If I decorate for a Saturnalia and you tell me I have to take it down because you do not wish to party I am not going to be happy with you.[/quote]

If you decorate on private property, no one gives a fuck what you're doing. That's great.

When the government steps in and endorses a religion by allowing it to set up displays on public property, that's violating separation of church and state and the inherent secularism that the government should be held to.

dwi

[Farnhamia]

Militant atheists are hated for no reason at all. They don't crash planes into skyscrapers or bomb abortion clinics, yet they're decried as some sort of boogeyman collective.

Stalin, Lenin, Mao, Pol Pot, effectively Hitler, and the French Revolution are all examples of where militant atheism leads in the general mind. These are all more recent than Catholic jihadistic crusades and the US news dose not do a good job of covering the Islamic violence or even the Hindu conflicts. Thus when someone self identifies with any group that promotes violence (Islam, atheist, clan, drug gangs) I have the right to be concerned and reserved. If I identify myself as a Christian to a Wiccan (or Jew) I would expect to be viewed with the same concern as their frame of reference reinforces "burring time" and Pogrom.
The other reason they are hated is the wet blanket effect they have on a party. If I decorate for a Saturnalia and you tell me I have to take it down because you do not wish to party I am not going to be happy with you.[/quote]
Party all you like, just do it on your lawn, not the courthouse lawn and with your money, not with tax payer dollars. I'll even wish you a merry Christmas.

[Hollorous]

Militant atheists are hated for no reason at all. They don't crash planes into skyscrapers or bomb abortion clinics, yet they're decried as some sort of boogeyman collective.

Stalin, Lenin, Mao, Pol Pot, effectively Hitler, and the French Revolution are all examples of where militant atheism leads in the general mind. These are all more recent than Catholic jihadistic crusades and the US news dose not do a good job of covering the Islamic violence or even the Hindu conflicts. Thus when someone self identifies with any group that promotes violence (Islam, atheist, clan, drug gangs) I have the right to be concerned and reserved. If I identify myself as a Christian to a Wiccan (or Jew) I would expect to be viewed with the same concern as their frame of reference reinforces "burring time" and Pogrom.
The other reason they are hated is the wet blanket effect they have on a party. If I decorate for a Saturnalia and you tell me I have to take it down because you do not wish to party I am not going to be happy with you.[/quote]

To be fair, Hitler wasn't really a militant atheist. Honestly it's hard to get a firm grip on what exactly he believed.

[Undead Gypsies]

Can't they just move it slightly off the courthouse lawn? I have no problem with the minaret I pass on my way to school, I'd have a serious problem if there was a minaret adorning the local courthouse.

[Risottia]

Stalin, Lenin, Mao, Pol Pot, effectively Hitler, and the French Revolution are all examples of where militant atheism leads in the general mind.

Moar strawmen, please. Keep them coming.

"burring time"

...time for burritos?

If I decorate for a Saturnalia and you tell me I have to take it down because you do not wish to party I am not going to be happy with you.

If you take PUBLIC MONEY to decorate PUBLIC PREMISES for YOUR OWN religious party, rest reassured I'll be angry like hell and will sue you to death.
If you want to use YOUR OWN money to decorate YOUR OWN PREMISES for YOUR OWN religious party, it's none of my business.

[Farnhamia]

Can't they just move it slightly off the courthouse lawn? I have no problem with the minaret I pass on my way to school, I'd have a serious problem if there was a minaret adorning the local courthouse.

WHy does there have to be a display on the courthouse lawn anyway? I think it's safe to assume that there are a couple of churches in town with displays.

[Irkenland]

I'm still baffled why some people get all jittery by something as insignificant as this.

[West Failure]

I'm still baffled why some people get all jittery by something as insignificant as this.

The US Constitution is insignificant?

[Risottia]

I'm still baffled why some people get all jittery by something as insignificant as this.

The US Constitution is insignificant?

Yes because the US Constitution has a liberal atheist statist cryptocommie bias (you know, Jefferson and Franklin were just secret identities of Karl Marks and Friedrich Engels) while the US was founded as a Christian nation (where Christian implies non-Catholic, non-Orthodox), everybody knows that.

[Glorious Freedonia]

I am so sick of atheists out there causing trouble! Atheists dont even have holidays. They just want to rain on everyone's parade.

[Risottia]

Atheists dont even have holidays.

False.

In the US: July 4th & Veterans' Day. Just to quote two.

[Farnhamia]

Atheists dont even have holidays.

False.

In the US: July 4th & Veterans' Day. Just to quote two.

Quite right. Plus Presidents' Day, Labor Day, Flag Day, Arbor Day, Memorial Day, New Year's Day.

[Unchecked Expansion]

I am so sick of atheists out there causing trouble! Atheists dont even have holidays.

I'll have you know I'm going skiing in the new year.

[Dyakovo]

Why not promote all religions, as to promote freedom of religion? I would have no issues seeing the star of David on the courthouse too.
It is a good thing to have a reminder people have and share different faiths.

Keep in mind, it was a group of people that wanted to put the display up. The government didn't set it up.
As I've learned, a democracy is supposed to work for the people, is it not? I might criticize the government if it was bias to a religion, but it appears that the group doesn't really want representation and is more aimed toward slander.

You want to promote freedom of religion? Fine, you put up a display for every single faith and denomination in the US on that lawn, and then we'll see. But really, the government only has to say (which it does), "You are free to worship as you like." I don't see where freedom of religion needs promoting.

And again, the atheists in this case acting like assholes proves nothing except that they are assholes.

Not too mention the detail that they aren't being assholes…

[Glorious Freedonia]

You guys mentioned national holidays. Those are holidays for everyone. There are no specific atheist holy days.

[Flameswroth]

Not right downtown but there's plenty of open space a little further out. The town's only 17 square miles, after all, it's not like anyone wishing to gaze upon the Nativity scene would have to drive for hours.

How far out is 'further out'? From what I've seen, towns like to create their little "Christmas Avenue" down the main drag, so people can see the pretty lights, the wreaths and candy canes on street lamps, et al. I imagine they'd like to have this creche be a part of that, which is at least part of the reason it is located so centrally in town. If you have to hunt for it, instead of seeing it on the main drag, it's a bit of a bummer.

[Unchecked Expansion]

You guys mentioned national holidays. Those are holidays for everyone. There are no specific atheist holy days.

Gee I wonder why?
And when a holiday has no spiritual purpose, it is at the very least secular.

[Dyakovo]

To be fair, Hitler wasn't really a militant atheist. Honestly it's hard to get a firm grip on what exactly he believed.

Neither was Stalin... Whether he suppressed or supprted religion depended on which was politically expedient at that particular time.

[Dyakovo]

I'm still baffled why some people get all jittery by something as insignificant as this.

Some of us don't consider violations of the constitution to be insignificant.

[Reich Eisen]

well i think that you should be able to have any holiday decorations or religiouse symbols you want in any government facility, i hate the atheists who wana push their beliefs on everyone by telling them that their beliefs are wrong or that god doesnt exist, put up crucafisxes and ten commandments anywhere you want, and if a jew asked for a star of david or a manora to be placed outside during the holiday season then you can do that to, its a simple compromise and doesnt tell anyone that they are worng

[Dyakovo]

Atheists dont even have holidays.

False.

In the US: July 4th & Veterans' Day. Just to quote two.

And Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Jr's birthday, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and New Years...

[West Failure]

well i think that you should be able to have any holiday decorations or religiouse symbols you want in any government facility, i hate the atheists who wana push their beliefs on everyone by telling them that their beliefs are wrong or that god doesnt exist, put up crucafisxes and ten commandments anywhere you want, and if a jew asked for a star of david or a manora to be placed outside during the holiday season then you can do that to, its a simple compromise and doesnt tell anyone that they are worng

You could feed a family of grammar nazis for a month on this post.

[The Black Forrest]

I am so sick of atheists out there causing trouble! Atheists dont even have holidays. They just want to rain on everyone's parade.

*shrugs* The ones around here tend to be quiet.

Have had more issues with Christians trying to force their version of morality on everybody else.

[Norstal]

You guys mentioned national holidays. Those are holidays for everyone. There are no specific atheist holy days.

No. They're secular holidays. Which means it's atheist.

Checkmate.

[Norstal]

Jesus Christ mate, atheism isn't a religion. You can't compare atheist organizations to Christian churches.

http://atheists.org/blog/2011/03/14/jap ... ami-relief

See here? They're not a charity organization. And you'll never fucking see an atheist government ever. Only secular ones. Secular charities. Secular government. etc.

Militant atheists are as much a religion as any other. They have absolute faith that their belief system is correct and want to evangelize it to others. They just replace belief in God(s) with a secular system.

What.

No. Do you even know what a religion is?

Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values.

Think of it this way then. Buddhism is an atheist religion. Fundamentalist Buddhism is a religion. Atheism without Buddhism or any other religion, which means it has no collection of any type of beliefs, is therefore NOT a religion. Militant atheism, too, has no collection of any type of beliefs either, is therefore NOT a religion.