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More Atheist vs. Theist news... from a month ago
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greedy_bones



Joined: 01 Jul 2007
Location: not quite sure anymore

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 6:29 am    Post subject: More Atheist vs. Theist news... from a month ago Reply with quote

I stumbled across this while watching youtube and saw Bill O'reilly's Angry response. Please let me know if this has been covered before, but after a few searches, I found nothing.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/05/atheists.christmas/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EuLjX6Flmc

In summary, at the Washington state capitol building in Olympia, a nativity scene was put up for Christmas. Later, the Freedom from religion organization put up a sign saying "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."

Many people said it was hate speech or inappropriate during Christmas time.



Personally, I think that it is perfectly acceptable to put an Atheist display on public property if a Christian display can be put there. As to the hate speech claim, I think the claim that God doesn't exist is considerably less hateful than the first three of the ten commandments which Christians are so fond of displaying on government property.

Anyways, I thought this was interesting since this is my home state and I voted for Gregoire when I was a Washington resident.
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RACETRAITOR



Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are atheist displays all over public property. They're just invisible and have no mass.

What kind of person would be offended by Christmas decorations? Give them at least two days a year. Sounds like this Freedom From Religion group are a bunch of jerks. Sure, of course there's no god, but you don't just shout it in people's faces, or you're no worse than the Jesus vampires.
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greedy_bones



Joined: 01 Jul 2007
Location: not quite sure anymore

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think the point was not that it was on public property, but that it was put in the legislative building. Also, there's a difference between putting up a christmas tree, santa clause or christmas lights and putting a nativity scene which is explicitly religious.
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Provence



Joined: 18 Oct 2008
Location: South Korea

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:58 am    Post subject: Re: More Atheist vs. Theist news... from a month ago Reply with quote

greedy_bones wrote:

Personally, I think that it is perfectly acceptable to put an Atheist display on public property if a Christian display can be put there.


Can you give an example of an Atheist display? I could only imagine.
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greedy_bones



Joined: 01 Jul 2007
Location: not quite sure anymore

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:36 am    Post subject: Re: More Atheist vs. Theist news... from a month ago Reply with quote

Provence wrote:

Can you give an example of an Atheist display? I could only imagine.


greedy_bones wrote:
the Freedom from religion organization put up a sign saying "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."
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Kuros



Joined: 27 Apr 2004

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:43 pm    Post subject: Re: More Atheist vs. Theist news... from a month ago Reply with quote

greedy_bones wrote:


Personally, I think that it is perfectly acceptable to put an Atheist display on public property if a Christian display can be put there.


An atheist display is fine. A bigoted display is not. The excerpt you've given was clearly a bigoted display, "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." It would be wrong to say its inappropriate during Christmas time. Bigotry is inappropriate period.
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itaewonguy



Joined: 25 Mar 2003

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bill O'reilly ROCKS!!!
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greedy_bones



Joined: 01 Jul 2007
Location: not quite sure anymore

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:36 pm    Post subject: Re: More Atheist vs. Theist news... from a month ago Reply with quote

Kuros wrote:
greedy_bones wrote:


Personally, I think that it is perfectly acceptable to put an Atheist display on public property if a Christian display can be put there.


An atheist display is fine. A bigoted display is not. The excerpt you've given was clearly a bigoted display, "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." It would be wrong to say its inappropriate during Christmas time. Bigotry is inappropriate period.


Bigoted? Does the sign say "Christians are mean and stupid?" Compare this sign to something that says "No blood for oil" or any advertisement that says "free your mind." The sign doesn't attack theists, it only disagrees with a popular philosophy.

How is a sign that says "Jesus saves" any better? "Jesus saves" implies that you are going to hell and deserve to if you don't accept Jesus as your personal savior.
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RACETRAITOR



Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

itaewonguy wrote:
Bill O'reilly ROCKS!!!


He doesn't think rock music is the language of the devil?
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Thiuda



Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

RACETRAITOR wrote:
Give them at least two days a year.


I'm sorry, but I disagree with you. Religion is dangerous. It is divisive and patently false. By respecting the moderately religious we provide extremists with the base which they need to exist. Besides, why the nativity scene, but not a display by the Raelians depicting our alien ancestors descending from space in a UFO?
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RACETRAITOR



Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thiuda wrote:
RACETRAITOR wrote:
Give them at least two days a year.


I'm sorry, but I disagree with you. Religion is dangerous. It is divisive and patently false. By respecting the moderately religious we provide extremists with the base which they need to exist. Besides, why the nativity scene, but not a display by the Raelians depicting our alien ancestors descending from space in a UFO?


Uh, because Christmas is a great traditional holiday that celebrates our heritage and brings families together and has a history longer than Christianity? Do you also boycott Valentine's Day for the same reason?
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blurgalurgalurga



Joined: 18 Oct 2007

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thiuda wrote:
RACETRAITOR wrote:
Give them at least two days a year.


I'm sorry, but I disagree with you. Religion is dangerous. It is divisive and patently false. By respecting the moderately religious we provide extremists with the base which they need to exist. Besides, why the nativity scene, but not a display by the Raelians depicting our alien ancestors descending from space in a UFO?


I think Raeilians should get two days a year too. Why not? They're cool. Their Main Man was a race-car driver, and the Raelian girls wear funky sexy shiny Star Trek clothes.
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Thiuda



Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

RACETRAITOR wrote:
Thiuda wrote:
RACETRAITOR wrote:
Give them at least two days a year.


I'm sorry, but I disagree with you. Religion is dangerous. It is divisive and patently false. By respecting the moderately religious we provide extremists with the base which they need to exist. Besides, why the nativity scene, but not a display by the Raelians depicting our alien ancestors descending from space in a UFO?


Uh, because Christmas is a great traditional holiday that celebrates our heritage and brings families together and has a history longer than Christianity? Do you also boycott Valentine's Day for the same reason?


I don't have a problem with the holidays per se. I agree with you that they are a part of our cultural heritage and I enjoy celebrating the festive season myself. However, I disagree with a nativity display on public property. In my opinion such a display contravenes the separation of church and state.

I do boycott Valentine's day, though for different reasons. I don't need anyone to tell me when I should spend money on my sweetheart.
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blaseblasphemener



Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Location: There's a voice, keeps on calling me, down the road, that's where I'll always be

PostPosted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's no wonder Atheists get such a bad name, when they pull this kind of shyt. It's the same with the PETA fanatics.

Take a lesson from Gandhi. Slow, steady, and rational will beat any Empire with no clothes. It just might take a hell of a long time.
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JMO



Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Location: Daegu

PostPosted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ugh, I love the nativity scene. A reputation for taking all the fun out of christmas is just what athiests need. Christ, how many people saw that sign and thought "scrooge". I'd say a good 90%.
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