Show of Hands

I feel by not putting up a Christmas display were endorsing the Atheist Religion and should have a law against a non Christmas display too! So that blank spot on the lawn in a public place is an endorsement of Atheism !!

If you're offended by Christmas then f*ck you! Merry Christmas.

@Mitwister, that would be a Madame Tussaud's wax figure of Christopher Hitchens.

Christmas is an official federal holiday. It has been since signed into law by President Grant.

Actually, not if the state did.
This law specifically applies to the federal government.
Individual states could have a state sanctioned religion if they wanted, much less a nativity scene on state property.

Yes if it's in a government building, or really anywhere that receives federal government funding (schools, police stations etc.) a christmas tree is fine, but not a nativity scene.

there's no law that says you have to do it. its not violating anything.

As far as progress? Wasaaaaaay better.

Exactly

It would only break the law if the state made putting up a tree or nativity required. No one is required to do so so stop being Scrooges!

A Christmas tree should be fine, but not the Nativity scene, that's too far.

That's because Jesus celebrated Hanukkah....

The question doesn't say it is paid for with tax dollars, only it is there....what then?

Well those who celebrate it and forget the meaning ruin Christmas for me

And are things getting better or worse?

What is an atheist religious display?

Christmas tree? No, I feel it's a secular thing. It doesn't really promote anything but Santa. A nativity scene is different. I've got no problem with someone putting one in their own yard, but they should be kept away from govt. buildings.

Christmas tree? That's fine by me, basically secular at this point. Nativity? Nope. If you put up the nativity you will also have to put up decorations for every single religion's holidays. I want a Darwin fish decoration dammit.

Let's be honest, Jesus wasn't born in December. Christmas wasn't a Christian holiday til Rome converted, before then Christmas was saturnalia, solstice, etc. So technically, Christmas cant even be traced to Jesus. So wreaths, trees, lights are fine but don't use my money for fictional Jesus stories.

Lol@atheism is a religion.

Wtf? So when your born, your automatically in a religion? lol

No way your serious.

I see absolutely no problem with it, as long as the decorations are purchased by employees as opposed to public funds.

decorate as you wish on your own private property...stop trying to cram it down everyone's throat in the public domain...our country was not founded on 'majority rules' no matter what some people think

Atheism is a religion.

religious law and religious belief are two different things.

wait don't u think that if this were an Islamic or atheist religious (or anti-religous) display people would accuse you of discrimination

Mit, when did I say we should. I thinks all bullshit period but if you want to piss and moan that your religion doesnt get enough credit, then find somewhere where it is. Go ahead and practice what you want but stop bickering because someone else has decorations up to celebrate what they please

Slick, I didnt say it wasnt. But alla isnt mentioned, neither is any other god so our founding fathers obviously sided more with christianity as a whole.

No... It does not prohibit any other religion. Christmas trees in particular have also become more of a winter tradition than a religious custom.

Im not a religious nut, I think it is pointless to have to cause social problems over something as simple as that. And either way, the symbols have become more of a sign of winter and all winter holidays as it is. We all know christmas is just an excuse to blow our bank accounts so why fight over it

God wasn't added to anything until much later. Jesus didn't make a difference in the nation's founding. The colonists didn't say "hey, Jesus didn't get enough credit. Lets make a country for him"

Wasn't the country founded on the freedom of religion?

Technically yes. However. I don't care.

People criticize turkey all the time. Where have you been?

If you really want to argue about it, its not. We are celebrating the birth of someone who has changed history forever and someone under who this country was founded, stated in our own pledge of allegence. I dont hear washington or lincolns name in there, but we celebrate their birthdays.

Although giving is a big part of Christmas, If you honestly think that the actual main reason of Christmas is "giving" then I'm afraid you're one month late for Thanksgiving. Get out of our holiday uneducated fools.

Atheism isn't something you believe in. It isn't a thing. It's a lack of belief. You can't believe in a lack of something.

You don't hang your briefs up at work, why hang your beliefs up there? They should be personal.

The first amendment says the government cannot establish an official religion or church. Nativity scenes do not violate that. Mass or services in government buildings do.

Boo hoo.

Sad.

Christmas trees should be allowed. Nativity scenes, absolutely not! Anything religious should not be allowed on public property, under any circumstances. Keep them separate.

Will always be X MAS to me.
:-P
Get over it!

The employees did not make these official "holidays ", therefore they are entitled to this "holiday pay".

You hit the nail on the head Abo.

No, we want our government to be a government, not a sponsor of any spiritual belief.

Your right, Christmas is corporationmas in America.

Madison and Jefferson >>>>>

No. Christmas is hardly about religion anymore anyways. If people really wanted to make a stink about it I feel like they would have by now. I just wish they would incorporate other holidays too- Chanukah, Kwanza...Not everyone celebrates just Christmas. It's only fair IMO.

Cause it's tax payer dollars. When our money is involved, we have a right to make anything an issue.

Doopy, since your so convinced we are a Christian nation, check the current trends. 60% of people under the age of 30 claim no religion. They say they believe in god but not religion, i.e Christianity. So even if you were right, in 30 years, we will be an agnostic nation by your standards.