Show of Hands

All my atheist friends put up Christmas trees and celebrate Christmas.....they don't see it as being stupid....

I see it as part of the right to express religious belief freely, just as you do by erecting churches which are also in public view. Much of the Xmas motives from Rudolf to the tree aren't really Christian btw. Showing Christian symbols in public places is different from forcing you to pray.

palindrome, my friend... Aren't you generally aligned with the political left?
I'm totally telling on you for using the 'r' word in your initial comment! ;)

If you are an atheist, you may not put up Christmas trees or celebrate in any way without being hypocritical.... If you do then you can't say anything about any display anywhere.....

Bigdaddy- what the hell? That's the most ill-informed thing I've heard today. No, that's not true at all. If that were true than it would be legal to lead a classroom in prayer genius laws prohibiting religious activity ON PUBLIC PROPERTY are NOT unconstitutional.

From what I've seen most Atheists don't really care either way.

Ok, that was mean and a bit out of character for Mr.Spock. I just couldn't help but take the bait for the sake of some communal giggles. :)

Well I don't pay taxes for people to sit on their asses but they still do

But what if I, a Christian, consider there being no display as a display for atheists? Is that not also encouraging a worship of a non-diety? And therefore a establishing a "preferred" religion for the USA?

Yes, a Muslim scene! Mohammed holding a bloody sword, curiously near a goat that appears to have been violated, with a strikingly young in appearance bride standing nearby.
(Flame suit on!) ????

Yeah well they are even trying to take god out of that. Can't say it in the pledge anymore. Our politicians cave in to everything. Can't make everyone happy.

Atheists just need to mellow out, and chill.

Actually Palindrome, if a law is passed to prohibit displaying them then it is against the 1st Amendment. If every Religion is allowed to display their Religious Symbols on Public Property that we all pay for, then there is no problem.

Yes, that one. Good ideas aren't always realized immediately.

out of our public spaces. I don't pay taxes to have unnecessary displays of religious bias erected. It doesn't NEED to be in City Hall or @my PO and ppl don't want them there. You have no right to impose your beliefs on others just bc celebrating them @ YOUR house "isn't doing it enough" for you

It's a law respecting an establishment of religion.

A nativity scene is not secular, and if you were serious about the last part of that comment you should probably leave this country. We are a secular country.

*if you don't believe in Christ

Nativity scenes display why we even celebrate CHRISTmas. If don't believe in Christ, then you don't have to celebrate Christmas (a Christian holiday). Our country on the other hand- "one nation under GOD" so I think it's acceptable.

Abo- I'm blanking... Adams?

That would be hilarious! I need to call my city council and tell them what a great idea that would be for a holiday display. If done light-heartedly; I think the majority of the locals would get a kick out of it..

Prohibiting religious displays in public buildings isn't a violation of the 1st amendment. That's retarded.
The government isn't in any way shape or form prohibiting YOUR right and ability to worship or celebrate. Stupid people man, stupid. Celebrate your religious views however YOU want. Keep it

Our founding document signed by all slaveholders except one? That one?

In all respect, may I ask how nothing made everything? I would just like your opinion on the topic.

Common sense... What a novel concept! ;)
Texas is a model state in many ways.
But then again, I find people like Rick Perry to be comically disastrous.
Does Texas not have gubernatorial term limits?? Seems like that guy's been in office for a generation...

The way America celebrates Christmas makes it more of a secular holiday than a religious holiday. If its decorations offend you, I'm not really sure why.
Then again, maybe you have the right idea--we might all be better off if we were more offended by secularism.

Bummer! I enjoy Red-Eye on Fox. Although I understand that not everyone has an affection for tongue-in-cheek political satire as I do...
I've found that each news network has enjoyable people to watch, but plenty that are just noisy.

Muslim scene? Biting my tongue...

HA. Having Christmas decorations isn't violating the First Amendment; prohibiting them is.

Public places belong to all. Therefore they do have the right to display what they want. It's the few that want to control the many that is the problem. Merry Christmas.

My apologies in misreading your comment!
To be clear, tolerance of the behavior of others is not the same as an endorsement of such behavior.
I simply choose to believe that people of good fiber can make a greater impact through their own example instead of government intervention.
Honey vs Vinegar

I work for a state agency. Our rule is Christmas trees, snow men and Santa are secular, so that's how we decorate. Our patients love it. We let them hang nativities in their own space if they choose. Seems like a good rule to me...

It's not YOUR personal beliefs if EVERYONE has a chance to show their beliefs. (not yelling just highlighting lol!)

If you watch FOX at 3 am then dont listen because thats like watching cnn at 7pm- full of nonsense

Oh, the humanity!

Imo. People in this country are so thin skinned its almost unbearable.

Liberal atheist here.
It doesn't offend me in any way. I say merry Xmas to people. They say whatever back. It doesn't bother me. Don't know what the big deal is.

Wow democrats way to misread the constitution and the meaning of a fn tree. It has no direct religious affiliation. Everyone likes em so if you have an issue just look inside

I personally don't really care. But I wonder what would happen if a Muslim scene was depicted instead of a Christian one.

I carefully did not include you in the ranks of secularism. I make assumptions only from evidence.

Mit- completely agree on a federal level.
I do, however, believe that localities should have wiggle-room if it satisfies a majority of the constituents.

Our founding document condemned slavery, and our government was designed in such a way as to make slavery an unsustainable institution.

Under god was not added until 1954.

That wasn't directed at you, Doopy. My apologies if it read that way. I meant for it to impugn those who may agree that the confederacy had 'godly' principles at stake in the war.

That was actually added later

Oh, Abo... You are hereby banned from pointing out certain religious statists for their hypocrisy!! ????

Because Jesus was totally born on the winter solstice. Lmfao.

Agree, Doopy! Was hoping that my mind wasn't just simply in the gutter... :p

Yes

Doopy, You say we were founded on Christian principles then ignore slavery until the 1860s when you say abolition was a Christian principle. You also completely deny the Indians existence when you don't acknowledge genocide. you don't realize the confederacy thought they were justified by god?