Atheist group posts “there is no God” display next to nativity scene
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An atheist group has unveiled an anti-religion placard in the Washington state Capitol, joining a Christian Nativity scene and
KING
Published: December 2, 2008
Updated: December 2, 2008
Published: December 2, 2008
Updated: December 2, 2008
An atheist group has unveiled an anti-religion placard in the Washington state Capitol, joining a Christian Nativity scene and “holiday tree” on display during December.
The placard reads: “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.“
The foundation’s co-president, Dan Barker, said it was important for atheists to offer their viewpoint alongside the overtly religious Nativity scene and Christmas-style holiday tree.
“Our members want equal time,“ Barker said. “Not to muscle, not to coerce, but just to have a place at the table.“
The three displays, all privately sponsored, were granted permits from state groundskeepers to be placed in the Capitol’s grand marble hallways.
On Monday, the Nativity scene and atheist sign were installed alongside each other in a hallway between the state Senate and House chambers, separated by a large bust of the state’s namesake, George Washington.
For now, the atheist sign is a stand-in.
A metal plaque meant for display was delayed by a shipping error, Barker said.
It will be two-sided, with a lengthy message on the main side, and “Keep State/Church Separate” on the back.
The state says the display is free speech and passed certain criteria, and can’t be seen as state endorsement.
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"Man, they love their religion even if it’s not true. It’s impossible to convince them otherwise. But, I try anyway. Hopefully I have planted a seed for them to think about at least."
Funny, that's EXACTLY what the "religious" person is saying about you!
When I first read this I was surprised to find myself slightly offended at such a display ... seemed like it would be like putting a nazi flag next to a Holocaust memorial ...
But then logic and reason took over ...
1. Doesn't seem to be a separation of church & state here; and
2. This country is built on freedom of speech no matter the existence of an offended party.
Seems to me that if one group (Christians) may have freedom of speech then another group (atheists) should have the same rights. (However, I will never condone a nazi flag next to a Holocaust memorial no matter the implications of "fairness")
I believe one should live their life as true and healthy as the next and all should live by the 10 commandments - even if they were "delivered" in a religious manner, the "rules" ring true as a guide to how not to be a jerk (thats for those who dont want to be jerks, regardless of religion).
I find Christians to be hypocritical on the religious front too often ... preach it but cannot abide by it. (I am not judging)
#1 rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
The discussion should not be judgment of beliefs and faith, but the understanding of another's rights and freedoms. I understand the Word should be preached, but for God's sake, do it right. Don't force people into your views, take a moment and love your family ... love your neighbors ... others will follow the example. If the true views of religion were practiced then the world would be a better place ... isn’t that the true meaning and reason for Religion?
A person can be good and respectable regardless of religious beliefs (yes, atheism is a religion).
Everone should really take a deeper look into themselves before taking another breath.
And who judges who gets into heaven - if it really does exist? I can guarantee you it isn't anyone on these posts. A truely omnipotent gloriful being should not require the selfish belief in himself by others as a requirement for admitance to heaven.
Yes, I am a Christian.
Man, they love their religion even if it's not true. It's impossible to convince them otherwise. But, I try anyway. Hopefully I have planted a seed for them to think about at least.
Maybe I need to just realize that religion is good for some people. It seems to be helping her and how can that be a bad thing.
The nip ple question remains unanswered. I know the answer. I just want a Christian to think about why men would have them. That’s all.
Again! Why would a god designing a man put nip ples on his chest? All male mammals for that matter have them? WHY?
Peace out!
The Motekeeper
acwilliams, is a prior military 30-something mother of two. Raised by people who enjoyed smoking pot and having their daughter make them 'sweet and sours' at the bar in their living room because it was 'cute.' No dear, I wasn't brought up in a sweet little perfection in a box life. It took me a long time and a lot of study, reading, and research to get to where I am today with my faith in God. And I'm determined not to let people that refuse to try to understand and just sit and argue to change my mind.
I'm going to leave it at this, I am finished. I've done what I can and have to leave it up to the Lord now.
But think of this, whether He comes for me or sends me home, we'll all find out the Truth in time. As we've already said, you'll have more to lose on that end. So, if a day comes that people for absolutely no reason it seems just vanish from earth...and I mean LOTS of people...and you're left standing there, you'll only have yourself to blame. And I can promise you, things will not be a cakewalk then. When the day comes that you have to stand before God Himself and account for yourself, I wonder if you'll be able to stand there and tell HIM what you've said to me. I'd venture to say, No. So, God be with you and I do pray for you. I hope you won't be one of those who are left behind.
God bless and be with you,
acwilliams
Posted by ( acwilliams )
AC said: “As a matter of fact, you’ve ALWAYS had the option of picking your own beliefs. After all, He granted you free will didn’t He? He wants you to choose on your own.”
Yeah AC! I’m 5 years old and my parents tell me there’s a god and this is this book. YEP! I really have a choice here. I guess you told your folks I have to think about that mom and dad! NO YOU DID NOT! You accepted it then and have never looked back! Man have you ever lost touch with reality I dare say?
Why do acwilliams and oldragbagger insist on constantly quoting the bible to someone that’s says he doesn’t believe in gods or the bible? This makes no sense to me?
It’s like they keep telling me the world is flat and I already know its round.
I have enough sense to know the bible is ancient mythological story telling. Unfortunately the find great comfort in their delusion and have already stated they will never give up their blind faith. So, I am done with them.
I’m trying to convince them (to their joy I’m sure) that what they believe is non-sense.
Some cannot think rationally. It’s just that simple! I feel sorry for you. I get the feeling that one is a clergy and the other a deacon. They are entrenched in their churches and would have nothing else to do if it weren’t for their having church stuff to do. I guess that’s OK for some people. Heck, I did it for a while until the light went off in my head.
I looked up one night into a beautiful starry sky and thought to myself, what are you nuts or something? You actually think some powerful being lives up in the sky and knows what you’re thinking, everything you’ve thought, and everything you are going to do?
And not only that, but knows all that for everyone alive and everyone that has died. That’s over 100,000,000,000 people! It makes no sense! Admit that I am right without using the bible please.
I will not respond until someone tells me why men have nip ples ! I will not let you off the hook.
As a matter of fact, you've ALWAYS had the option of picking your own beliefs. After all, He granted you free will didn't He? He wants you to choose on your own.
If He is our Grand Creator, as I believe Him to be, you should not think of Him as another human being. As we are made in 'His likeness', but we are NOT made perfect like Him. So, I have no doubt we should not question the One who created us. Absolutely. He is the One who is perfect, not us.
God does not bring bad things, Satan in fact does, thank him. God is only the author of what is truly 'Good' and 'Just'. Satan will throw the stumblingblock before you.
Why are there things in the Bible you do not agree with? Well, yes there are things that make you cringe in there. I agree. But these are factual accounts of human beings. Sinful human beings. Not of a bunch of perfect examples running around. And so, along with the fact that He created us and we should not question His way, because it is the perfect way, but also because HE IS JUST! His law is perfect, ours is not. That's obvious.
What exactly would you want your Creator to be like? How would you build Him then? If He is not JUST, then there is no standard for morality. Just look at our own country. The corruption, the crime, and the people who will not govern according to God's law. I think you will find whenever you move further and further away from God's Law, things become more and more corrupt and filth ridden.
So, there ya go. You learned a couple of things. There is death, illness, and pain because He chose to give us free will and NOT make us robots. We brought sin into the world. And the reason He said or did what He did in the Old Testament is because He is Just. We are not. Our minds are finite, His is infinite. His way is perfect. Ours is not. He is Good. We are not.
His definition of 'Good' is not the same as ours because His idea is 'perfect'. Are you perfect, am I? No. Our thoughts are not perfect, nor our way, and so then we cannot be reliable for being a true example of Justice, Truth, Goodness and definitely not Perfection in this world. Only He is all those things.
I pray He will show you the way you are to go, and to find the Truth, and that you will be able to find the hope and happiness that it brings. I was not brainwashed dear. I had to figure it all out on my own like everyone else. I am prior military, and certainly had plenty of opportunities to go down the road you have. I chose not to. I'll continue to pray for you, motekeeper. And hopefully, one day you'll come across the mote-bridge to be with the rest of us not stranded on that island.
You've been given many instances of resources you can use to study, but if nothing else, I'll simply ask that you skip the Old Testament for now, and go straight to Romans. If you read nothing else, and before you declare it all as unfounded and not applicable to you, please I ask you to just read Romans. What else do you have to lose?
Merry Christmas*Happy Holidays*Seasons Greetings
So then why.....! Why....!!!?
Why believe in something that's so incredibly impossible to verify its authenticity?
The book is pure fiction and a complete fabrication. Don’t you know who wrote the dang thing and why?
I beg all religious folks to step back and ask themselves. Is this holy bible the word of god? IS IT?
See, what has happened to us is our parents, grandparents, and or guardians had us in Sundie School at such young ages we never had a chance to think for ourselves. Unfortunately, we heard the Bible say, “don’t you dare question me (god), or you will suffer horribly for it!” That stuck in our minds very hard. We never had the chance to mature and pick our own beliefs.
But for the record, I was educated in a public college and I teach in a public school.
I know it would be easier to believe that I have been sequestered in some religious institution, kept from current knowledge and brainwashed by religious zealots, but that is just simply not the case.
I would just like to say Motekeeper, that given my occupation, I spend every single day in a science environment and have for the past 5 years and college before that and have not yet encountered one single thing that has caused me to question my beliefs. Contrary to popular belief, the evidence for evolution is anything but irrefutable. Darwin himself questioned it in his final years. I personally think it takes much great "faith" to believe that the wonderful, balanced complexity of our world could be accidental than it does to believe that it is the result of intelligent design.
But I do not wish to be disrespectful of you and your beliefs, or lack of them. It seems to me however that you have some anger embedded in your continuous posts and of all the commentaries on this board, you are the only one who has resorted to insulting and belittling of those who have a belief system different from yours. You may not realize it, but this is offputting to anyone who may have potentially been interested in anything you have to say.
I do not feel like I am missing out on anything by my beliefs, in fact I consider the hope and optimism I have in the present and the future to be a huge blessing and I can't imagine that any amount of hedonistic pleasure could compensate for the hopelessness of feeling that there is no purpose to my life and that it is nothing more than an accidental occurrence.
Please do not make the mistake of assuming that all believers are uneducated, uninformed and unscientifice. Nothing could possibly be further from the truth. As over 70% of the people of this country claim to be of the christian faith that would indicate that you think that humanists are a pretty rare and elite group.
I do not wish to insult your intelligence or belittle your beliefs. God did not bully me to the faith, he loved me to it.
The debate is over for me. And still, no question in my mind, now or ever, that Christ is the way and Christmas is His day.
Best wishes to you.
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