Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[Seattle Times]

A group of atheists and agnostics has placed a sign at the Capitol building that says, in part: ”Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”

The sign, sponsored by the Madison, Wisc.-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, is in part a reaction to a Nativity scene put up in the Capitol by a private citizen.

“Non-believers are a part of the fabric of America and we claim our place at the table to exercise free speech and freedom of religion, which includes freedom from religion,” said Dan Barker, 59, the foundation co-president who came from Madison for the sign’s unveiling.

The foundation’s sign is the latest round in what’s become sort of an annual winter tradition: debating what are appropriate religious symbols to put up in the public square.

Read more here.

[From me]

So what! If they want to be party poopers let them. If I brought my children by that it would be a great learning opportunity to share with them what atheists believe don’t believe.  It is a lot of publicity and news for a non-story.  That sign won’t change what I believe about the birth of Christ.

What do you think?

[CNN]

You better watch out. There is a new combatant in the Christmas wars.Ads proclaiming, “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake,” will appear on Washington buses starting next week and running through December.

The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday.In lifting lyrics from “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” the Washington-based group is wading into what has become a perennial debate over commercialism, religion in the public square and the meaning of Christmas.

“We are trying to reach our audience, and sometimes in order to reach an audience, everybody has to hear you,” said Fred Edwords, spokesman for the humanist group.

“Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists and other types of nontheists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion.”

Read more here.

[From me]

I don’t understand why a group would advertise to say they don’t believe.  What gives?  If you don’t believe in something, just ignore it.  Have they ever thought the reason they feel so alone is a vacuum that only God can fill?

What do you think?

Christmas and Easter have been scrubbed from a college’s calendars in case they offend non-Christians. Holidays at these times will now be referred to simply as “end of term breaks”. The move will “increase inclusion and diversity”, claim bosses at Yorkshire Coast College in Scarborough, North Yorks. And it is in line with Ofsted guidelines, they say.