Friday, December 5, 2008

For Crying Out Loud!!

Want to read about the biggest load of bull crap on the planet? Just go here:

Atheists Take Aim at Christmas

Atheist groups are putting up signs next to nativity scenes that denounce all types of worship and declare that "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.."

Don't get me wrong. I believe than everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, even if they contradict mine. I just don't understand why so many people think it is okay to disrespect any type of religion.

Their justification? "It's not that we are trying to coerce anyone; in a way our sign is a signal of protest," Barker said. "If there can be a Nativity scene saying that we are all going to hell if we don't bow down to Jesus, we should be at the table to share our views."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure I have never seen any of the figures in any nativity scene holding signs that say non believers are going to hell.

"Most people think December is for Christians and view our signs as an intrusion, when actually it's the other way around," he said. "People have been celebrating the winter solstice long before Christmas. We see Christianity as the intruder, trying to steal the holiday from all of us humans."

So let me get this straight, Christians aren't even human now?

Yes, throughout history there have been Christians who have done more than their share of persecuting other cultures in the name of their God. The crusaders, the KKK and even members of the Nazi regime have committed some of the most heinous crimes in history with the claim that they were carrying out God's will.

But here is something that we all need to remember: hate crimes are carried out by imperfect and confused mortals. They are not committed by God. As we have progressed as a human race, we have (at least I thought we had) learned tolerance and established governments that protect the fundamental rights of all men and women. One of those rights is religious freedom. Another is freedom of speech. Atheists have every right to disagree with Christians, vocally if they feel like it. But there is also a certain amount of respect that should be shown to other religions, cultures, and ways of life.

Unfortunately and paradoxically I'm sure there are still Christians out there in the world with signs that do condemn unbelievers to hell with vehemence and hatred. They should be just as ashamed of themselves. I guess I just don't understand how some people can be so disrespectful to their fellow men. We are all in the same boat. We are all trying to find truth. We all want peace. Why can't we just treat one another as the equals that we are?

Its days like today that make me worried for my future children. Society is moving backward at an ever quickening pace. Last time I checked, freedom of religion was not synonymous with the banishment of religion.

4 comments:

  1. vehemence sounds like exactly what my cough sounds like. 'VveEhehMENEEnenCEe' achoo.

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  2. I'm not sure I understand the logic behind the idea that connects the following thoughts: "We hate all kinds of worship. They are NOT ok", "It's not ok to worship God", "It IS ok to worship the sun" (winter solstice).

    Do they not remember that the whole point of "celebrating" the "winter" "solstice" was to beg the holy sun/nature god/goddess to come back and spend more time with them? What part of "druid" don't you understand?

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