From Philadelphia comes word of an atheist group that, having no holidays of their own, wants to horn in on those of others. According to DailyLocal. com:
For the first time a regional atheist group will display a holiday tree on the Chester County Courthouse lawn during the winter holidays, potentially setting a seasonal model for other communities.
County commissioners have allowed groups to display a Christmas tree and menorah on the lawn. But last year, The Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia, an atheist group, asked the commissioners to either let any group set up a seasonal holiday display or ban the displays entirely.
This fall, the commissioners approved a policy that allows any group to put up a seasonal display if it meets design, insurance and safety requirements.
“This is a very rewarding step in our citizenry of Chester County, where we are now being recognized as an integral part of the community.
And it makes us feel like whole citizens to be able to participate in this way,” said Margaret Downey, president of the Freethought Society.
The group’s display, “The Tree of Knowledge,” will include a 15-foot evergreen with color copies of book covers as decorations. Some of the book covers will include the Holy Bible, the Quran, “Ethics Without God,” “Why I Am Not a Christian,” and “Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism.”
Downey said she hopes the Chester County display will be a catalyst for displays across the nation. And she said her priority will be displaying a similar tree in Philadelphia next year.
Why aren’t they putting one up in Philly this year, rather than going to the suburbs? Are they afraid they’ll get beaten up by rampaging gangs of Phillies fans? (Admittedly, when talking about Phillies fans, anything is possible.)
Now, I have no objection whatsoever to them doing this. I think Chester County has the right idea–instead of stripping the public square clean, load it up with any and everyone who wants to participate. If atheists are so devoid of events to celebrate (Robert Ingersoll’s birthday won’t do?), then fine, let them put up a tree with a seriously unclever name slathered with book covers (because they read and think and us religious baboons, you know, don’t). If it makes them feel like they are more a part of their community, wonderful–because they are, and shouldn’t be treated as outsiders, or with hostility. I would even suggest that, just so they aren’t perceived as party-crashers, they should start a holiday of their own: Alonemas, the festival of celebration that we are adrift in the universe.
(Via Hot Air.)
December 3, 2007 at 12:11 pm
This is really amusing, on so many levels!
First, the deniers of religion want their own religion–with doctrines, organizations, prostylization and symbols!
Second, don’t atheists already have their own idols…uh, I mean symbols? The mall, the dollar, etc….
December 3, 2007 at 12:36 pm
This is the same bunch that sought to have a nearly 100 year old plaque of the Ten commandments removed from the Courthouse Wall. They lost, and margaret Downey (of Philadelphia) still hasn’t gotten over that loss.
They keep trying, bless their empty heads and emptier souls.
Mac
December 4, 2007 at 9:54 am
“From Philadelphia comes word of an atheist group that, having no holidays of their own, wants to horn in on those of others.”
The irony is delicious.
Perhaps the Reformed Pastor was a bit too quick with his witticisms about borrowed holidays. Perhaps he failed to note that there is no reason to believe the birth of his demigod occurred near the Winter Solstice. Perhaps he believes that having inherited a pagan holiday, “stolen fair and square,” he has the moral right to look down upon any new interlopers.
It is not inconceivable, however, that reasonable people may choose to disagree.
Happy Festivus, Reverend
December 4, 2007 at 5:04 pm
The point here is that Christians (among others) have real events that deserve celebration that lie behind their theology. Sure, we don’t know the date of Jesus’ birthday–does that mean He wasn’t born? Of course not. The historic reasons behind the choice of date are irrelevant–the fact is that we celebrate something real, an event that in and of itself had nothing to do with the date chosen. (Oh, and Christians didn’t “steal” anything–pagans continued to celebrate the solstice for as long as they wanted to–in any event, I’m not here to defend Constantine.) Atheists aren’t celebrating an event, so much as a mindset. Personally, I think doing so on Robert Ingersoll’s birthday actually makes some sense–a lot more than simply attaching it to that of another faith in order to make some kind of point.