Posted on 12/17/2010 10:23:20 AM PST by Baladas
In ancient Rome, the contest was Christians vs. lions. In Loudoun County today, it's Christians vs. atheists.
This year, the atheists came out on top.
Unlike in Rome, neither side ate the other. But the passions still run strong in what's becoming an annual competition each December for 10 precious spots on the lawn of the historic county courthouse in Leesburg, where the rivals get a chance to publicly promote their philosophies.
One side celebrates the birth of Jesus with Nativity scenes and a Christmas tree. The other marks the winter solstice with banners and signs praising reason, denouncing religion as superstition and, in one case, quoting from "Star Wars." (A plan to explicitly endorse the Jedi faith was scrapped on grounds it was too inflammatory.)
Selection is done strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. This year, the atheists grabbed an early lead. They submitted four applications in July, before the Christians realized they were behind and finally put in for a creche in August.
The atheists ended up with six out of 10 positions on the lawn, including the most visible location at King and Market streets. A weather-beaten Nativity scene has filled that spot for at least four decades. This year, it'll be occupied instead by a banner reading, "Celebrating our Constitution: Keeping Church and State Separate since 1787."
When I first heard about this symbolic tug-of-war, I was offended by the indignity of it. Wouldn't a duel between Christmas symbols and atheists' statements spoil the atmosphere in the cozy town that's the seat of government for the nation's richest county?
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
How much you wanna bet these atheists will say that silent prayer on their deathbed?
Wonder if these atheists have the stones to poke and prod Muslims the same way they do Christians? I’m guessing not...for obvious reasons.
}:-)4
1787?
Real atheists wouldn’t care anything at all about Christmas or winter solstice or whatever you want to call it. These guys are just mean-spirited jerks. I mean, just listen to atheists... they never shut up about their unproven theology, they are arrogant and insulting and proselytize far more loudly and rudely than even JWs.
Perhaps they ought to switch to some type of lotto to determine who gets to put up displays as opposed to the unfair reality of a first come first serve system.
With every fiber of their being, atheists believe that God is not real. They hold on to this belief with great fear and trembling because if they are wrong, they know they are in trouble.
But their interpretation of the seperations clause is somewhat more recent.
Maybe they didn’t expect to find athiests in line ahead of them at a christmas event? Nah, that wouldn’t be it.
Not that I advocate such a thing, but I've known it to be done, and in those early morning hours, when it's been snowing, and you're all alone out there looking at 4 flat tires, you are SOL. It'll be 5:30 AM before the tow truck gets there.
Or simple Procrastination.
In most cases they are anti-theists as they go beyond their own disbelief into angry condemnations of others.
It only goes to show that Atheism is a religious movement, and that it is engaged in evangelizing their faith to others.
No, they don't. Atheist displays are just "fighting words," and therefore are not protected by the First Amendment. Nor, while we're at it, are pornography or treason.
Tear 'em down.
Exactly. I am sure they are on they way to Dearborn, Michigan as we speak to protest the call to prayer, etc. I am holding my breath...
For some reason, an atheist message can not challenge my faith or thus offend me.
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