There's an early winter solstice surprise coming to a corner near you in Seattle, courtesy of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
You know, they're the folks who want to move the immaculately conceived fable of baby Jesus in the manger back to churches and out of the public square. Somehow, they think, it's not a good fit with the separation of state and church that America's founders wrote into the U.S. Constitution.
They also think this surprise is too good to keep under gift wrap, so here it is: Starting this week, the Foundation is sponsoring 100 ads on Seattle buses that say "Yes, Virginia, there is no God." That's coming straight from the Santa's mouth on the signs, 100 of which will be king-sized exterior ads, with about 300 smaller ads inside buses.
The interior ads feature six provocative quotations by five famous skeptics of history, plus a quote from perhaps the world's preeminent atheist, Richard Dawkins, author of the bestselling "The God Delusion." The ad features Dawkin's comment from the book: "The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction."
The ads also feature quotes from Emily Dickinson, Butterfly McQueen, Katharine Hepburn and Clarence Darrow, who famously said, "I don't believe in God, because I don't believe in Mother Goose." Actress Butterfly McQueen, who played Prissy in "Gone with the Wind," said: "As my ancestors are free from slavery, I am free from the slavery of religion." McQueen was a nearly lifelong atheist.
Obviously, the "Yes, Virginia" reference is a play on the famous question posed by 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon in 1897 to the New York Sun newspaper: "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?"
The rest is history. In an unsigned editorial, the Sun's Francis P. Church (ouch!) wrote his "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" line, along with, "Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!"
Freethinkers and skeptics have a hard time with the belief thing, which is what's behind the ads, said Dan Barker, Foundation co-president. "Most people think December is for Christians and view our solstice 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 natural holiday from all of us humans."
The Foundation, which has more than 14,000 members, asks only that reason may prevail, all year round: "There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world," as the Foundation's sign said last year in the Washington State Capitol (resulting in a moratorium on all inside displays, per the Foundation's request).
Annie Laurie Gaylor, Foundation co-president, said the winter solstice has been celebrated for thousands of years in the Northern Hemisphere, with festivals of light, evergreen trees, feasts and gift exchanges.
"We nonbelievers don't mind sharing the season with Christians," Gaylor said, "but we think there should be some acknowledgment that Christians really 'stole' the trimmings of Christmas, and the sun-god myths, from pagans."
The bus signs are timed to be a "jolly and irreverent" greeting for the 600 Foundation members descending on downtown Seattle for the Foundation's 32nd annual convention Nov. 6-8, 2009.
Comments
It seems whoever wrote this article needs to study American History in more depth. The MAJORITY of OUR "Founding Fathers" were NOT Christians, the WERE Deists and most believed IN the Seperation of Chruch and State.
Next the author did not mention Dan Barker is, as are MOST American Atheists a FORMER Christian who wrote and sold MANT Christians songs. He was also a Christian Youth leader, a MINISTER for some 17 years AND one of the VERY SMARTEST people in the entire world,
Wow, Neil. It seems you really misread the article because I cannot figure out what you're going on about.
Note there is a bit on tongue in cheek sarcasm in the story.
Neil & Trina:
"Somehow, they think, it's not a good fit with the separation of state and church that America's founders wrote into the U.S. Constitution..."
Please help yourselves to a history book and a copy of the Constitution. This is the text of the 1st amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."
It applies ONLY to congress. STATES are free to do as they please; so, sorry, if Texas or something wants to put up a manger scene that's just too damn bad. Don't like it? Vote differently next time.
The "wall between church and state" was invented in 1971 during the infamous Lemon v. Kurtzman case. There is NO language in the Constitution exluding religion from public places etc.
And Neil, if you want to cling to the idea that none of the Founding Fathers belived in a personal God, please take the time to read their personal correspondance and the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
Eugene, the phrase "wall of separation between church and state" first appeared (verbatim) in 1802, in a letter from Thomas Jefferson.
I love the Santa-as-an-atheist sign!
It nicely dovetails with a quote for kids that says: "Children, one day you will know everything there is to know about Santa. On that day, remember everything you have ever be taught to believe about Jesus."
(I am paraphrasing, to the best that I can recall it.)
I find it interesting that the Xtians would steal a holiday that has as its central theme a fictional character. I suppose they are irony challenged.
Neil... I suppose your statement that "The MAJORITY of OUR 'Founding Fathers' were NOT Christians, the(y) [sic] WERE Deists" WOULD be true... IF you were to limit your definition of 'Founding Fathers' to the half-dozen or so men who made up the intellectual core of the 'freedom' movement. Unfortunately though, most people want to include everybody who signed the Declaration of Independence, and were delegates to the Continental Congress... and they (except for the small deist core) all seem to have been Christ-cultists of one sort or another.
The colonies (except for PA and NJ) did NOT have a tradition of 'religious freedom'. When the early colonists left Europe to escape religious oppression, it was NOT to set up a place where EVERYONE could worship freely... it was to set up a place where they could be the oppressORS for a change, rather than the oppressEES.
These 'Christians' were unaimously in favor of a purely secular nation... because the were AFRAID of EACH OTHER (sect).
Oh, isn't it amazing how the atheists can mock the birth of Jesus Christ and their beliefs but use a Saint to do so? Hmmm, the atheists don't mind promoting the Saint who became famous for spreading the gospel but balk at having a holiday around that same gospel? I think the screwed up Freedom From Rel. Foundation is doing a crappy job at their billboards. What they think hits a message home or might bother Christians is so darned laughable. The fact is - you can take away the trees, the presents, the church buildings and even the Bibles but guess what you sad empty individuals? You can't take away our faith and our ability to believe.
Reap...sow....Thank God I won't be in the harvest that comes for you all.
Ms. Hoaks, I am sad to see that your bio states that you are a former Christian. I don't know what evil event caused you to turn from your Creator and Savior, but I will pray that your spirit will be opened to the truth of Jesus. He is not a "fable", He is real. I hope one day you will meet Him in this life. Because you and everyone else that draws breath will. The important part is to be introduced before it is too late!
And yes, Anne is right... St. Nicholas was a Christian and famous for spreading the love of Christ.
This is amazingly ridiculous... I am genuinely astounded that people find such passion in mocking others and their beliefs. To truly be obsessed with eradicating a belief fundamentally focused on love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness and self control and to attempt to replace it with a cold nothingness is a crime against the goodness of humanity. If this ad campaign was directed toward any other religious group they would be considered hate crimes. All in all what Anne says is the most wisdom contained in this shallow website and that is that no matter what futile lengths you go to, our faith will not be shaken.
As a daily Seattle Metro Transit customer, I was horrified and disgusted to see these signs. It wasn’t the words that bothered me most, but the fact that people would blatantly attack a peaceful religious group.
Really, the most fitting word for this is truly ‘disgusting’. YOUR ADS ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.
I also ride the bus every day and will not be patronizing the bus system again until these are gone.
My family will be praying for these people. I hope that their hearts are turned the way Paul’s was in the bible,.. I just really cannot believe that someone would pay to publicly mock and blaspheme our creator. Wow.
I'm never shocked to see one belief system attack another. It's human nature to fear what they don't understand. I'm sure their are many organizations that would love to advertise against other groups for their race, gender, or religious convictions. What shocks me is that Metro would accept this kind of advertising. Needless to say I won't be riding a bus that denigrates anyone's religious beliefs. I suggest that anyone angered by these advertisements direct your focus on Metro.
I LOVE THIS!!... frackin' awesome... I would help sponsor a similar campaign here in Portland, Oregon.
-d
Dare ya to attack Islam. Now that'd be a brave stance.
Hey, I love Seattle; I was born and raised there. It is one of least religious places in all the US.
For all the christians commenting: please refrain from using words like "our" savior; if some people choose not to accept Jesus then more power to them. If they go to hell for their choice then obviously Jesus isn't their personal savior after all- so you can keep the possessive adjectives to yourself.
I think this is a rather inspiring billboard. Many people do not know, or are not interested in what existed and upheld the human spirit before christianity spread like the plague, stigmatizing and often destroying many older earth-based religions/spiritual beliefs.
Christianity's ability to spread so successfully is greatly due to religious crusades, which, to those of you referencing Christianity as a peaceful religion, is not peaceful!
No one's god is the best: Take a moment to love and accept each other as individuals, we are capable of existing peacefully regardless of faith
I am not exactly all that religious but I do find this very offensive. I very much respect a persons faith. While I don't like to see public advertising used to push religion on people, this is pretty much the same thing but worse. Disgusting really. The people that made these probably grew up in some backwood town and had religion force fed to them. Now they're taking it out on the world. I mean really, what motivates a person to spend that much money to mock what some people hold most dear? Whats the reasoning behind that? Whats next? Are they going to walk into churches yelling and screaming? A bunch of non-religious fanatic nutjobs. How ironic. And pathetic. I refuse give Metro a dime until they remove them.
Sean said: "Dare ya to attack Islam. Now that'd be a brave stance."
Um, technically, if this were an "attack" (which it isn't) it would be an attack on all religions that believe in a god, including Islam. Did you think it was an "attack" on any one particular faith group? Feeling a little defensive?
NW what motivates them is very much the same impulse that motivates the fundamentalist a inability to accept others right to different view points.
You're kidding, of course. No? "...the separation of state and church that America's founders wrote into the U.S. Constitution" I'd like to ask Trina Hoax where that can be found. The First Amendment protects the freedom of Religion and GUARANTEES ITS INCLUSION by barring the kinds of holy wars against faith the atheist cultists are now attempting.
Funny thing is this does more for god. Atheists read this get a chuckle, but will do nothing more. Christians read this and become more inspired and work harder at being Christians. All that read this who do not know god, ask the question "who is god", be it adults or children alike, questions will be asked and knowledge will be gained. The seed was planted by the people who attempted to destroy the crop. Good work guys. My 2 cents the ad dollars would have been better spent at a local food bank helping those who are really in need. Now spread this message.
Funny thing is this does more for god. Atheists read this get a chuckle, but will do nothing more. Christians read this and become more inspired and work harder at being Christians. All that read this who do not know god, ask the question "who is god", be it adults or children alike, questions will be asked and knowledge will be gained. The seed was planted by the people who attempted to destroy the crop. Good work guys. My 2 cents the ad dollars would have been better spent at a local food bank helping those who are really in need. Now spread this message.
People who attack and mock any faith or belief should not be allowed to reap the rewards of their corresponding celebrations. Atheists that attack the spirit of Christmas or more specifically the birth of Jesus Christ, in this case, should not be given any time off for Christmas vacation and should be required to work the holidays.
I thing all you bible thumpers need to take a chill bill and smoke some chronic.Stop being so uptight about your stupid religion and your man made bible.You guys stole it from The Pagans and have a one track mind.You think its your stupid religion or bust.Give me a f@@kin break.And if your such "christians" you should be loving everyone around you and stop hating on Athiests.Athiests are very nice people and are open to everyone.So free your mind and the rest will follow!!
I think all you bible thumpers need to take a chill bill and smoke some chronic.Stop being so uptight about your stupid religion and your man made bible.You guys stole it from The Pagans and have a one track mind.You think its your stupid religion or bust.Give me a f@@kin break.And if your such "christians" you should be loving everyone around you and stop hating on Athiests.Athiests are very nice people and are open to everyone.So free your mind and the rest will follow!!
And another thing what kind of religion celebrates a poor guy being crusified on a stake of wood and then wears it as jewelry ,parading around the guys suffering .now come on.And if there was a Jesus he was bisexual and a hippie.
And I love Seattle and Metro for being a very open minded city!!
I will glady continue righting Metro!!
This is great! I am a member and couldn't be happier about the signs. The god I know from the bible was an evil entity and Jesus just talked a good game from the looks of it. People must have been very gullible back in the day, oops, apparently some still are.
"The god I know from the bible was an evil entity and Jesus just talked a good game from the looks of it. People must have been very gullible back in the day, oops, apparently some still are." Are you sure that you aren't confusing God or Jesus with Barrack Obama and his supporters?
Atheists attack Christianity... Christians attack Islam... Why do we feel that it is appropriate and acceptable to attack the faith and ideals of other people?
People should go back to school and stay awake this time. The reason we came to America to was to be able to openly practice religous freedom. Those protections were wriiten into our Constitution and later perverted by others to twist it's meaning.
Of the first 200 coleges in our nation, 187 were religous schools which included Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. The first bibles translated and distributed were approved by Congress and distributed to schools.To be considered enlightened and educated one had to have a belief in God. To be accepted into Harvard, Yale, and Princeton one had to beleive in God.
In our country one can practice any religion they wish and that's great. It also includes ones right to not beleive. Fine and good, equal religious rights for all.
Keep it real. All these Anti-Christian bashers here would go into cardiac arrest if those busses said Merry Christmas, and God Bless you all. The hypocricy reaks.
Try this tacic with Islam see what happens.
The fact that a fictional character is the "voice" only stirs us internally to deny what he says. That, on top of the even greater irony that the original line was a printed lie and that on a deeper level, anyone who knows the story must then assume that this twist is also a lie. Next time put more thought into what you are trying to convey and less into who you are trying to offend.
Psalm 14 :1 A fool says there is no God, all you fools out there will find out there is and always was God. Turn or burn!!!!
This kind of evangelizing really just makes me want to consider atheism as another, particularly self righteous, religion and if it then I don't see the point.
I'm an atheist, and I do not like this billboard. It smacks of the same self-righteousness I find annoying in religious zealots. It serves no other purpose than to whip the religious right into a frenzy and spread hate.
Religious tolerance is about accepting that people believe different things, and not harassing them about it.
Religious wars are so sad! (And yes, I do see atheism as a religion insofar as the word derives from the Latin word religare, which means "to join, or link")
I would like to thank Trina for the interesting and educational article. I had no idea this was going on in Seattle. I do hope that there were also signs in allowed in the buses that announced something about the celebration of the birth of Christ as well. If not, then I think I might give up a ride on the Metro as well if I lived in Seattle.
I must admit that I got a few laughs from some of the comments I read, especially Kat's and Dubya's. Looks like they were reading from the same script.
I suppose we can never expect that these religious wars will ever cease, unfortunately. That is, until the Second Coming anyway!
Christianity spread by attacking other religions. It broke up into sects which attacked each other. These attacks, by Christians, is what drove many people to come to the original American colonies. They feared for their lives from other Christians. No one should ever say Christianity is a religion of love. It has a history that disproves it. Just take the time to read the history of Europe if you want to see Christian 'love' in action.
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
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