Oh, man, are a lot of Christians pissed at the Governor of Washington. Leading the charge, wielding the power of his FoxNews pulpit, is Bill O’Reilly, Christianity’s biggest exposed nerve (among other "biggest" titles he holds). Governor Christine Gregoire failed to check with O’Reilly about whether it was appropriate to allow the Freedom From Religion Foundation to post an anti-religion poster or plaque near a nativity scene. Instead, she chose to make the decision to the best of her own ability, based upon the laws of the State of Washington and the United States. The nerve! The incompetence! The outrage!
Don’t get me wrong; I don’t agree with the entire sentiment posted by that particular Atheist group. Nor do I necessarily always disagree with Bill O’Reilly. However, he loses all ability to reason when Christmas is involved; and of course, no matter what the topic, he is always right. (Just ask him!)
I have heard several people characterize the sentiments posted in the Washington State Capitol as an "attack," including O’Reilly, Himself (Oops. That was Irreverent.) In fact, the co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Dan Barker, himself, characterized the display as, "...not a religious display. It is an attack on religion." Ah, but there’s the rub. If it is really an attack on anything (which is too strong a word, in my opinion), it is an attack on a set of beliefs, not on a set of people. O’Reilly and his followers (his Kool-Aid drinkers, as he so frequently calls others who mindlessly follow any ideology other than Christianity), take any statement that disputes their beliefs as a personal attack. This is flawed thinking which reflects the emotion underlying their thoughts - and the lack of logic.
Faith requires trust and a suspension of disbelief. Can’t see God? Can’t hear Him? You have to believe! Having logic or contradictory ideas introduced to this delicate equilibrium throws it out of balance. And the more delicate the equilibrium, the more resentful the believer is of outside interference. Bill O’Reilly is a smart guy. Maybe his hyper-sensitivity to "attacks" on Christmas is a result of his difficulty in suspending his own disbelief.
Really, if your faith is complete, what difference does it make what anyone else thinks? Or what anyone else posts in a public place? Or even whether anyone else believes the way you do? Ask an Atheist how it feels to be completely outnumbered, to have your beliefs constantly questioned, contradicted, and derided, but to still know in your heart and your mind that you are correct.
Which brings me to the question, "Why?" Why do Atheists need to post a sign? The sign posters must not believe they are going to convert anyone (the way so many religious people do). Perhaps it is just to let other Atheists know, in this time of complete immersion in public Christian ritual, that they are not alone; that it is okay to be open about your lack of faith; that you shouldn’t hide in the shadows in fear of the zealotry that is now being exercised so vehemently by the likes of Bill O’Reilly.
For the record, the text of the sign posted by the Freedom From Religion Foundation is as follows:
At this season of
THE WINTER SOLSTICE
may reason prevail.
There are no gods,
no devils, no angels,
no heaven or hell.
There is only our natural world.
Religion is but
myth and superstition
that hardens hearts
and enslaves minds.
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