(Nov. 11) – You better watch out. There is a new combatant in the Christmas wars.Ads proclaiming, “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake,” will appear on Washington, D.C., buses starting next week and running through December. The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday.In lifting lyrics from “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” the Washington-based group is wading into what has become a perennial debate over commercialism, religion in the public square and the meaning of Christmas.”We are trying to reach our audience, and sometimes in order to reach an audience, everybody has to hear you,” said Fred Edwords, spokesman for the humanist group. “Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion.”To that end, the ads and posters will include a link to a Web site that will seek to connect and organize like-minded thinkers in the D.C. area, Edwords said.Edwords said the purpose isn’t to argue that God doesn’t exist or change minds about a deity, although “we are trying to plant a seed of rational thought and critical thinking and questioning in people’s minds.”The group defines humanism as “a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity.”Last month, the British Humanist Association caused a ruckus announcing a similar campaign on London buses with the message: “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”In Washington, the humanists’ campaign comes as conservative Christian groups gear up their efforts to keep Christ in Christmas. In the past five years, groups such as the American Family Association and the Catholic League have criticized or threatened boycotts of retailers who use generic “holiday” greetings.In mid-October, the American Family Association started selling buttons that say “It’s OK to say Merry Christmas.” The humanists’ entry into the marketplace of ideas did not impress AFA president Tim Wildmon.”It’s a stupid ad,” he said. “How do we define ‘good’ if we don’t believe in God? God in his word, the Bible, tells us what’s good and bad and right and wrong. If we are each ourselves defining what’s good, it’s going to be a crazy world.”Also on Tuesday, the Orlando, Fla.-based Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian legal group, launched its sixth annual “Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign.” Liberty Counsel has intervened in disputes over nativity scenes and government bans on Christmas decorations, among other things.”It’s the ultimate grinch to say there is no God at a time when millions of people around the world celebrate the birth of Christ,” said Mathew Staver, the group’s chairman and dean of the Liberty University School of Law. “Certainly, they have the right to believe what they want but this is insulting.”Best-selling books by authors such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens have fueled interest in “the new atheism” ? a more in-your-face argument against God’s existence.Yet few Americans describe themselves as atheist or agnostic; a Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life poll from earlier this year found 92 percent of Americans believe in God.There was no debate at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority over whether to take the ad. Spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said the agency accepts ads that aren’t obscene or pornographic.Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Generations of ServiceMurderer Dies in PrisonSomething OldSomething NewSo Help Me Nobody -- Court affirmationsSix Myths about MMOHSeparation of Church and State, A RebuttalSchool Prayer FAQsSchool Prayer Decision (Madalyn Murray O'Hair)Spirits, Souls, and ClonesSponsor the ShowSusan B. AnthonyTestimony to US Civil Rights CommissionTexas State PageThe 10C's V. NeutralityThe Atheist: Madalyn's BiographyThe Battle is JoinedThe Battle of PhiladelphiaRushdie Missing from Book FairRock of Ages and the Age of RocksRobert OwenMythicist PrizeNativity - The origins of the Birth of JesusNazareth, Faith, and the Dark OptionNo More Ham -- A look at several Black Atheist LeadersNoahs Flood -- DebateOdd InquiriesOn WeddingsOther Gods that Look a LOT Like JesusPledge of AllegiancePledge of Allegiance - Dave's LetterPre-Christian Christmas Stories with Other GodsRaising Children Without GodRed Herring Rushdie IRed Herring Rushdie IIReligion Tax Office OpenedRoadside CrossesRobert G. Ingersoll The Black Atheists of The Harlem RenaissanceThe Cons of Charitable ChoiceTo Bash or Not to BashTom Cruise Pushes for FBI Funding for ScientologyTop Ten Atheist MythsVolunteers NeededWas Jesus a Jew?Was Jesus InventedWatch the Words!Wedding VowsWhat is the object of life? by Grant AllenWhat is Wrong with a Few Harmless Prayers?What to ask Preachers and MissionariesWhere Jesus Never WalkedWhite House Expands Faith-Based InitiativesWho are the freethinkers?Why I am an Infidel: Luther BurbankWhy is Religiosity so Hard to CureWhy the Truth About Nazareth is ImportantTill Death Do Us Part?Thomas Alva Edison: An Introduction by Frank Zindler Thomas Alva Edison: 1911 Columbian InterviewThe Creator BillThe DisappearanceThe Enlightenment, Freemasonry, and The IlluminatiThe Final Taboo: Electing AtheistsThe Good Old DaysThe Hon. Atheist Governor: Culbert L. Olson.The Inconsistency of TheismThe Kiwi QuestionThe Logic of Death by George J. Holyoake The Myth of Nazareth, Does it Really Matter?The Question of Atheists HospitalsThe Roots of AtheismThe School Prayer DecisionThe Science of CreationismThe Wild World of CreationismTheopolitics of the Rushdie CaseThomas Alva Edison 1910 NYT InterviewWinning an Unwinnable DebateChristianity, Its Nature and Influence on Civilisation by Charles Watts Christians in UniformCircuit Court Rules for "Aphorisms"Congress Rushes to preserve Clergy Tax BreaksContradictions in the BibleConvencion en espanolConvention 2010 ScheduleCourt Probing Parsonage TaxCowardice of the WestCreation Science and the FACT of EvolutionCreationism: Reversing ScienceCreator Bill TextDave's Favorite Biblical InconsistenciesDebate: Is Creationism Science (Zindler / Gish)Did Jesus Exist?Edwin C. Walker: American AtheistErnestine Rose: A Troublesome FemaleCharles WattsCase is Solved12 Further Fictions from the NTA Declaration of Mental Independence, by Robert Owen Abner KneelandAgainst the 10 Commandments in PublicAgnosticism: The Basis for AtheismAims and PrinciplesAlabamaAmerican Atheists Legal PhilosophyAn Atheist's Guide to MohammedanismAtheism by O'HairAtheism: Madalyn Murray O'Hair 1962 speechAtheist Director Wins Creche CaseAtheist MusiciansAtheist StationAtheist WeddingsBiblical ContradictionsBigotry Worst Against AtheistsEthics Without GodsFCC Religion HoaxMoslem Violence in BrittainInterview: Douglas AdamsJames Lick Jesus MythKeep Politics Out Of The Pulpit or Lose Tax-Exempt Status: Opinion Kentucky Homeland Security LawsuitKersey GravesLessons from The Satanic VersesmaMA Church Dismayed over DisplayMaculate Deception: The "Science" of CreationsimMangasar Magurditch Mangasarian Mary Faker Eddy -- Christian ScienceMOMormonismInaccurate Founding Father QuotesHurricane Katrina Boosts FBIGod on OUR MoneyFree WillFrom the Mouths of CreationistsFundamentalismFunerals - Dying an AtheistGeorge J. Holyoake - The last man in England tried for Atheism George J. Holyoake by Madalyn Murray O'HairGod in OUR PledgeGrant Allen How Jesus Got a LifeHang the Commandments -- All 30 of ThemHubert Henry Harrison: The Black Socrates aboutlawatheismFaith of the Founding Fathersreligionpoliticsyouth & familymilitarymediaLibraryeventsStoreJoin & Supportorphans
Free market capitalism at its finest.
What a fantastic message!
How does stating the obvious, that there is no god, make me an “ultimate Grinch”, Mr Staver? I guess he would also lump jews into this category because they dont celebrate Christmas either. I also think its interesting that he finds this ad campaign insulting in light of the fact that we atheists are bombarded everyday by religion. I think its nice that this ad gives Christians a taste of what its like to hear a message that is at odds with their worldview.
To me Christmas has become so secular, that I celebrate it and don’t feel uncomfortable. All my life it has been about Santa Claus, and togetherness, and nice lights, and presents. I don’t associate it at all with Jesus, or church or god, as I have never gone to church. Plus when you think about it, it isn’t even the real birthday of Christ, as it was changed to correspond with pagan dates. So its a date with no significance to Jesus where I exchange gifts, and nice lights. I see no problem with that. It is however entirely each individuals choice, if I forced it on others I’d be an asshole like the Jesus Freaks.
Plus the appeal of Christmas keeps many Christians in the religion. If we make Christmas secular, that makes it easier to become an atheist, and infuriates Christians, now that is a lot of fun.
We made Halloween secular, as almost nobody sees it in its original context, we can do it to Christmas
No thanks fireemblem.
Let’s celebrate real achievements, not just sliding out of a vagina.
You’re welcome to answer my question about secular humanism here, phreedm, and then you will have earned the priviledge of debating me on this issue.
Tick-tock…
I really like the ad “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake” and yes, I do Christmas the same way I do Halloween. I even go to All Saints and Christmas Eve services at the Unitarian church. I even indulge in a little “recreational Christianity” by going to an Advent service at a little country Universalist church. Still I remain a Secular Himanist.
Comment from: fireemblem555
I love it when a nugget of truth slips out…
“We made Halloween secualar…we can do it to Christmas”…
Obviously Christmas is a religious holiday. Everyone views it as a religious holiday. Including the “secular humanists”…
It’s also the ONLY Federal religious holiday.
Whoops…so much for the “myth”…
Comment from: castletonsnob
What an arrogant individual…
If life has taught me anything, it’s that one can choose their battles…
You’re not worth my time…
This from the man who claims to know”The Truth!”
Talk about “hypocracy.”
(What is a “hypocracy” anyway, phreedm? A new form of government with you as the Numbskull in Chief?)
Run away with your tail between your legs, more like.
‘Cause you’re wrong and you know it.
Spoken like the cowardly, bigoted, paranoid, fairy-tale worshipping troll you are.
Did I mention cowardly?
Okay, seriouly, Dave, I have just out-trolled the biggest troll this blog has ever seen. Isn’t that worth at least a one week membership to A.A.?
Has o’reilly started in on the nonexistent “war on xmas” yet that only exists in his mind?
Halloween is an older religious holiday than Christmas, much older. But hardly anybody is a Druid any more, so it is a secular holiday. I am in favor of a secular Christmas – the elves and reindeer are old Scandinavian ideas. Lots of gods were supposed to have been born at the time of the winter solstice (Dec. 25 used to be the solstice before the calendar changed). The more “commercial” and secular the holiday is, the better. I do my celebrating at New Year’s and that’s when I send cards and gifts. Much more fun than Christmas. But I do think we need more action on having Christmas taken off the official federal holiday list.
Nobody owns Christmas. Its mythological origins are interesting historically. But today, in the 21st century, I?d like to think it celebrates all humanity. I don’t give a shit how you dress it up. If we dwell on such matters, we will surely miss the whole point.
It?s only one day. But it?s one day that should remind us of how the other 364 days of the year could be. Yeah, I know, a bit romantic. But isn?t that the idea?
I hope I see some of these ads around here. Little chance of that though.
How about the right to edit Phreeky’s posts for one week.? If you had that right which direction would you go with it? Would you try to make his posts make more or less sense?
To me, one cannot make less sense than no sense, which most of the time would be the editor’s starting point.
godless sodomite i want to castrate you right now.
godless sodomite u are such a complete gimp. i don’t agree with gaysaregay as that is far too extreme. however, christmas is a happy time of year and u seem to love depressing everything, u have too much spare time to be always commenting, and so u are very sad
this just sums up how losericious atheists are.
i would like to take a stand against these two website abusers, probably the same person, under the witty names:
gaysaregay and atheists-suck-balls
such is their intelligence they cannot think up evidentual arguments rather they prefer to just abuse us. no doubt they are mislead christians who ignorantly believe everything they hear without taking the time to listen to both sides of the argument like we have.
they are so many arguments against christianity yet i will not waste my time explaining these to these two barbarians as they do not have the capacity to understand any of them.
This is the sad thing: everyone on here is lost, and needs to be saved. The self denial is simply an act to hoodwink yourselves into thinking that you are masters. Look into your heart, what do you see? Luke 15:3-7 states;
‘Then Jesus told them this parable: [4] “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? [5] And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders [6] and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.”
Jesus wants all of you to join in heavenly song, my friends. Just embrace the truth, and you will be the lost sheep that Jesus has finally found. Amen.
U are possibly the biggest hypocrite i have ever encountered. I have studied your biblical text and I know your saviour would not be happy with you spreading your religious ‘values’ through abusing a loyal member, Godless Sodomite.
You my friend are in need of greater help than any of us.
i hope you die of aids right now i.think.god.loses. And when you die your mum will be raped by richard dawkins. he will rip off her clothes and breasts, then fist her with a chainsaw. Your dad will wake up from her screams of pleasure and then lick up the blood and poo gushing from her rectum.
can i ask why atheists are protecting other religions such as Judaism but constantly abuse Christianity when they have no real reason to do so. I am not a Christian but i don’t understand why people have such a problem with these people just because they have some hope in their lives. What are you trying to do here except force people to believe nothing and believe they have nothing to look forward to. Gaysaregay is obviously not a real christian but rather just a web jacker and i refuse to be associated with him.
also i.think.god.loses please do not call me a barbarian, i live in a suburb and am happily married. i work in a post office, hardly a barbaric environment
If it’s gonna be like this I can’t wait for thos busses to get rolling. The “It wasn’t Adam and Steve ” churches may keep quiet,I haven’t heard from them in a while.
Atheists-suck-balls
One reson christians get abuse is that they come here trying to save people.The jews don’t come here and lecture people,nor do Hindu or bhuddist.Your moniker doesn’t help either.
hey,whats it mean when the flag is half mast at the post office?
They’re hiring!
Stupid is as stupid writes.
i.think.god.loses:
Why yes, they are the same person.
Might I ask why you share an I.P address w/them?
Sock puppetry is such an ugly, ugly sport.
I look forward to seeing all kinds of signs that challenge monotheism’s credibility….I’ve thought of doing the same thing but on a scale that I could afford….
as far as christmas goes….I think its a national religious holiday that is not all inclusive….Today it is an unconstitutional holiday…
Please dont worry about the silly writers in here, just look after thier name, it says member, they paid $35 or so to a leading atheist movement so they could rant on and on to people who view them as children with crayons. Thank them for hier money and let them play.
Is anyone aware of a similar ad campaign anywhere else or is this one in DC a first?
Solstice: The Real Reason for the Season.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
Ah…KA…
Using some administrative opportunities to shut down some posters…
ga4ry
u are a retard. no1 pays to use this site idiot.
krystalline apost..
u are also a complete gimp. checking our ip addresses. u do realise that we may be at the same place but not the same person. dumb bum.
also u are sad for checking in first place
That’s a good one! I love that the troll misses the irony in his/her statement.
But I can sympathies… it must be difficult being 15 years old, with nothing to do but post nonsense on an atheist blog ? a poor outlet to vent one?s frustrations from a strict, religious upbringing. So “sad”.
KA
How are you checking the IP?
Anybody see the similarities between Neowolfe’s writing style and i.think.god.loses?
AA should be running similar ads. Where does the money go at AA anyhow?
When I first tried to celebrate Solstice instead of Christmas, it only frustrated me because it emphasized the fact that I was an atheist, a fact which shouldn’t be significant to my family, friends, or anyone else in my community. I only celebrate Christmas, and I feel no guilt for it because my family celebrates Christmas in a secular fashion. It’s an American holiday, and I think all Americans are allowed to celebrate it without celebrating the religious aspect of it.
I don’t belong to a local atheist group, but if I did, I would advocate “Taking Christ out of Christmas” and use my local chapter to send a “Merry Christmas” message to the whole community. It would really irk the local Conservative Christians to know that atheists were claiming Christmas as their own holiday, thereby “Taking Christ out of Christmas.”
In the secular and atheistic majority UK (54% atheist) Christmas is the biggest holiday of the year and has really lost almost all religious signifigance just as Halloween has here in the USA. I dont think atheists should hesitate to celebrate.
” Comment from: mxracer652 [Member]
No thanks fireemblem.
Let’s celebrate real achievements, not just sliding out of a vagina.”
You’ve never celebrated your birthday?
“It’s an American holiday, and I think all Americans are allowed to celebrate it without celebrating the religious aspect of it.”
What the fuck does that mean exactly?
Its no more an American holiday than New Years day.
“It’s an American holiday, and I think all Americans are allowed to celebrate it without celebrating the religious aspect of it.”
“What the fuck does that mean exactly?”
“Its no more an American holiday than New Years day. “
That’s exactly my point. Atheists can celebrate Christmas the same way everyone else does, less the Church Services. We atheists don’t have to force ourselves to say “Happy Solstice” when we greet others at Christmas time. We can put a bright green banner on our house with a great big Atheist Emblem and the words “Merry Christmas” because the holiday belongs to everyone, not just Christians. I take joy in the fact that I am indeed “Taking Christ out of Christmas!” (In spite of the popular Christian bumper sticker)
Actually, “sliding out of a vagina” at birth is no easy task, for the baby or the mother. It’s quite the accomplishment. Not one to make a national holiday out of though – or every day of the year would have to be one.
Now, delivering toys all over the world in one night- that’s a big deal. Especially when your mode of transport is a sleigh and flying reindeer.
Castlesnob
I LOLed. Thanks!
I call it an “American Holiday” because it has so much significance in our culture, in a purely secular way. It’s the Religious Right that wants to attach religious meaning to it, and demand that everybody appreciate the holiday for it’s religious meaning. When we atheists stand up and say “Merry Christmas” is pisses them off more than saying “Happy Holidays” or “Happy Solstice” because it tells them the holiday doesn’t really have religious significance, and they don’t get that stamp of approval from our society.
My apologies Fireemblem555, I didn’t realize you were offended by my statement as a non-American, I was only thinking of those getting offended at the association with Christianity.
I didn’t mean to imply that the holiday should be exclusively American. I’m merely trying to emphasize the fact that it is important holiday in our culture, and that Christians do not get to claim ownership of it.
Hell, I’d like to see American Atheists sell Christmas Cards with a great big atheist emblem on the backside. There’s a card I can hand out to all of those casual aquantances that hand out the explicitly religious cards that are only meant to proselytize and convert.
They do – or at least the cards have an explanation of what the winter solstice celebration is and how christians took it over for their holiday. CafePress.com has a lot more atheist/secular cards, too
I just threw up a little.
I get the point of putting an atheist stamp on it…but…shit….I’m trying to live in a very catholic buffalo, ny….and it just smells like stupid religion during the Christ Mass holidays….I think the idea of exchanging gifts on a particular day is dumb anyways…..cant ya just be nice every god damn day…..
I think most people here will agree that the only “Real Holiday” in the next year is on January 20th. GOODBYE GW SHRUB, YOU %$#%@^*#!!!