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 The group American Atheists has placed this billboard in New York City's Times Square.
December 21st, 2013
10:22 AM ET
Why atheists should quit the 'War on Christmas’Opinion by Chris Stedman, special to CNN
In recent years, one organization, American Atheists, has claimed the mantle of prime atheist promoter of the tired “War on Christmas” narrative. This year, they ushered in the season with an electronic billboard in New York City’s Times Square carrying the message: “Who needs Christ during Christmas? Nobody.” The word "Christ" is crossed out, just in case their message wasn't clear enough. The American Atheists maintain that their latest entry in the annual “War on Christmas” saga is a message to other atheists that they are not alone. In a recent Fox News appearance, American Atheists President Dave Silverman said, “The point that we’re trying to make is that there’s a whole bunch of people out there for whom religion is the worst part of Christmas, but they go to church anyways, and we’re here to tell them they don’t have to.” While that intention is important and admirable, very few people—atheist or theist—seem to interpret the message as welcoming to anyone. Many of the responses I’ve seen have been vitriolic and disturbingly anti-atheist. Which raises the question: If the goal truly is to reach isolated atheists, why does the advertisement read as a dig at Christians? A better billboard for American Atheists’s stated aim might read: “Don’t celebrate Christmas? You’re not alone.” As atheists become more visible in our society, the entire “War on Christmas” back-and-forth feels ugly and unnecessary. Worse still, it seems to do little more than offer ammunition to those claiming atheists are just mean-spirited grinches. Bill O’Reilly—one of the major “War on Christmas” soldiers—made that clear when he and I discussed the “War on Christmas” a couple of weeks ago. Let’s not kid ourselves: There is no war on Christmas. We live in a culture that privileges stories of conflict, so it’s understandable that this narrative would gain traction—with or without billboards. Much of this narrative is a manifestation of religious fears about our increasingly secular society, and it reflects widespread anxieties about atheists and religious differences. But it doesn’t reflect reality. Rather, as religious diversity in the U.S. has become more recognizable, Americans have largely broadened their approach to this time of year. According to new data from the Public Religion Research Institute, the percentage of Americans who prefer the inclusive “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” has now exceeded the percentage that prefers “Merry Christmas.” It’s not that Christmas is under attack; instead, our society is becoming better at embracing its religious diversity and challenging the notion that a single majority religion should dominate public expressions of belief. So why does the “War on Christmas” narrative persist? Based on how much play they give it each December, the “War on Christmas” narrative seems to be good for Fox News ratings. And American Atheists has openly admitted that it is good for their pocketbooks, as their talk show appearances bring in a swell of donations. Consider this from a recent profile of Silverman: “Silverman’s notorious anti-Christmas billboards and subsequent TV appearances have breathed new life into American Atheists and are often followed by an uptick in subscribers and donations. ... According to Silverman, the primary objective of the billboards is to get invitations to talk shows.” In other words: American Atheists and Fox News - alongside conservatives like Sarah Palin - seem to have discovered a mutually beneficial relationship. But does this relationship benefit atheists more broadly? Does it accurately represent the sentiments of nontheists in this country? Does it improve atheist-theist relations? Does it lessen the widespread stigma and distrust that exists between atheists and theists, which enables atheist marginalization across the U.S.? Does it invite Christians to think critically about religious privilege? Many atheists, myself included, suspect that there are more effective approaches to tackling these important issues. To start, atheists can build positive relationships with believers to humanize our communities and educate one another about our differences. That’s something that billboards, for all of their flash and fundraising capabilities, likely won’t accomplish. Atheists face real marginalization in the U.S., and it should be robustly challenged. But we also have good tidings and great joy to offer—important contributions to the public square that are currently being drowned out by attention-grabbing billboards claiming “nobody” needs Christ in Christmas. In the spirit of generosity, compassion, and kindness so often associated with this time of year, let’s ditch the billboards and build relationships of goodwill. Chris Stedman is the Assistant Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University, Coordinator of Humanist Life for the Yale Humanist Community, and author of "Faitheist: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious." You can follow him on Twitter at @ChrisDStedman. The views expressed in this column belong to Stedman. soundoff (5,210 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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(CNN) - The “War on Christmas:” what — or who—is it good for?
The problem with America is that only those who strive on controversy get any attention. I am an atheist, but I would never even consider putting up a billboard that disparages other faiths, and this is why you will never hear about me, except in these blogs.
Just as the Westboro freaks do not represent any Christians other than themselves, the American Atheists do not represent any atheists other than themselves. The only reason we hear about these groups is because they are controversial.
Do you remember the "Don't Believe in God? ... You are not alone." billboard? That one was also called an attack on faith, so I doubt that anything any atheist puts up will ever go unchallenged as some kind of "attack", but I agree that AA is intentionally poking at the dragon with these. I'd like to see more like the above.
I am not really sure why atheists need to advertise at all. As an atheist, I don't really care what your faith is. Believe what you want to believe, it has no effect on my faith. Why put up billboards at all. It's just a waste of money if you ask me.
This is the very first time I've ever heard an atheist be honest with their logic and reasoning. And it's definitely the first time I've heard an atheist admit that the Westboro Baptist Church is NOT a Christian group. Everything you said in your post is true and said with kindness. As a Christian, thank you very much. The types of atheists that make the news are damaging people like you. I wish more of you would speak up. But, at least YOU did and it's very much appreciated. Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas to you too.
(Just to make clear that saying "Merry Christmas" does not damage me as an atheist in any way whatsoever.)
LOL Thank you and I'm glad. Personally, I don't participate in the commercialism of Christmas. I don't buy gifts. But, if I were going to buy one gift this season, it would be for you.
Well, I hope this gives you more insight into atheism. Your comments below show you to be quite closeminded when it comes to other faiths. I hope you can start to realize that just as all Christians are unique individials, so are all atheists (and all Muslims, etc). When you judge a group of people you are being disrespectful of the individuals within that group.
Jackie, learn to read and comprehend, not just see what you want to see. No one said the christians at Westboro are not christians. The poster above said they did not represent all christians. What steps have been taken by christian cult members to kick the christians at Westboro out of the christian cult? None I think because christians are terrified of starting an internal war that can only hasten the crumbling of their house of cards.
Jack Parker
When you have spokespersons like our Topher, Baptist I believe, posting almost daily that Catholics, Mormons and any other religious cult that believes in the Bible and Jesus are not Christian, I would suggest the bickering amongst Christian groups is no worse than I a Deist saying you are all wrong. Sanctimonious yes, but that is the reality you can't even get along with each other.
The same can be said about atheists. They don't all believe the same thing. Some atheist sects have even applied for atheism to be an official religion. Some atheists hate and rage against Christians while other don't. All of the differences found in Christianity can be found in atheism, too. But, the truth of the matter is that there IS truth out there and there can only be ONE truth. No variations. Every person on earth is responsible for their own declaration of what is the truth. Responsibility for the consequences of their decision also belong to only them and can be laid at no one else's feet.)
And tell us Jackie, what is that one truth? Yours I assume?
Atheism should be considered a hate group and, thus, criminals, and thus… prosecuted. All they do is attack Christianity. Just Christianity. They never put up billboards against any other religions. Everything they do is called hate speech, intolerance, bigotry and hate crimes when it's done by others. They're hypocrites.
That's so Christian of you
It's pure fact. What did I say that wasn't true or even hateful? Everything I said is the truth and speaks of the law… which every person and group is subject to.
The mistake you made was saying that Atheists were a group. We are not. I am an individual and have individual faith. I do not associate or worship with other atheists. I do not have a political agenda. How am I a hypocrite or part of a hate group? You are being very intollerant and are a bigot. You do not know me so do not judge me.
You lied when you said that atheists only attack Christianity. A 3 second google search would have helped you sound less ignorant and slightly more intelligent. As for the rest of your ridiculous bigotry, keep it up. I would rather you Christians display bigotry and disgust over those who don't think like they do. It helps the nonbelievers when you show yourselves to be of such low class.
The whole "how Christian of you" defense is a straw man argument atheists use when they know they don't have a leg to stand on. Christians aren't called to be doormats and we do defend our faith.
So Jesus was kidding when he commanded that you "turn the other cheek."
To Tallulah: Why would you use scriptures as a rebuttal when you don't understand what they mean? Turning the other cheek in no ways implies that Christians are to be door mats and take every manner of abuse hurled at them.
Why should atheists put up signs attacking other faiths when churches all over the land have signs declaring that all other faiths are false, and that only Jesus saves? Where's their consideration and tolerance towards other faiths, or non-believers?
As an atheist, I hope that there is a hell so that you can rot in it.
To the original message: Dude, I'm an atheist and I hardly ever mention it because people give me so much crap when I do. Check the poles man; atheists are frequently the most or second most hated group in the country. Who's the hate group now?
I am an atheist. When did I attack Christianity? Please be as detailed as possible in your response. Please also list my other hate crimes I have committed and should be prosecuted for. Best I can tell is I have opted to not believe in any god and you think I should be prosecuted for that?
Violation of the Ninth Commandment. You just bore false witness.
Violation of "Do Unto Others"
Violation of "Love Thy Neighbor"
Violation of "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
You are a mockery of what you pretend to be.
Jack Parker,
They most certainly address other religions too:
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/01/atheist-group-targets-muslims-jews-with-myth-billboards-in-arabic-and-hebrew/
Christians are simply more prevalent here, so of course they get more attention.
Violation of the Ninth Commandment. You just bore false witness.
Violation of "Do Unto Others"
Violation of "Love Thy Neighbor"
Violation of "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
You are a mockery of what you pretend to be. Revel in your hypocrisy.
The Inquisition. The Crusades. Supporting the Nazis in Germany and Franco's Fascists in Spain. Christians have the market on " hate speech, intolerance, bigotry and hate crimes" cornered.
This is the dumbest comment I've ever seen. It's akin to saying all Muslims are terrorists – equally ignorant. I am an atheist and I have a Christmas tree every year – it's cultural for me b/c I was raised with one. It's a joyous time of year and I enjoy it. I don't care AT ALL what anyone else believes. I think this billboard was stupid but just for a moment, think of the flip side of this – EVERY SINGLE time I tell a Christian person I am an atheist, they feel bad for me, think they need to save me, and convince me there is a God. Why? I don't go around trying to convince everyone there isn't a God. Why can't we all just respect each other's beliefs and leave it alone? Who cares???
Your comments are not only full of hypocrisy, but sound like the ramblings of a crazy religious extremist.
Oh Jack, just because your feelings were hurt it doesn't mean that this is a hate crime. Dry those tears up, take a deep breath and remember all those signs that churches put up saying that non-christians will burn in hell. Perhaps this will allow you to put this one sign into perspective.
And, you're doing the same kind of generalizing as the atheists. All atheists are not hateful, just like fundamentalists of any other subculture, it's a vocal minority that are at fault.
You make me sad. I used to be a christian, but left the curch because I had no real example of what a good person was like. I don't speak out against any religion or race. I have never uttered one word of hate speech in my life, but reading what you just wrote in the name of your relegion is the saddest most hateful thing I have seen. I feel sorry for you. I feel sorry that you are representing Christians and making them look bad. I hope someone that prays, prays for you.
We should cut Little Jackie some slack. His anger is just the death throes of a dying and decaying mythology.
We finally standing up and saying we're not going to be made to feel there's something wrong with us, that we're no longer going to be bullied, is not us bullying and trampling on your rights. It's not that we just don't "get it" or we're being stubborn or anything. We're just tired of the hypocrisy, murder, war all in the name of godly goodness. We will not be afraid to be vocally rational any more.
The fact that atheists only spout hate speech, intolerance and bigotry over Christianity and no other religion is proof that it IS a hateful group. It's exactly the same as other hate groups like the KKK and Westboro Baptist Church (who are neither Baptist nor Christian). It's also proof that atheists hate and rebel against the ONE God there is because they acknowledge only Him in all of their hate.
Psss... Your god is the same god as Islam and Judaism. Just FYI
Jack, you are a fragile little flower. Being told your god doesn't exist isn't exactly hate talk. I have an idea! If you want to shut up those nasty atheists, then prove that your god exists! That'll show 'em!
Of course no one has been able to prove the existence of any god, so I think you have your work cut out for you.
One more thing Jack, since you insist on responding to everyone. I want to know if you remember what the bible says about pulling planks, and casting stones....
Jack Parker, I'm reposting this, in case you missed seeing the other one...
They most certainly address other religions too:
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/01/atheist-group-targets-muslims-jews-with-myth-billboards-in-arabic-and-hebrew/
Christians are simply more prevalent here, so of course they get more attention.
There is no war on Christmas! Many atheists, myself included, simply don't care what Christians do (I'd say most but I don't have any stats to back it up) the same as many Christians don't care what atheists do. This is a bunch of rich people who claim to represent a group that they do not, trying to ignite that group into hatred of some other group. Let these idiots battle it out, everyone else just have a Merry Christmas (or don't if that's not what you're into).
Anybody who can get agitated at the liberal "war on Christmas", and ignore the conservative war on poor people, sick people, women, gays, Latinos, Muslims, liberals, voting rights, union rights, the middle class, democracy, freedom...has rocks in his head.
Wow, a few atheists puts up a billboard and all the sudden there's this WAR on Christmas. Really?! Also, in case you didn't know, the sky is falling.
"all of a sudden there's a WAR on Christmas!"
They learned to behave this way from the ancient Hebrew drama queens.
War on Christmas, right. That would fit nicely with the persecuted christian complex like the following:
Bibles in every motel room
God on our money
Prayer before public events
Christian cable networks 24/7
Discounts on insurance for being christian
Churches every 6 blocks in every city over 100,000
Laws that prevent non-christians from holding public office
Christian bookstores in every town over 12,000
God in the Pledge of Allegiance
Televangelists 24/7
Christian billboards along the highway advertising Vacation Bible School and “Repent or go to He.ll”
Federally recognized christian holiday
Radioevangelists 24/7
Religious organizations are tax free
75% of the population claims to be christian
National day of prayer
God in the National Anthem
Weekday christian education for elementary students.
Christian clergy led prayer at Presidential inaugurations
Please, take the persecuted christian whine line somewhere else.
Atheists should learn to respect other peoples beliefs, celebrations and culture. Please be considerate. Religion is part of human experience and culture. It is significant part of our past. If you don't respect religions you don't respect our past. There is a place to challenge ideas. But don't try to ruin a celebration for anyone. I am an atheist, for lack of a better description. I have known that atheists can be jerks, and these bill boards are a proof.
If your 8 year old came up to you and told you that 2+2=fish you would correct them.
Now you might be able to understand how Atheists feel about religion and the worship of god(s).
I think you are being a precocious young man. Religion was important to your ancestors. I am an atheist. But without religion this world would be full of people like you. Like sliced bread, unimaginative, rude, and ignorant. There is no god, but what does that have to do with celebrating Christmas>
Uhm. 1) No atheist hates christmas. Christmas is a cultural part of America, it has nothing to do with christianity btw, it's a pagan holiday to celebrate the pagan winter solstice. 2) Why on earth would you respect the past? If a tradition is bad, get rid of it. if we liked tradition we woudlve kept slavery and blacks would still be slaves. Religion has splatted human history with so much bloodshed and genocide its nothing to laugh at. religion is evil, and its brainwashing the masses into believing in something that isnt and cant be real
Funny, I can motor down the various streets in my city and see all kinds of church signs declaring that only Christians can be saved. Where's their consideration and tolerance towards other faiths, or non-believers?
I am not fond of the signs either, but as childish as it is, christians started it. I have seen far more signs that condemn me to eternal punishment than signs that tell me god isn't real. I've been yelled at by street preachers, had flyers shoved into my door frame, and had 19-year-old "elders" knock on my door to tell me about their faith. None of these things have been welcome. If I can deal with their proselytizing, then they can survive a sign.
I suspect that this "message" on the board has been financed by Muslims or Gay activists. I don't believe true atheist are so bold and wasteful to put up these expensive signs.
A better example would be flat Earth, or Earth at the center of the galaxy... The point is humans get ^#% wrong, it happens. If you keep going along with things that are clearly wrong just because "that's the way we've always done it" or "you have to respect the past." Then you're never going to move forward.
Nobody respects atheists dude. Polls show they're always the no. 1 or 2 most hated group in America. I hardly even mention to people I'm atheists because of the negative reaction I get.
Where did tolerance go? Isn't the point of this country religious freedom and separation of church and state? So, if my next door neighbor is an atheist and the guy next to him is a devout Christian who shares a fence with a Muslim, why should this matter so long as everyone mows their yard and doesn't throw their trash over the fence? And if the Sikh across the street sees me every morning, why shouldn't he wave back when I say "Hello? If we could somehow find our tolerance, every little group wouldn't be asking the government to legislate their personal beliefs into law and life would be simpler and so much more fun.
I think that tolerance is alive and well. You just have a few people, like the people who put up this sign or those creationists who put up their sign who feel the need to do this sort of thing.
Personally I find it childish. No sign is going to make christians stop believing or convince anyone with half an education that creationism it true.
The vast majority of Americans are tolerant. However, it is the controversial ones that get the headlines. I am an atheist who will never get headlnes because I am not bothered by your choice of faith as long as you respect mine.
It's very funny to see the Christians whine here endlessly about Christ and the holiday that their cult actually stole from others. The whole Jesus-sacrifice story is a steaming pile of bull-do to begin with. How is it again that your omnipotent being couldn't do his saving bit without the whole silly Jesus hoopla? And how was Jesus' death a "sacrifice", when an omnipotent being could just pop up a replacement son any time with less than a snap of his fingers? Pretty pathetic "god" that you've made for yourself there.
Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement.
Be free of Christianity and other superstitions.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
I am an atheist ... always have been as long as I can remember.
MERRY FREAKEN CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! ...... NO, not happy holidays and other watered down crap like that, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
just remember that creating Christmas was done solely as part of the war on Yule and Saturnalia.
What goes around, Fundie, comes around.
Seriously...
If you don't believe in Chirst, then don't celebrate Christmas. A bunch of babies...
No more babies than the Christians who believe there's some kind of "War" on Christmas.
I do not believe in God. However, you have no right to tell me what I can celebrate and what I cannot celebrate. I am an atheist and I still participate in religious celebrations with friends and family.
However, do not worry. I would never be friends with an intollerant person as yourself and so you will never see me celebrating anything with you.
I love reading silly articles about fools. Not that a person is fool for being an atheist, but a person who denies fact, and thinks Christmas is not about Christ is a fool. The one and only reason we have Christmas is because of Christ. It's because a group of people (who would eventually be Christians) decided Jesus was just a tad bit important to their core beliefs and chose to remember his birth. They really didn't know his actual birthday, so tradition just dictated a day–Dec 25.
Saying Christ has nothing to do with Christmas is like saying the sun has nothing to do with daylight–pure nonsense.
Actually, the fact of the matter is that various figures were venerated on or about Dec. 25, and Christians hijacked this long-established holiday as their own, as they did a great many things. That's the Truth about Christmas. It started off as a pagan holiday, and so it has remained, despite efforts to rebrand it.
If not for Christ we would just be celebrating some other holiday at this time of year.
This is absolutely ridiculous. Atheists don't have to celebrate Christmas if they don't wish to. Its not like Christians are forcing them to celebrate. This is still a free country. Why do they need to attack Christmas. JUST DON'T CELEBRATE AND SHUT UP ALREADY.
Atheists will always only agree on one thing.
Just as atheists CANNOT DISPROVE the existence of God, they cannot disprove Jesus was born in a manger on December 25, year 0.
They also cannot disprove the hundreds of other deities to exist in the minds of humans throughout history.
They can't disprove the ascension of Mohammed.
The Flying Spaghetti Monster thanks you for saying that.
R'amen
He boiled for our sins.
Jesus wasn't actually born on Dec. 25. We've just chosen that day to celebrate his birth. History proves he certainly was born in bethlehem and that there was an astronomical anomaly in the sky at that time. The north star.
Sorry, I meant to say that star that wise men followed to find him.
There are actually accounts of Jesus written during his lifetime? I would love to see them!
We celebrate the winter solstice and have been doing so long before the Christian myth/scam got up and running. The bible authors were not above plagiarism and latching onto pagan festivals. Happy Winter Solstice to you and yours.
That's a dumb argument. I can't prove that if you and Mike Tyson got into a boxing match you'd lose but anybody with half a brain can logically conclude that outcome.
Christmas is for kids.
Christmas is for all who love Jesus.
for a group that doesn't like others opinions pushed onto them...that's kind-of pushy....
Jesus is the savior of all mankind!
Except for 2 billion Asian people.
Incorrect
As long as he keeps the pool clean and the grass cut, I don't care what he does in his spare time.