I'm from San Diego, and there has been this big debate to get rid of the cross at Mount Soledad(for decades)...all because of one person who happened to be an Athiest....why do they let it bother them? Why can't they just let it be? Same thing with Christmas on the Prado...an event in Balboa park that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. A group of Athiest complained and the event was changed to "December Nights". Christmas will always be known as a Christian feast commemorating the birth of Jesus.
2006-12-02 05:21:56 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Gosh, it's not like atheists are PEOPLE or AMERICAN CITIZENS... what do they matter? They should sit down and shut up and be grateful that the believers are around to babysit them.
2006-12-02 05:26:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
Why can you not understand that our constitution forbids the government sponsoring or showing preference for any religion? I don't care if there's a cross on Mt. Soledad (I'm from San Diego, too) -- but I DO care that MY tax money pays for it, which means the government is paying for the creation and maintenance of a religious symbol. Unconstitutional (and that ruling has been upheld by several different courts).
Again, I don't care if there's a christmas celebration, but I DO care that MY tax money pays to promote a religious celebration -- you said it yourself, christmas is a christian feast commemorating the birth of jesus, which means no government money should be involved in that celebration. Balboa Park is owned by the government, and MY taxes help pay for it -- and it's unconstitutional to use tax money to promote a religion.
How would you feel if the government spent a large amount of your tax money to put on a Ramadan feast (Islamic celebration), or to erect a huge Buddha statue on top of Mt. Soledad? The vast majority of christians would yell and scream about it --and rightly so. By the same reasoning, the government has no business paying to support or promote ANYBODY's religion, no matter what it is, and even if the majority of people agree with that religion. That feature of constitutional law *protects* your rights to the free exercise of religion, it doesn't take them away.
2006-12-02 05:30:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Originally the date for Christmas was chosen to work against a pagan religion that was large at the time of the rise of the Christian church. Look at the date of Christmas, right after the winter solstice.
It's not even the date of the birth of Jesus.
I wouldn't be upset if my city had a cross, but then I do have some beliefs in the Christian church. Perhaps if the Christian church stopped attacking atheism and other issues that don't effect it (gay marriage, stem cell research) then we might see less of an attack on it from the athiests.
2006-12-02 05:27:20 · answer #3 · answered by Shaun B 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
For your information, Christmas was known for a long time as Saturnalia (a ROMAN feast celebrating the harvest) until Christians decided that they couldn't mind their business, and the whole thing was change to Christmas.
2006-12-02 05:32:55 · answer #4 · answered by cypher 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't agree with removing your cross, either. It accomplishes nothing, really, and whether it's there or not I am still the same person. I could care less if it's there or not.
But if I wanted to be vindictive, I'd say it's payback for teaching "intelligent design" in schools. If you can force people to listen to you, then why can't others force you to remove your symbols from public places?
2006-12-02 05:35:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Christmas had nothing to do with Jesus. Have you never wondered why your holidays have so many pagan symbols?
Tax money paid for a religious symbol. It needs to be tore down to teach people not to try to do that again. It is a waste of money on a useless item
2006-12-02 05:31:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
well, if these religious symbols are on public lands and Atheists are paying their taxes to help maintain those public lands then they have every right to protest their tax money being spent on religious propaganda. Fundy Christians will just have to learn that they aren't the ONLY folks living in America. nonChristians have rights too.
PS. how would you like it if Hindus started erecting huge statues of Shiva on the courthouse lawn or Wiccans built Pentacles on the town square?
2006-12-02 05:26:54 · answer #7 · answered by nebtet 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
i dont understand it either.
if i saw a giant star of david or the cresent symbol of islam i wouldnt pettiton that it is removed.
if someone told me 'happy hanukkah' id probably respond w/ 'back at ya', not sue the person for 'pushing their beliefs on me'
2006-12-02 05:26:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
because they really cant mind their own business. i think they think that if they can convince other people, then maybe they might convince themselves. this is beyond ignorant. a true atheist does not have to annouce himself to the world, and would be secure enough to tolerate it. i mean, come on, we are tolerating alot of things that go on, are we not? atleast that is what we are taught to do..
2006-12-02 05:26:06 · answer #9 · answered by :*:epiphany:*: 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't understand it either. If you're going to be atheist, at least accept that everything and everyone around you does not have to be...
Why did this guy under me mention the constitution? Is He not mentioned in the Constitution????????
2006-12-02 05:23:42 · answer #10 · answered by ♥michele♥ 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋