Atheist Group's Holiday Display.........Compromising or Instigating?

Question

A PA atheist group that's tried for years to prevent public religious displays at Christmas, has tried a new tactic

The Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia wants to put up its own holiday display. The group's display is entitled "The Tree of Knowledge" and it will feature a 15ft evergreen with copies of book covers as "ornaments." Some of the book covers will include the Bible, the Quran, "Ethics Without God," "Why I Am Not a Christian," & "Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism."
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While I'm thrilled they want to do something more productive than trying to prevent us celebrating Christmas ....couldn't they have found a different name. This seems to me as a direct reference to the Bible where Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge.

Another thing that's bugging me is why Christmas. Can't they leave this time of year to the 85% of Americans who believe in God for celebrating Christmas. Why now can't they get their own time when nothing else is going on ?

Answer 1

They are determined to undermine and eventually destroy Christianity.

They chose to become atheists becasue they don't want to be held accountable for their sins and they want to live the way they want to live and they don't want to be told otherwise.

They hate us because they know in their heart of hearts that there is a God, and we Christians remind them of that fact. They just don't want to accept it.

Answer 2

Actually Christmas time is shared by many religions including pagans who started the tree decoration tradition in the first place but minus the cutting down part.

I don't fully understand why the atheists are so offended by Christmas. I'm an agnostic who is quickly turning atheist and whereas I think they have a right to celebrate in any way that they want I find it a bit rude to directly attack some other religion and find that attacking people for their beliefs is not a good way to get people on your side.

As an interesting aside, I was in Japan last year near Christmas and one of the interesting things pointed out to me is that Christmas is celebrated openly there even though a very small percentage of Japanese people are Christian. Other religions are also openly celebrated and I wish we in the US would take an example from places like that and openly celebrate the many religions in the US and not be so homogenous in our celebrations, I'm not calling for a generization of religion such as the happy holidays setiment but more of a specific celebration of the variety of religions, and then maybe the atheists can see it as a cultural celebration and have less to boycott or complain about.

Answer 3

So, some basic understanding of the reason for getting publicity is required. If you are trying to make a point, then doing so in an obvious way is the best bet. Seems like this is simply good marketing on their part. Now, some things on the history of your icons:

1. Christmas is not a unique holiday in human experience. It is, in fact, the co-option of existing celebrations.

2. Tree of Knowledge is not unique to Christianity or Judaism. It is a very old concept, and in fact was likely taken from ancient Sumaria. Here's some data from the web on it:

Trees in other religions

Similar trees appear in other religions. In the closest, most relevant comparison, the iconic image of the tree guarded by the Serpent appears on Sumerian seals; it is the central feature of the Garden of the Hesperides in Greek mythology, where the guardian serpent receives the name Ladon. In Buddhism, the Buddha became enlightened under the Bodhi tree. While the biblical tree is usually interpreted as representing sensual pleasure, the Bodhi tree gave pure transcendent knowledge. In Vedic Hinduism, the Tree of Jiva and Atman is usually interpreted as a metaphor concerning the soul, mind, and body. In the Norse sagas, the ash tree Yggdrasil draws from the magic springwater of knowledge. To many who believe the Bible is filled with parables, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is actually a library or some other form of educational writings.

This may just be window dressing in your eyes, but for them, I am sure the purpose is very clear. If you want to make your point, do it on a holiday that's just as much yours as anyone's (considering Christmas is a converted pagan holiday), and use terms that, while some believe are uniquely theirs, actually are older, and more widely used. Keep in mind, the symbol of the fish for Christ was stolen too...

Answer 4

First of all, in the US I do believe there is something called the First Amendment which includes the freedom of speech.If a group of people want to celebrate a holiday using their own opinionated version of that holiday then let them.

Second, Christians need to understand that Christmas is not their exclusive holiday that Christians copyrighted.In fact, the Christmas tree, the date of Christmas, and many other traditions that are embraced by Christians are Pagan in origin.So, Christmas is not just a Christ holiday.If anything, it is a holiday celebrated using Pagan ritual and dates as a means to honor the Christian God.So, who cares if atheists take a page out of the Christian book and usurp the Christian holiday for themselves since Christians usurped it from the Pagans?

Answer 5

First, I think its a wonderful idea! If "Christians" can have their displays why can't they? No, I do not think it is instigating anything. What is it with you Christians, you think you are the wellspring of all thought. The "Tree of Knowledge" and the "Tree of Life" were around long before Christianity. The stories of those two trees pre-date Christianity by hundreds of years. Couldn't you "Christians" have found a different name when you put the Adam and Eve Story in the Bible?Also, where do you get you information the "85% of Americans..... believe in God"? If this information is accurate, believing in God/s does not make one Christian and, therefore, a person who celebrates "Christ-Mass".
If you are going to quote things as fact, have your information ready to show as proof.
For the record, "proof" is not telling me I am going Hell, quoting your Bible or telling "Jesus is the Reason for the Season!"
Many Blessings!

Answer 6

I think it is a good idea to bring all the religious and non-religious together and by putting the covers of multiple books upon a tree shows the multitude of belief systems.
As to "the tree of knowledge" it has to do with what the word means not a deluded idea that the world revolves around anyone particular group. So those that are saying its to "get at" christians or whatever need to learn there is more to life then what they have been told all they're lives.

Answer 7

OK, thats just a touch fanatical of them. But only a touch.

I celebrate Christmas, and while I am not really an athiest, I am definatly christian and do not believe in the christian idea of god. I celebrate it as a time when people think outside of themselves and come together to promote peace and happiness. It is a time to show others how much you care about them.

Answer 8

85% of the people shouldn't control public arenas. Public areanas are for everyone. The point is that you can celebrate whatever you want on your own, but public places should not be desined for a fraction of the people.

Also, a christmas tree is not considered religious (legally), so I can only assume this group has been fighting nativity scenes and crosses.

Answer 9

LOL, might the individuals asserting NO be from the u . s . by using any possibility? properly permit's settle for it those non secular holiday journeys do no longer likely have any non secular value anymore. while people think of of Christmas they think of of relatives and provides, no longer Jesus. while they think of of Easter they think of Chocolate and the long weekend forward, no longer Jesus. they are relatively CULTURAL holiday journeys greater that strictly non secular holiday journeys. The Hindu's Shintoists, and so on, all get in on it in the event that they chosen. Why no longer Atheists? this is component to our cultural background, or perhaps the church homes won't deny that they predate Christ and have been purely adapted from calendar pagan fesitivals to advise activities in Christs existence. as properly, the completed economies of all the western international locations are organised around those holiday journeys. It purely would not be practicable to enforce non-Christians to artwork those days. and then there is the challenge of distinctive Christians following distinctive holiday journeys, and so on...

Answer 10

Using the name Tree of knowledge was the point. Why would they want to do it at another time of the year, it is during this holiday season when all the religions put up their displays.

Answer 11

Without Christ, there wouldn't be Christmas, so this group without them knowing it, is participating in this Holy event; just using other means of bringing attention to the Advent. If you notice, this is the only Holy season of the year that everyone wants to be a part of, even when they think they're hurting Christians! I'm sure the good Lord understands what's really in their minds and hearts. So, if you look at their actions in a positive light, we can be thankful that Christmas is still in the forefront of our minds and hearts!