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Is Xmas the Right Time For Atheist To Condemn Religion?

By Robert Paul Reyes

At this time of the year you can't drive a city block or enter most public or private buildings without being overwhelmed by decorations, trees and other symbols of Christmas.

An individual who doesn't go along with the yuletide program is considered a Scrooge who should be shunned by polite society.

He may be tilting at windmills, but an atheist puts up a sign in a Legislative building in the state of Washington, proclaiming that the Christmas story is a myth.

"Alongside a Nativity scene at the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington, a sign put up by an atheist organization celebrates the winter solstice. But it's the rest of the sign that has some residents and Christian organizations calling atheists Scrooges for attacking the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth.

"Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds," the sign says in part.

Dan Barker, a former evangelical preacher who now heads up the atheist and agnostic Freedom From Religion Foundation, said it was important for atheists to see their viewpoints validated alongside everyone else's." CNN.Com

Anyone who goes against the prevailing paradigm isn't going to be met with holiday good cheer, and Barker has been called everything but a child of God.

I don't celebrate the winter solstice any more than I honor the eclipse of the moon or any other aspect of nature. But Barker is free to observe the winter solstice, and to label religion a harmful myth.

It may not be kosher to put up a sign condemning religion in the Holiday Season, but free speech isn't always pretty or polite.

There shouldn't be any religious displays or signs in a public building, but as long as there are Barker he has every right to put up his somewhat insensitive poster.

Robert Paul Reyes is a NewsBlaze writer on Politics, Pop Culture and Pointless Pontificating. Contact him by writing to NewsBlaze.