"Christians Protest Outside Ohio Courthouse After City Nixes Nativity Scene"

[Vinayaka]

Rather than prohibiting Christian symbols of Christmas, I'm more for being inclusive. I'm in favor of allowing the Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and what-have-you to also display their symbols of Christmas.

Speaking as a Hindu, we don't have any display for Christmas. It's not a Hindu festival ... at all. So if it were to be a free for all, it would be all year round, many festivals from all faiths.

 

[Axe Elf]

Eh, it depends. My 20 meter tall statue of Cthulhu hasn't arrived yet, so I guess we'll have to settle with the 10 meter tall.

I don't believe Cthulhu is a symbol of Christmas. Disqualified.

I can imagine puppy BBQ grills & solstice porn.

These are not symbols of Christmas either. Ruled out.

You don't get out much, do you? I can see this sort of display venue covering acres.

I have yet to hear of any atheist, Jewish, Buddhist or Hindu symbols of Christmas that would cover even one square foot.

Speaking as a Hindu, we don't have any display for Christmas. It's not a Hindu festival ... at all.

Ding ding ding!

Allowing members of all faiths to display their symbols of Christmas shouldn't be a problem, since most faiths don't have symbols of Christmas to begin with. Now no one is being discriminated against, and everyone is happy.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Allowing members of all faiths to display their symbols of Christmas shouldn't be a problem, since most faiths don't have symbols of Christmas to begin with. Now no one is being discriminated against, and everyone is happy.

Symbols of Saturnalia, Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, Festivus, Kwanzaa...plenty of celebrations around that time of year.
If you're only allowing Christmas symbols, then yes...it is discriminatory.

Having said that, I wasn't sure how serious you were, so if you had your tongue in your cheek, just imagine the horror if kids were forced to endure these on public display...

Spoiler

Oh, the humanity!

 

[Axe Elf]

Symbols of Saturnalia, Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, Festivus, Kwanzaa...plenty of celebrations around that time of year.
If you're only allowing Christmas symbols, then yes...it is discriminatory.

No, it would be fair and balanced, because I wouldn't allow Christians or anyone else to display their symbols of those holidays. So again, everyone gets treated equally, and no one can complain.

EVERYONE is allowed to display their symbols of Christmas, and NO ONE Is allowed to display their symbols of other holidays. It doesn't get more universal and equal than that.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

No, it would be fair and balanced, because I wouldn't allow Christians or anyone else to display their symbols of those holidays. So again, everyone gets treated equally, and no one can complain.

EVERYONE is allowed to display their symbols of Christmas, and NO ONE Is allowed to display their symbols of other holidays. It doesn't get more universal and equal than that.

So...only Christmas symbols may be displayed.

Hmm...I feel something tugging at my leg here.

 

[Revoltingest]

These are not symbols of Christmas either. Ruled out.

Not where you live.....yet.
But it's a new part of our Festivus celebration.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Christmas is a national holiday in the United States. Celebrating it does not make anyone Christian.

The war on Christmas is real and these people have chosen their own method to fight in this war.

I wish they knew that protesting is pointless and actually hurts their cause, but they have every right to look silly if they want.

Americans, of every creed or religion, should be able to stand together and celebrate this national holiday.

I take a tack that's probably just as offensive to Christians: I celebrate Christmas, but I secularize the crap out of it. I figure that if the Christians can co-opt Yule from the pagans, I can co-opt Christmas from the Christians.

So I go for all the trappings: the tree, the lights, the family get-togethers, gift-giving... but absolutely no religion. No baby Jesus, no church services, no hymns, none of it.

And you know what? My version of Christmas is generally legal on government land: as long as all you do is put up an evergreen with pretty coloured lights, you won't have an issue with the FFRF. Where you'll run into trouble is when you try to bring distinctly religious elements into it: angels, nativity scenes, and the like.

So yes: the secular holiday of Christmas is widespread, and celebrating it doesn't make a person Christian... because there's no Christianity in it. But the fact that Christmas has been secularized doesn't give you free reign to sneak religion through the back door in the wall of separation of church and state.

 

[Prestor John]

I take a tack that's probably just as offensive to Christians: I celebrate Christmas, but I secularize the crap out of it. I figure that if the Christians can co-opt Yule from the pagans, I can co-opt Christmas from the Christians.

So I go for all the trappings: the tree, the lights, the family get-togethers, gift-giving... but absolutely no religion. No baby Jesus, no church services, no hymns, none of it.

And you know what? My version of Christmas is generally legal on government land: as long as all you do is put up an evergreen with pretty coloured lights, you won't have an issue with the FFRF. Where you'll run into trouble is when you try to bring distinctly religious elements into it: angels, nativity scenes, and the like.

So yes: the secular holiday of Christmas is widespread, and celebrating it doesn't make a person Christian... because there's no Christianity in it. But the fact that Christmas has been secularized doesn't give you free reign to sneak religion through the back door in the wall of separation of church and state.

It's funny how you act like this is something new or fresh.

I'm not at all offended by people secularizing Christmas.

I just think it's silly when they try to take Christ completely out of it. Which is just impossible.

And the whole "separation of church and state" argument over the Nativity scene during Christmas time?

In no way does the Nativity scene enforce any religious views on anyone.

I don't believe that justice is blind in the U.S., does that mean I can have all the Lady Justice statues removed from courthouses?

The statue is merely an icon. A symbol of justice. Just as the Nativity is an iconic symbol for Christmas time.

If it makes you feel any better, Jesus wasn't really born in December and the wise men didn't visit Him at the manger, so the Nativity scene is just as false a symbol as ol'Lady Justice.

 

[viole]

"In what is surely the dumbest protest taking place in America, Christians picketed outside the courthouse in Ravenna, Ohio in order for the city to bring back a Nativity scene outside the government building.

Officials decided to remove the Nativity scene after realizing that last year’s display violated the law. Rather than keep the display and open the floodgates to atheists and Satanists and everyone else, Mayor Frank Seman chose the safer route of just not putting any displays up at all.

Because the city won’t be promoting their religion this year, Christians were marching on the streets.

Steve Wiandt of the Record-Courier was there for the protest and got this incredible quotation:

“We would like to have the Nativity scene come back on the courthouse lawn,” said David Ballert, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Ravenna. “I’m here with my people because we care very much about the Lord Jesus Christ … I believe Ravenna is a great town. I believe that a town deserves to have Jesus Christ in it.”

Ballert said 40-50 members of his church were holding signs and singing Saturday to demonstrate their love of Ravenna and Jesus. He said he and his flock also were demonstrating Dec. 1, and plan to return Dec. 22. He said he wants permission from “the powers that be” to return the Nativity scene to the Ravenna Courthouse Lawn.
source

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My only question is: Why is it necessary to have the Nativity scene on the courthouse lawn in the first place? What function does it preform that isn't accomplished in your churches? Do you really need to be reminded of the birth of Jesus outside your church? Are your memories that short? And in as much as you say " I believe that a town deserves to have Jesus Christ in it," won't Jesus be in your town churches?
I have a suggestion: How about hanging a small nativity scene around your neck so that wherever you go Jesus will be with you?

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Actually, that leaves a bitter taste. While it is our right to require nativity scenes to be removed from public space, that indicates a conflictual situation.

I believe the culture will be won only when you can expose a nativity scene where you want, and nobody cares.

I know, easier said than done.

Ciao

- viole

 

[YeshuaRedeemed]

Your hate for Christians is obvious.

 

[Shiranui117]

Why don't they all just put nativity scenes on their lawns or in their homes... After all, isn't having Jesus and your faith in your personal life more meaningful than putting it in front of a government building of all places? Our government is trash anyway. Why associate your faith with trash?