ATHEISTS DESERVE THEIR OWN HOLIDAY—NOTHINGDAY

Catholic League ^ | December 23, 2004 | William Donohue

[NYer]

 

December 23, 2004 

ATHEISTS DESERVE THEIR OWN HOLIDAY—NOTHINGDAY 

Catholic League president William Donohue released the following comments on the Christmas wars today:   

 

“Robert Tiernan, a spokesman for the Freedom from Religion Foundation, is demanding that atheists be represented in next year’s Parade of Lights in Denver.  He wants a ‘winter solstice’ float instead of a Christian one.  He deserves better.

 

“Atheists deserve to have their own holiday—Nothingday—the purpose of which would be to honor what they believe in, which is absolutely nothing.  Nothingday would be held on the day of the winter solstice and would be celebrated by holding nationwide conferences explicitly designed to accomplish nothing. 

 

“For example, there would be seminars and workshops on the virtue of standing for nothing.  Participants would be invited to watch a video on the meaning of Nothingday and would then discover—to their utter delight—that there’s nothing on the tape.  Tables outside conference rooms would be set up, though there would be nothing on them.  Breakout sessions would allow participants to huddle in corners for the express purpose of doing nothing.  When they reassemble, their team leader would be able to report that they have accomplished absolutely nothing.  Naturally, no minutes would be kept. 

 

“They would then repair to the cocktail lounge where they would all be given empty glasses.  Dinner would follow, though nothing would be served.  At the awards ceremony, those who best represent the spirit of nothing would, of course, be given nothing for their efforts.  Best of all, the keynote speaker wouldn’t open his mouth, allowing everyone to just sit there, staring endlessly into space.

 

“Quite frankly, this sounds a heck of a lot better than the conferences I’ve been to.”

 

The Catholic League is the nation's largest Catholic civil rights organization. It defends individual Catholics and the institutional Church from defamation and discrimination.
 

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Of course... but does that give us any indication as to why we need to try and erase Christianity from our country today?

This I know for sure. My ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War did so because they were Christians and wanted freedom to practice their religion. I won't forget their sacrifices so easily. Some of them died penniless after giving personal funds so the country could run.

Either we have freedom of religion- or we do not. Either my ancestors stood for something meaningful or they did not. None of this PC stuff for me. I have no issue with anyone who does not believe as I do... but let us not forget the founding fathers and the men who died back then to give us the right to say- among other things-Merry Christmas.

We have people being arrested for praying- and as a Conservative,in this day and age,we know what the left has planned for "Jesus Land".

Let anyone have any holiday they want- this is America- good do it! But leave Christmas alone.

BTW- no one is debating whether we should be able to say Happy Solstice, Happy Hanukkah, happy Atheist day, Happy Ramadan, happy Shinto day ...... this is all about shutting out Christians and putting an end to our holy day.

What religion, which was represented by our early citizens is being attacked today?

You will note there is one.

[Doc On The Bay]

A "Pundit" has labled the "Anti-Religion Zealots," "Secular Fundamentalists;"--a SINGULARLY ACCURATE description of the ARROGANT MINORITY who are attempting to Eradicate ALL "Religious Celebrations" from American Culture!!

These "Secular Fundamentalists" are WRONG.

Their "Beliefs" are ANTITHETICAL to the "Founding Beliefs of our Nation," & are "Antithetical to" the Defining Concepts of our Culture.

Most of "Western Civilization" is BASED ON "Judeo-Christian Jurisprudence!!"

To ABANDON our "Christian Heritage," is to Abdicate the Influence of "Judeo-Christian Philosophy & Jurisprudence" in our Western Culture.

"Western Culture & Constitutional Philosophy" is BASED ON "Judeo-Christian Principles!!"

Until we are Forced to Abandon the "Backbone of our Civilization," OUR Principles shall be the Criteria by which ALL OTHER "Civilizations" are Measured!

Since WE ARE the "Dominant Civilization;"OTHER," (Especially, "Muslim"), "Civilizations" Must be "Measured By" their "Comparative Success" vs our "Christian Culture."

"Islam" is a "Sick 'Second'" to the more Vibrant, Alive, "Western Culture!"

"Islam" is NOT the "Future of Western Civilization,"--& It's Proponents KNOW IT!!

Doc

[Diva Betsy Ross]

And are we spitting on his grave by ruining Hanukkah in America? Are we trying to intimidate people into feeling uncomfortable saying Happy Hanukkah? Are we arresting people of Jewish decent for praying in public?

NO, NO and NO.

BTW- The Jewish faith is hardly full of Atheists.

[Torie]

Chill out. Christian sentiments and beliefs are alive and well on the fruited plain, and that will endure irrespective of the rather narrow brouhaha over what is allowed to be done, or not done, on public property. The American spirit, and idealism, reinforced by a priori beliefs, usually of Christian origin among most of the denizens of this most special and precious plain, is not some fragile vase that will shatter with the merest PC or jurisprudential zephyr. Be confident and bold, and Merry Christmas, so says this non religious skeptic.

[aruanan]

Their holiday falls on the day after March 31.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

No. I will not chill out. And since you are non- religious you do not understand what is at stake here or how it feels to have your holy day attacked by people in your own country. Of course this crusade is being led by a group of leftists and any Conservative can see what their plans are for Christmas. Every year they become more and more hysterical over the simplest things. What will they think of next year. How will they try to put a damper on our celebration then.

You chill out and butt out. Are you sure your name isn't Torrie?

[BikerNYC]

Theodore Roosevelt called Thomas Paine, whose work "Common Sense" rallied Americans to the cause of revolution, a "filthy little atheist."

Pain once said:

"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind and monopolize power and profit."

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Are you getting off the topic a bit here? I am not going to debate religion with you. Try sticking with the issue. You are free to believe what you will about God and religion and I will do the same.

[Torie]

I guess my partaking of joy in a holiday which I share and treasue in my own way, is more resilient than yours. The antics of the ACLU et al. are mere irrelevant noise, and a source of rather jocular bemusement on my part. They are just so irrelevant in the long run, to anything that matters. That is my take. What is good and special about this land will long endure, and survive all such noise. That is my leap of faith, and one about which I am quite confident.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Well we found some common ground. I agree with you on all of that. Except that your joy is more resilient than mine. You may be celebrating something the day after tomorrow and that is your right. Do whatever you want- however you want to do it. Celebrate anything you so desire. And I wish you all the joys of the day.

But you are not celebrating Christmas, and I am. Therefore you and I can not compare ourselves to each other there- or say whos Christmas joy is more or less, anything at all .

[tortoise]

Most of "Western Civilization" is BASED ON "Judeo-Christian Jurisprudence!!"

Very true. Perhaps ironically, the United States of America (along with England but not Scotland) is one of the few exceptions to this -- our system of jurisprudence is essentially pagan at its core. The systems commonly referred to as the English Common Law system were documented in part by the Romans prior to the birth of Christ, and the Angles (from which the term "English" is derived) occupied the isles hundreds of years before the first Christian missionaries set foot in the region. Calling the system of that region "Judeo-Christian" ignores the facts surrounding its history and the relatively extensive documentation from Romans, Christian missionaries, and later occupiers regarding its history -- that particular legal system was a point of fascination for almost everyone who came to that part of the world and was widely written about. It is worth pointing out that the technical legality of abortion in US law is derived to a significant extent from the Common Law, which has traditionally not given a fetus any legal status until 4-5 months of gestation ("the quickening" in the old law), and even after that, only provisional legal status.

I would agree that the English Common Law system has generally been a point of real strength and civilization among the Anglo countries, but it is not Judeo-Christian in origin by any reasonable interpretation of history. It embodies many fine notions that are an anathema to liberals e.g. its preference for "equitable" rather than "equal" treatment and strong recognition of individual property rights. It has been said that the by far the biggest gift the British empire bestowed upon the world was its legal system; every colony, no matter how ill-treated in their own minds, has benefited greatly from the institutionalization of the English Common Law system in their own countries, as it fosters economic and political success.

[Torie]

And that's the rub. I think I AM celebrating Christmas. It is a cultural thing - a tie which binds the secularist with the religious, because it is our common culture. It is part and parcel of who we are. Cheers. I am just trying to give you a bit more hope and strength to reject the notion that the future which lies ahead is some abysmal null set entropic acultural amoral vaccuum bereft of any memory worth remembering.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

No it isn't a rub at all. You and your family are no doubt sharing some traditions which tie you back to your childhood and that is wonderful.

But the reason it is called Christmas is because it is CHRISTmas. I have no issue wishing you glad tidings either or Hey saying let's be proud to be Americans together....BUT the reason it is our common culture is because we live in a largely Christian nation. And that brings us back to where we were.I have hope that all of this nonsense by the left to ruin Christmas will reap the whirlwind. Oh I have nuttin but hope.

[qam1]

BUMP!!!! Preach on, Brother!

Thanks, Though a few of my sentences and words mysterious disappeared after I hit the post button, I glad it remained coherent

Like between "These attacks" and "Outside of..." it should be

These attacks have only really started since after the election and have gotten pretty nasty recently. And I don't know what many of these Christians are expecting to accomplish, look at how well the nasty attacks and lies the Democrats hurled at George Bush and Republicans have worked over the years, do you really expect to have a different result by using the same method and not just with winning elections but with keeping and recruiting new members into your religion. 

Does any serious person truly believe that ANY politician would ever willingly drive away a bloc of votes?

Apparently many of these Evangelical Christians think they can win it all by themselves and don't need any other bloc of voters. There in for a nasty surprise if they keep it up, They think their persecuted now, just wait until Hillary gets to appoint judges. And if Jesse Ventura runs in 2008 there will be an acceptable (even if not viable) 3rd party candidate for people "chased" out of the Republican party to vote for.

Great facts, too. Ever since the election, certain sects of Christians have been acting as if it was they, and they alone who won the election for the President. This "atheist-bashing" is one possible symptom.

It was the Liberals and media. They hyped up the moral values vote (which in reality it was no greater and even less of a factor than in previous elections) and frankly it's gone to many Christian's head. If I was a big conspiracy guy, I would almost think they did on purpose to drive a wedge between social and fiscal conservatives. Though I have no idea where all this paranoia is coming from, many of these same Christians are acting like there's a Kristallnacht going on in every town in America, That to will go over as well as "You're questioning my Patriotism" B.S. the Democrats pushed.

Here's another thought...the President doesn't bash anyone because he's actually a nice man, as well as an HONEST Christian.

Agreed, I am very happy to have him as my President

[risk]

I'm cutting the Birchers some slack right now on account of it being Christmas and all. Merry xmas!!!!

[HELLRAISER II]

As NCPAC said we both believe in A Superior Being, anyone that thinks that someone didn't put us here isn't thinking correctly. All i'm saying is that if a man writes something down then it's possible that it contains mistakes or possibly a little fiction has been added to go along with the truths. Please don't take this as an attack against Christianity, my loyalties lie with Christians above all other Religions. However i'm just not sure that I believe everything that's written in the good book simply because it was written by man.

[dmz]

http://www.ditext.com/gettier/gettier.html

what a hoot. I read that article almost 30 years ago, the prof had mimeographed (note, not copied) the article from the text in which in was found.

When my history studying friends would bitch and moan about the 500 pages they had to read that week, I would pull out my assignments, and let them know I had to read about 7 pages that week. They took one look at my reading assignments, and then expressed joy that they didn't have to read that crap.

[dmz]

I checked what kind of replies you had gotten and was shocked to see that there were none.

LOL. Was your freepmail empty also?

Interesting interpretation of #10. I hadn't thought about it that way.

[CThomasFan]

and why does a shell from a little girl's hand have value? And if it does so to you, does that mean it does so to me?
If not, it has only an ascribed value, as does human flesh- to a cannibal.
To deny the existence of inherent value is not only to pull the rug out from under the religionist, but from under your own feet as well. We all fall in the morass of meaninglessness together, or of pretending that things have value to protect our sanity from the bottomless pit of meaninglessness.
Second, to assert that a thing has value solely because a finite human being asserts that it does, or that a majority votes that it does, or because it just feels like it does-once again places the value statement of the moralist in the same category as that of the cannibal.
Either there is meaning external to man, or Nietzche was right and all of life is absurd, and the only escape suicide. Europe is a perfect example of a society that has taken the latter path. They cant stand for anything because they aren't convinced that anyone is right. Holland's latest news is euthanasia justified on the groud of being sick of life.

[CThomasFan]

Good point. That is the fallacy of the Bahai faith. The only way you can assert that all religions are really the same is to determine to be grossly ignorant of most of them, to stand at such a distance from any of them that they at least kind of look the same, and then use that as the justification of going about living your own life as you please. It's a hippie version of going to confession in the morning so you can get drunk at night guilt free. It innoculates the soul against the ramifications of there in fact being an infinite personal God.