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Texas Town Braces for Battle With Atheists Over Nativity Scene
Fox News ^ | December 14, 2011 | Maggie Kirkman

Posted on 12/14/2011 1:54:22 PM PST by jazusamo

Driving through the tiny rural town of Athens, Texas, and you’d be hard pressed to find something that might catch national attention -- or so it was until about a week ago.

An hour and a half outside of Dallas, the Athens town square is dominated by the county courthouse, and this time of year, Christmas decorations are on each corner. But it is the nativity scene across the street from the Taco Bell that has caused controversy.

It started with a simple letter. As Jefferson County commissioner Joe Hall tells it, he received the shock of his life when he found out a Wisconsin group was demanding that the nativity scene be taken down.

“We get a letter saying you better do this or we're going to do that," Hall said.

A letter from Wisconsin telling Texans what they ought to do?

“You come to my house looking for a fight, you're gonna get one," he said.

Since then, many folks in the county have come out in support of the nativity scene, which has been on the square in some form or another for three decades. But the group asking for it to be removed says it has legitimate concerns.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is an atheist group based out of Madison. Co-founder Annie Laurie Gaylor says the group received a complaint from one of its members in Athens. She says since the display is right in front of the courthouse, the nativity scene makes it look like county government is endorsing Christianity.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: athens; athenstx; athiests; christmas; nativityscene; texas; tx; waronchristmas; waronchristmas2011
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Hang in there, Athens, TX.
1 posted on 12/14/2011 1:54:33 PM PST by jazusamo
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To: jazusamo

There’s going to be a rally there Saturday. I’m going!
Any sign ideas?


2 posted on 12/14/2011 2:00:14 PM PST by magna carta
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To: jazusamo

I learned a LONG TIME AGO how to completely discredit an atheist.

Tell them that you think Atheism is a FINE RELIGION, that requires as much faith as yours does.

Then ask them why they think THEIR religion is so much better than yours, and should take precedence over how you celebrate it??

Then snicker at it, as it begins it’s angry tirade.

The meltdown is a thing of PURE JOY to watch.


3 posted on 12/14/2011 2:01:41 PM PST by tcrlaf (Election 2012: THE RAPTURE OF THE DEMOCRATS)
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To: jazusamo

Just arrest the atheists for violating our “Freedom of Religion” laws.


4 posted on 12/14/2011 2:02:23 PM PST by Graewoulf (( obama"care" violates the 1890 Sherman Anti-Trust Law, AND is illegal by the U.S. Constitution.))
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To: magna carta
Any sign ideas?

"Merry Christmas!" might be something that will really piss them off.
5 posted on 12/14/2011 2:02:48 PM PST by mmichaels1970
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To: jazusamo

These freedom from Religion people are freaking nut cases. I am an athiest but stand behind Athens 100%.
The people of Athens should add to the nativity scene, add better lighting, etc.


6 posted on 12/14/2011 2:02:59 PM PST by Captain PJ
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To: jazusamo

Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Hall “says the nativity scene will come down ‘after Christmas, or when hell freezes over.’ ”


7 posted on 12/14/2011 2:03:27 PM PST by Jedidah
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To: magna carta
Any sign ideas?

We're Texans.
What Country are You From?

8 posted on 12/14/2011 2:03:38 PM PST by HiJinx (I can see Mexico from my back porch...)
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To: magna carta
According to this group of atheists, Jesus created hell to torture people. Think about that for a minute.
9 posted on 12/14/2011 2:04:04 PM PST by Drill Thrawl (The patient is too far gone to save.)
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To: jazusamo
The scene is not at the court house. It just looks like it might be mistaken to be ok because its across the street from a court house?!

In other words, one person, fearing that someone might be fooled the scene as being sanctioned by the government is reason enough for the scene being made illegal, in the face of an entire towns desire.

Amazing the strength of a fools offense vs liberty these days. No longer a free country, obviously its being run by Offensive Fools.

10 posted on 12/14/2011 2:04:38 PM PST by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: magna carta
Happy Birthday Jesus!
11 posted on 12/14/2011 2:06:12 PM PST by Drill Thrawl (The patient is too far gone to save.)
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To: jazusamo

There can’t be a battle without weapons.

Last I heard, Texas has open and concealed carry. What do atheists have?


12 posted on 12/14/2011 2:09:40 PM PST by Old Sarge (RIP FReeper Skyraider (1930-2011) - You Are Missed)
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To: Jedidah

I love Commissioner Joe Hall’s statement, he’s not afraid to say what he thinks.


13 posted on 12/14/2011 2:10:24 PM PST by jazusamo (The real minimum wage is zero: Thomas Sowell)
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To: magna carta

Thanks for the notice!!

Athens is a very nice quiet little city, but like most of us Texans, not much for having some leftist cheesehead or that indo-kenyan squatin in the Whiteyhut come down telling us what to do about Christmas or much else for that matter.


14 posted on 12/14/2011 2:12:05 PM PST by X-spurt
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To: jazusamo; magna carta; tcrlaf; Graewoulf; mmichaels1970; Captain PJ; Jedidah; HiJinx; ...
Any sign ideas?

Texas is God's Country.

Why do you think he put

you in Madison, Wisconsin?

15 posted on 12/14/2011 2:13:06 PM PST by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: Old Sarge

I doubt there’ll be any Freedom From Religion Foundation people show up in Athens, if any do it’ll be the seriously crazy ones. :)


16 posted on 12/14/2011 2:15:38 PM PST by jazusamo (The real minimum wage is zero: Thomas Sowell)
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: jazusamo

I am so sick of liberals. I wish we could literally split the country.


18 posted on 12/14/2011 2:17:24 PM PST by jersey117 (.)
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To: jazusamo; central_va; mojitojoe; southernsunshine; Idabilly; PeaRidge; donmeaker
Christianity is under attack from every angle. Even here on FR there is a member that believes that Christianity is a 'pagan religion':

"You see, I look as Christians as members of a pagan religion," --- donmeaker, post #1848 from this thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2791353/posts?q=1&;page=1801

19 posted on 12/14/2011 2:20:15 PM PST by cowboyway (Molon labe : Deo Vindice : "Rebellion is always an option!!"--Jim Robinson)
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To: jazusamo
Welcome to Texas

NOW GO HOME!

Or suffer the consequences.

20 posted on 12/14/2011 2:21:17 PM PST by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal The 16th Amendment!)
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