The Religion of Atheism Terrorizes Christmas Traditions Once Again!?

It's no surprise that the religion of Atheism is terrorizing Christmas once again.  Yes, I said "the religion of Atheism". 

Religion is defined in many ways.  One of the definitions is "a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith"  Another definition that fits Atheism is "2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generallyagreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christianreligion; the Buddhist religion.  3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.  More over, another location that shows Atheism as a religion is its own Wikipedia Page "Atheism is accepted within some religious and spiritual belief systems, including Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Raelism, Neopagan movements^[19] such as Wicca,^[20] and nontheistic religions."

As a religion, Atheism has no more right than anyone else in displaying Christmas or other holiday items, or taking away the freedom of other religions to do the same.  In fact, these displays are also the freedom of speech and sometimes other freedoms that we all enjoy in this great United States of America.

As offensive as it has been in the past that Atheists have taken to court holidays like Christmas, Christmas of 2012 seems to be the Christmas that Atheists are attacking more than any in the past.

Really, the people that are taking on Christmas, are not all Atheists, but a group called the Freedom From Religion Foundation.  These people associated with this group have radical goals and they want radical change.  Their change is not related to just practicing Atheism, but practicing hate and they are using the court of law to push their agenda forward.  This is a group that should be classified as a "hate group" based on their actions, goals, bylaws, and intentions.  Take a look at the examples as shown below and don't put Atheism in the same class as the Freedom From Religion Foundation.  Most Atheists would not do the things seen below.

ATHEISTS UNVEIL ‘BLASPHEMOUS’ NATIVITY AT WIS. CAPITOL: DARWIN, EINSTEIN, & AN AFRICAN BABY

A mock nativity scene created from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (Image Credit: WXOW.com)

Earlier this week, the Blaze reported about the “slightly blasphemous” nativity scene that the Freedom From Religion Foundation has been planning to put in the Wisconsin state capitol. The atheist group was so frustrated over the presence of a Christian nativity, that its leaders decided to seek out a permit to make public what the group’s co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor calls an “irreverent tweak on the nativity scene.”

On Wednesday, the FFRF made good on its promise to counter the Christian depiction assembled by Wisconsin Family Action (WFA), a conservative organization in the region. In the atheist version of the nativity, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein are the three wise men. The baby, an African girl, is intended to represent the birthplace of mankind. The beloved angels are an astronaut and the Statue of Liberty.

According to FFRF, the nativity spoof wouldn’t have been created if the capitol’s rotunda didn’t already have other religious displays. But because the Christian message was represented, Gaylor’s group demanded that theirs be viewed too.

“But, since it is a public forum, it didn’t look like legally we could do anything, so, we were left with putting up our own, natural nativity display,” Gaylor explained. ”We think that the rotunda is getting too littered, we don’t think that it should be a public forum for religion at the seat of government.”

read more at: http://www.theblaze.com

Freedom From Religion Foundation

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is a national, non-profit organization based in Madison, Wisconsin, with members from all 50 states.^[2] Its purposes, as stated in its bylaws, are to promote the separation of church and state and to educate the public on matters relating to atheism, agnosticism and nontheism. The FFRF publishes the newspaper Freethought Today. The organization pursues public-interest lawsuits and engages in public debates to further its goals. Since 2006, the Foundation has produced the Freethought Radio show.

read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_From_Religion_Foundation

Atheists' move halts Christmas tradition in California, churches go to court to get it back

Published November 18, 2012

Associated Press

• 
  Dec. 13, 2011: A woman walks past a two of the traditional displays showing the Nativity scene along Ocean Avenue at Palisades Park in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP)

...

"It's a sad, sad commentary on the attitudes of the day that a nearly 60-year-old Christmas tradition is now having to hunt for a home, something like our savior had to hunt for a place to be born because the world was not interested," said Hunter Jameson, head of the nonprofit Santa Monica Nativity Scene Committee that is suing.

...

National atheist groups earlier this year took out full-page newspaper ads and hundreds of TV spots in response to the Catholic bishops' activism around women's health care issues and are gearing up to battle for their own space alongside public Christmas displays in small towns across America this season.

"In recent years, the tactic of many in the atheist community has been, if you can't beat them, join them," said Charles Haynes, a senior scholar at the First Amendment Center and director of the Newseum's Religious Freedom Education Project in Washington. "If these church groups insist that these public spaces are going to be dominated by a Christian message, we'll just get in the game — and that changes everything."

In the past, atheists primarily fought to uphold the separation of church and state through the courts. The change underscores the conviction held by many nonbelievers that their views are gaining a foothold, especially among young adults.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/18/atheists-move-halts-christmas-tradition-in-santa-monica-churches-go-to-court-to/#ixzz2CtJePSIU

Atheism

Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities.^[1][2] In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities.^[3][4][5] Most inclusively, atheism is simply the absence of belief that any deities exist.^[4][5][6][7] Atheism is contrasted with theism,^[8][9] which in its most general form is the belief that at least one deity exists.^[9][10]

The term atheism originated from the Greek ἄθεος (atheos), meaning "without god(s)", used as a pejorative term applied to those thought to reject the gods worshipped by the larger society. With the spread offreethought, skeptical inquiry, and subsequent increase in criticism of religion, application of the term narrowed in scope. The first individuals to identify themselves using the word "atheist" lived in the 18th century.^[11]

Arguments for atheism range from the philosophical to social and historical approaches. Rationales for not believing in any supernatural deity include the lack of empirical evidence,^[12][13] the problem of evil, the argument from inconsistent revelations, and the argument from nonbelief.^[12][14] Although some atheists have adopted secular philosophies,^[15][16] there is no one ideology or set of behaviors to which all atheists adhere.^[17] Many atheists hold that atheism is a more parsimonious worldview than theism, and therefore the burden of proof lies not on the atheist to disprove the existence of God, but on the theist to provide a rationale for theism.^[18]

Atheism is accepted within some religious and spiritual belief systems, including Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Raelism, Neopagan movements^[19] such as Wicca,^[20] and nontheistic religions. Jainism and some forms of Buddhism do not advocate belief in gods,^[21] whereas Hinduism holds atheism to be valid, but some schools view the path of an atheist to be difficult to follow in matters of spirituality.^[22]

read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism

Atheist Group Backs Parents Who Are Upset School Wants To Take Kids To See ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ At Church

November 20, 2012 11:09 AM

Photo of a display of “Peanuts” cartoons by the lateCharles Schulz at the Frankfurt Book Fair on Oct. 15, 2008. (credit: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (CBS Atlanta) — Charlie Brown has been caught in the crossfire of the “war on Christmas” mantra.

...One unidentified parent did have a problem, though.

“I think church and school should be kept completely separate at all times,” the parent told the station.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” which was first released in 1965, is the story about Charlie Brown looking past the commercialism that surrounds Christmas and finds the true meaning of the day through his friend Linus.

source: http://atlanta.cbslocal.com

ILLINOIS TOWN ENDS CHRISTMAS TRADITION TO APPEASE ATHEISTS

by MARY CHASTAIN 20 Nov 2012

Alsip, Illinois will break tradition by not erecting a cross next to the Tri-State Tollway this Christmas season due to a lawsuit threatened by the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

...The tradition started in the 1970s. The town will put up a decorated tree in the cross’s place, but will not call it a Christmas tree to avoid any further problems. Yesterday, Santa Monica, CA officials ended a 60-year tradition by banning nativity displays in a public park in order to avoid a fight with atheist groups. 

read more at http://www.breitbart.com

Atheist Eve

Spiritual, but not Religious?
(August 2012)

Thanksgiving Story

The Thanksgiving Story

Most stories of Thanksgiving history start with the harvest celebration of the pilgrims and the Native Americans that took place in the autumn of 1621. Although they did have a three-day feast in celebration of a good harvest, and the local natives did participate, this "first thanksgiving" was not a holiday, simply a gathering. There is little evidence that this feast of thanks led directly to our modern Thanksgiving Day holiday. Thanksgiving can, however, be traced back to 1863 when Pres. Lincoln became the first president to proclaim Thanksgiving Day. The holiday has been a fixture of late November ever since. However, since most school children are taught that the first Thanksgiving was held in 1621 with the Pilgrims and Indians, let us take a closer look at just what took place leading up to that event, and then what happened in the centuries afterward that finally gave us our modern Thanksgiving.
The Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower were originally members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect). They had earlier fled their home in England and sailed to Holland (The Netherlands) to escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but they eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of life, thinking it ungodly. Seeking a better life, the Separatists negotiated with a London stock company to finance a pilgrimage to America. Most of those making the trip aboard the Mayflower were non-Separatists, but were hired to protect the company's interests. Only about one-third of the original colonists were Separatists.

The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating. At the beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one. And the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast - including 91 natives who had helped the Pilgrims survive their first year. It is believed that the Pilgrims would not have made it through the year without the help of the natives. The feast was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "thanksgiving" observance. It lasted three days.
Governor William Bradford sent "four men fowling" after wild ducks and geese. It is not certain that wild turkey was part of their feast. However, it is certain that they had venison. The term "turkey" was used by the Pilgrims to mean any sort of wild fowl.
Another modern staple at almost every Thanksgiving table is pumpkin pie. But it is unlikely that the first feast included that treat. The supply of flour had been long diminished, so there was no bread or pastries of any kind. However, they did eat boiled pumpkin, and they produced a type of fried bread from their corn crop. There was also no milk, cider, potatoes, or butter. There was no domestic cattle for dairy products, and the newly-discovered potato was still considered by many Europeans to be poisonous. But the feast did include fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums.
This "thanksgiving" feast was not repeated the following year. Many years passed before the event was repeated. It wasn't until June of 1676 that another Day of thanksgiving was proclaimed. On June 20 of that year the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held a meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune that had seen their community securely established. By unanimous vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving. It is notable that this thanksgiving celebration probably did not include Native Americans, as the celebration was meant partly to be in recognition of the colonists' recent victory over the "heathen natives," (see the proclamation). By then, it had become apparent to the settlers that the natives were a hindrance to their quest for more land, so the good will they shared at the first feast had long been lost.

A hundred years later, in October of 1777 all 13 colonies joined in a thanksgiving celebration. It also commemorated the patriotic victory over the British at Saratoga. But it was a one-time affair.
George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, although some were opposed to it. There was discord among the colonies, many feeling the hardships of a few pilgrims did not warrant a national holiday. And later, President Thomas Jefferson opposed the idea of having a day of thanksgiving.
It was Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, whose efforts eventually led to what we recognize as Thanksgiving. Hale wrote many editorials championing her cause in her Boston Ladies' Magazine, and later, in Godey's Lady's Book. Finally, after a 40-year campaign of writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents, Hale's obsession became a reality when, in 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving was proclaimed by every president after Lincoln. The date was changed a couple of times, most recently by Franklin Roosevelt, who set it up one week to the next-to-last Thursday in order to create a longer Christmas shopping season. Public uproar against this decision caused the president to move Thanksgiving back to its original date two years later. And in 1941, Thanksgiving was finally sanctioned by Congress as a legal holiday, as the fourth Thursday in November.

http://wilstar.com/holidays/thankstr.htm

Christmas Orange

CHRISTMAS ORANGE

Sometimes it is easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas. The busy traditions of the season and the appealing advertisements for material goods can leave the pure and simple truths far, far behind.

Jake was nine years old with tousled brown hair with blue eyes as bright as a heavenly angel. For as long as Jake could remember he had lived within the walls of a poor orphanage. He was just one of ten children supported by what meager contributions the orphan home could obtain in a continuous struggle seeking donations from townsfolk.



There was very little to eat, but at Christmas time there always seemed to be a little more than usual to eat, the orphanage seemed a little warmer, and it was time for a little holiday enjoyment. But more than this, there was the Christmas orange!

Christmas was the only time of year that such a rare treat was provided and it was treasured by each child like no other food admiring it, feeling it, prizing it and slowly enjoying each juicy section. Truly, it was the light of each orphan's Christmas and their best gift of the season. How joyful would be the moment when Jake received his orange!

Unknown to him, Jake had somehow managed to track a small amount of mud on his shoes through the front door of the orphanage, muddying the new carpet. He hadn't even noticed. Now it was too late and there was nothing he could do to avoid punishment. The punishment was swift and unrelenting. Jake would not be allowed his Christmas orange! It was the only gift he would receive from the harsh world he lived in, yet after a year of waiting for his Christmas orange, is was to be denied him.

Tearfully, Jake pleaded that he be forgiven and promised never to track mud into the orphanage again, but to no avail. He felt hopeless and totally rejected. Jake cried into his pillow all that night and spent Christmas Day feeling empty and alone. He felt that the other children didn't want to be with a boy who had been punished with such a cruel punishment. Perhaps they feared he would ruin their only day of happiness. Maybe, he reasoned, the gulf between him and his friends existed because they feared he would ask for a little of their oranges. Jake spent the day upstairs, alone, in the unheated dormitory. Huddled under his only blanket, he read about a family marooned on an island. Jake wouldn't mind spending the rest of his life on an isolated island, if he could only have a real family that cared about him.

Bedtime came, and worst of all, Jake couldn't sleep. How could he say his prayers? How could there be a God in Heaven that would allow a little soul such as his, to suffer so much all by himself? Silently, he sobbed for the future of mankind that God might end the suffering in the world, both for himself and all others like him.

As he climbed back into bed from the cold, hard floor, a soft hand touched Jake's shoulder, startling him momentarily and an object was silently placed in his hands. The giver disappeared into the darkness, leaving Jake with what, he did not immediately know!

Looking closely at it in the dim light, he saw that it looked like an orange! Not a regular orange, smooth and shiny, but a special orange, very special. Inside a patched together peal were the segments of nine other oranges, making one whole orange for Jake! The nine other children in the orphanage had each donated one segment of their own precious oranges to make a whole orange as a gift for Jake.

Sharing what we truly value is the true spirit of Christmas. Our Heavenly Father gave us His beloved Son. May we, like the children in the orphanage, find ways to share His love with others less blessed.

-- Anonymous

There is no Christmas without Christ.

When choosing a gift this Holiday Season, try asking yourself what the true meaning of Christmas is and then give accordingly. Remember, there is no Christmas without Christ.

The definition of the word "gift" from YourDictionary.com is...

something given to show friendship, affection, support, etc.; present
the act, power, or right of giving
a natural ability; talent a gift for languages

This season, there are more people in need than ever. When thinking of giving your child an expensive Wii, or Ski Passes for Snow Bird, think of the gift that will teach them about giving instead. Would they love those expensive gifts? Yes. But, wouldn't they love to be able to give to others just as much?

"Giving Circles are a form of philanthropy consisting of groups of individuals who pool their funds and other resources to donate to their communities and seek to increase their awareness and engagement in the process of giving. Through this process, they seek to impact their own communities or larger areas - including to have global impacts. The circles can serve as a form of shared, or collective, giving in the context of community economic development or other social ventures." -- Wikipedia

If you feel that you would like to do both, that is, give the expensive gifts and teach giving at the same time, there are many charities and shelters that could use service. Your entire family (age appropriate) could give time to your local charities and shelters. What a great lesson in giving!

"Members of giving circles donate their own money or time to a pooled fund, decide together where to give these away, and often have some sort of social or educational interaction associated with the giving. Many circles, in addition to donating their money, also contribute their time and skills to supporting local causes. Donations may range from spare change to thousands of dollars each year.

Giving circles as they currently manifest themselves are a new trend, but they are built on old traditions dating back hundreds of years to mutual aid societies and other forms of giving for the community. Several years ago, giving circles were predominantly composed of women. Women continue to make up the majority of today's giving circles - but today the make up of circles are more diverse in race, age and gender." -- Wikipedia

You may have church charities to give time and resources to, or you may choose to help the troops. Either way, the gift of giving is the best gift you could choose to give this holiday season.

When choosing a gift, try asking yourself what the true meaning of Christmas is and then give accordingly. Remember, there is no Christmas without Christ.

To find out more about the true meaning of Christmas, please click on this link... click here.

'Tis The Day After Christmas

'Tis the day after Christmas and all through the house
Appears a tornado tossed toys, clothes and dishes about

The kids are all grumpy from the Christmas day fun
Extended family, close locations equals run, run, run, run

Happy to be done with the pre-Christmas shopping
Returns? Do I have to help the stores with re-stocking?

Gifts of love, friendship, and freedom we truly appreciate
Thanks to all who helped us with gifts and put something on our plate

Seems like the tree just went up and now must come down
Festivity lights, decorations soon disappear all 'round town

The house will get clean and routine back in place
Next year, this same time, we'll return back to the race.

Sabbath Day, December 23, 2007

What a great country we live in, this great United States of America, that we have the freedom to practice our religion.

"Freedom of religion is a guarantee by a government for freedom of belief for individuals and freedom of worship for individuals and groups. It is generally recognized to also include the freedom not to follow any religion. Freedom of religion is considered by many in many nations and people to be a fundamental human right."
-The freedom of religion as stated by Wikipedia

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Sunday is a day of rest from our weekly schedule of work. Today is a day that we reserve for worshipping our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As this week is Christmas, I feel it is only fitting that I share the principles of our faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Initially, I'd like to share that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel.

Only faith that is followed by repentance is faith that saves.

Heb. 11:6
Paul writes to the Jewish members of the Church on faith, about A.D. 60
"But without faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

2Nephi 31:19
Nephi writes, between 559-545 B.C.
"And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you , Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save."

A great relative of mine, President Spencer W. Kimball said,
"Signs will follow them that believe. He makes no promise that signs will create belief nor save nor exalt. Signs are the product of faith. They are born in the soil of the unwavering sureness. They will be prevalent in the Church in about the same degree to which the people have true faith."

Do you think that all people saw the new star in the east when Christ was born? Not likely. There were probably few who were faithful, who listened to the prophets of their times, who knew the signs of Jesus birth.

Would you know the signs of his second coming? Do you see them? Do you have faith, or are you exploring your spiritual nature at this time?

Many things are happening on this planet that make it easy to confuse our spiritual nature and almost silence that part of our birth right from our listening ear. If you use time to study, ponder, meditate and pray on spiritual matters, you nurture your spirit and that nature becomes stronger. With that increased spiritual strength will come an increased understanding of your true being, where you came from, who you want to become, what you want to leave behind.

For more information on spiritual topics there are many resources. However, may I stear you toward two spiritual resources this day...



...the source of my quotations..."We Believe" by Rulon T. Burton

...and LDS.org Click Here

May you have a safe and happy holiday.