Ho, Ho . . . Whoa! Secularists Get the Holiday Spirit

[BrklynLiberal]

Perhaps the moral to this story is, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

After years of waging the so-called "Christmas wars" -- on the side opposing religious displays in public spaces -- it seems non-believers are getting into the spirit of the season.

The American Humanist Association unveiled its holiday ads on Monday, and they feature a bunch of smiling revelers wearing Santa caps in a pitch that looks like just about every other holiday come-on, complete with red-and-green color scheme. But the giveaway is the jolly message broadcast in capital letters:

"NO GOD?. . . NO PROBLEM!"

The slogan is followed by a more traditional Christmas sentiment, "Be good for goodness' sake," but with this kicker: "Humanism is the idea that you can be good without a belief in God."

<snip>

After all, the United States Supreme Court, through a series of fragmented rulings on holiday displays on public property, has pretty much settled on one thing -- that Santa Claus (and his eight tiny reindeer, nine if you include Rudolph) counts as secular, and that the Christmastime themes that the AHA (and every retailer since Macy's) exploit have moved so far beyond the manger scene of Christ's birth that they don't have an explicitly religious content.

Still angry? Try getting into the holiday spirit, like Speckhardt. In unveiling the "good without God" holiday ads, the AHA president avoids the usual atheistic broadsides against religious belief and offers a sentiment of goodwill toward the season:

"We understand our message may seem controversial to some, but it certainly isn't our purpose to offend anyone," Speckhardt says. "Of course, it's obvious that many people are also good with a belief in God, so I hope we can all find common ground."

So yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Believe it or not.

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/11/24/ho-ho-whoa-secularists-get-the-holiday-spirit/?icid=main|main|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2009%2F11%2F24%2Fho-ho-whoa-secularists-get-the-holiday-spirit%2F

[Bill McBlueState]

1. nice

In the Western world, the holiday is generally known by its Christian name. But there's nothing uniquely Christian about putting up lights and giving gifts near the winter solstice.

[glinda]

2. True. I am really really happy to see these Ads. It is about time.

[dugaresa]

3. to be honest, the early Christians incorporated the traditions of the pagans into their faith

to make for a comfortable transition.

So when you are "christianizing" the european tribes, it makes sense to create a christian festival around the winter solstice so Christmas replaces it.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Absolutely right.

[me b zola]

5. K&R

:thumbsup:

[trotsky]

6. Hmm, I wonder when the first comment about "uppity atheists pushing their beliefs" will appear.

Because Koresh dammit, a secular group putting up a poster reaffirming that there are many of us non-believers out here is EXACTLY the same as a pushy religionist knocking on your door asking if you're saved.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. LOL

"Koresh dammit" :rofl:

[trotsky]

9. Gotta credit ol' Bartcop for that one!

Use it all the time.

[4_TN_TITANS]

7. Awesome!

What good Christian hasn't sung 'be good for goodness sake'? Maybe that meaning with finally sink in.

[ieoeja]

10. Too in your face.

The "be good for goodness' sake" is perfect! A recognizable line from a popular holiday song that highlights the principle ethic of humanism.

The ad would receive a much warmer reception if it highlighted that instead of the "No God, No Problem" line. Christians have no rational beef with the rest of the ad. Any who complained would look like whiners. But that in "your face" aspect gives them the opening they need to complain.

[eShirl]

11. That's their problem.

[ieoeja]

12. I don't think they have any problem.

WE are the ones called evil simply because we don't believe in a god.

WE are the ones a recent president said could not possibly be good Americans because we don't believe in a god.

WE are the second most hated minority group in America (after gays).

WE have problems because of their hatred.


Thing is, most people accept these factoids about us unthinkingly. If we get them to think about it, in time most of them will stop the hate. But pissing 'em off is a sure way to get them to *not* think about it.

I don't much care about the whiners at DU. They should understand that DU is an oasis where we come to let off steam. But for an ad targeted for the general public with the obvious intention of winning their acceptance....

The ad would be perfect if they just took out the "No God, No Problem" portion. Even relegating it to a tag-line would probably work.

[DireStrike]

13. Best ad for secular...ity... i've seen so far

It is almost impossible to not offend the inevitably insecure and pissy religionists. This is a good stab at it.

[BrklynLiberal]

14. kick for the morning