Atheists Squander Nativity Scene Spaces at Santa Monica's Palisades Park

Everyone commenting has it wrong.  Christmas is a Christian celebration remebering what is depicted on the nativity scenes, Lets have a little respect for all people and their religions or non religions and belief systems. That is why we live in this country.  If any one wants to celebrate then let them, Its not an offence, but it is when one tries to scensure or oppress and make fun of another group, The images displayed by the athiest group are not only mean spirited, but very offensive.  There is no difference if you displayed swastikas next to a manora.  This violates all people including athiests.  Athiest don't want to be put down for their beliefs. 

I think the chain  link cages are beautiful, regardless of what's put in them. 

This is confusing.  "Only three of the spots have been used" but it says 3 Nativity displays are in 2 spaces, a menora is in another, there's a mention elsewhere of a quote from Jefferson, and photos here that show 3 other sign displays, which if my math is right adds up to seven, right?  Did the reporter who did the article fail to update the number or is the idea that a sign isn't a 'display'?

I can understand people who have taken for granted their right to dominate the display being annoyed when other citizens want a fair share, and it certainly sounds like there isn't enough room remaining for displays that have become more and more elaborate over the years, but wouldn't the solution be to just move them all to a centrally located church with a large lawn?  I live in a very small town but there's a really lovely Nativity display here on a busy corner right in the middle of town entirely on church property, and another at the Catholic Church, and also several homeowners who have lovingly created home made Nativities for their yards everyone sees as they drive around to see the light displays.

It puzzles me that some people are so eager to get government to endorse their religion.

This fool would not DARE to try this if the park was being used to celebrate Ramadan, they would find him and kill him for insulting the Muslim faith. What a kill joy and loser. As a resident of Santa Monica, it was a treat to walk and drive down the street during the Holiday season. How is talking about Peace on Earth...hurting anyone?

Do you actually know any muslims? Or are you just basing this all off of Fox News? 

Either way, the date of Ramadan changes every year as it is tied not to one specific date, but to the Islamic Calendar which is tied to the lunar cycle.  So it has been and will be a very long time until the dates of Ramadan and Christmas coincide again.  So the likelihood of your scenario happening is fairly low. Especially considering that Muslims comprise a fairly low percentage of the population compared to Christians.

Lastly, insulting someones faith is wrong. It's their faith, not yours. Lets just leave each other alone.

I think the title to this story is biased and unfair.

In religion, the inmates pity the escapees.

From reading a few of the comments here I get the impression that if you express Atheistic views then you're arrogant, annoying and a whole host of other pejoratives.  However, if you use the same words, arguments and behaviors but substitute the words "god" and "Jesus," then you're at one with god, share a magical spirituality, and should expect everlasting life in the eternity.

I'd just like to point out that since there's no SCIENTIFIC evidence to back up the theory of god, it makes your views opinions, which are just as valid as any Atheist's opinions.

Which means Atheists are entitled to as much free speech as you are, which means they're allowed as many spaces in Santa Monica as the religious groups were, which means atheist groups should get all the spaces in Santa Monica for the next 57 years in order to get equal time.

Pardon my overuse of logic.

Like I said above, anyone that expresses their religious views (outside of a group of their religious peers) is arrogant, annoying and a whole host of other pejoratives.

The scientific evidence argument is a moot point as those with religion don't seem to believe in science, for example, Michelle Bachmann. 

Also, you're trying to bring logic into a discussion on religion? While admirable, it's utterly futile. Faith is inherently illogical.

Atheists should erect some sort of display that is frowned upon by the Bible.  

Oooh, like a Christmas tree!

atheists can be arrogant and annoying  ... i'm glad i'm ignostic.  and if you need help understanding what it means, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I...

true atheism doesnt assume anything, so i doubt its true atheists who are annoying you. i dispute the "ignostic" notion that the question of the existance of deities is meaningless without prior evidence-based definitions. we can always philisophically wonder what created the universe and/or us, but its unfortunate that so many people resolutely need to settle on answers to those questions, which only religions claim to provide

Well done Santa Monica's atheist community! It seems odd to me that your country has specific injunctions about breaching the church/state separation wheras mine (Australia) has not. Yet in your country the federal/state and local goverments promote Xtianity with impunity and yet mine does nothing even remotely similar. (It was news a couple of years ago when the PM went to church!)
Countries with official religions like Denmark are practically religion free.I hope the theocracy won't block this action next year! Keep up the good work. 

Atheists aren't simply unbelievers.  They are A (Against) any kind of theism.  Rather than indifference -- and/or tolerance -- toward theistic beliefs, they are actively averse to them. 

I like agnostics, but all of the atheists I've ever met (and I was in a serious relationship with one) have had deep-seated anger issues, usually relating to their childhood/parents. 

As a Buchrist (Buddhist-Christian), I will take this opportunity to pray for them.  Rather than being upset about this issue in Santa Monica, let's just increase our prayers.

Love to All!  God is Love!  :)

No, A (without) theism (religion). The prefix A means "without". Like abacterial means "without bacteria". Antitheists are against religion. Although they have justification for this, it isn't the same as atheism. Furthermore, I am an atheist and have no issues with anyone in my life any more than the average person would. Try again, please.

So, based on your sample size of a guy you dated once and the other handful of atheists you have met, you deem to make such broad, sweeping...Oh, never mind.  The irony has hurt my brain.

I understand that completely. 

When I was younger I had quite a bit of anger. Perhaps it was because my "friends" constantly told me that I was going to hell. Perhaps it was because they circled around me, held hands and PRAYED for me and wouldn't let me go. Perhaps it was because they once wouldn't let me out of a tent while camping until I read some bible pamphlet they threw at me. Perhaps my friends were just assholes, but it definitely didn't endear me towards their religion. 

One thing I've noticed is that anyone who tends to parade their beliefs around tends to be an asshole. Whether it was my christian friends who were determined to save my soul against my wishes, or even me in high school using my lack of faith as a weapon against those bitches. 

The ones who don't speak about their religion constantly, the ones who keep their beliefs to themselves, are often the nicest people. They realize that not everyone may share their beliefs, and that's just fine, because they have their faith and that is what matters. 

What use of the word "squander" is this? I think you want to use a different word. Squander is not correct.

i hope the atheist spaces are used for some secular displays done in good taste.. im an atheist and the winter holidays are just as special without religion. christians ought to know they dont have a lock on americans' beliefs anymore, and that life without religion is better in many ways

I agree. I just wish some groups would stop being so hostile. Banners like the one at the top of the page do nothing except to turn people away from the concepts being addressed. It grabs attention, but no matter how ridiculous, no one should have their religion disparaged. 

Why can't we all just keep our beliefs to ourselves and stop pestering others with them?

well, i think theres a time and place for a bit of militancy, and public winter holiday displays probably arent that time and place. many christians and other religious types have no problem saying im damned etc etc, and sometimes a gentle flick of their nose is called for. but in general positivity should reign. ive converted seven good, intelligent people to atheism so far, and im proud of that

Saying you converted people to atheism makes atheism sound like a religion.

it could sound that way perhaps, but its definitely quite a process to free the human mind from the manifold contortions of faith-based reasoning. true atheism isnt about definitively saying there isnt a god or gods, but rather recognizing that there is no compelling evidence that there are any

They are full of hate and immorality... lost deceived sinners. God hasn't separated Himself from them, they seperated themselves from Him.

http://www.christianshelpingou...

Check out the hate mail atheist groups receive 
and you'll see who the haters are!

you're right. Anybody who doesn't believe in an invisible, omniscient being who (in a contradictory manor) gave us free will and then absolutely zero proof of even his own existence, let alone that he sacrificed himself to himself so that we could be forgiven of original sin HE gave us should not be allowed to express their opinions ever.

You're absolutely right. Anyone who hasn't accepted God into their lives is obviously a horrible person filled with immorality. Everyone knows all atheists are murderers, rapists and destroyers of humanity. If only they had Jesus in their life to show them that murder is bad.

Oddly, no war has ever been started by Atheists.

Also, I don't remember any Atheist group molesting young boys and covering it up.

Also, I don't remember a time in history when Atheists murdered people because they wouldn't admit to being Atheists.

May gosh, have you not heard of Stalin and Mao.

Mockery doesn't make you a better person Poo. It just reveals that in your heart you are a mocker.

It's understandable why you don't care that you are one; however, as the atheist has no ultimately meaningful hope beyond their short time here.

It's called reality, and some people are fine with that

I never claimed that it did. 

But here's the difference between you and I. I am not going to pass judgment on your choice of religion. That's your choice. I'm not going to say that you're a good or a bad person based on that because I don't know anything about you.

You on the other hand seem perfectly willing to pass judgment on an entire group of people who you do not know personally. 

"They are full of hate and immorality... lost deceived sinners."

Then, later, you write this:

"I am not going to pass judgment on your choice of religion. That's your choice. I'm not going to say that you're a good or a bad person based on that because I don't know anything about you."

Sounds like passing  judgement to me.

I think you confused Circe's comment with ageofknowledge's comment.

I think you are right, and I stand corrected.

Thank you for taking responsibility for your words. That's rare in these online comments now a days.

You know, the greatest travesty foisted on the human race (for the time being) is that people go to different places when they die.

There is only one place we all go, and that is back from whence we came -- the Earth.

Now, can we all just get along, treat each other equally, and let each other live in peace?

I'm all in favor of this. 

According to the article, there still will be religious displays at the park, just not as many of them.  Two spots for nativity scenes and one for a menorah.  Religious freedom has been maintained.

Equal rights and freedom of speech may be a bit chaotic, but that's how freedom works.

Congratulations to the atheists for demonstrating that Freedom FROM Religion is just as important as Freedom OF Religion in the United States of America.

Maybe the Atheists were actually making a commentary that simply leaving the space vacant was preferable to erecting a display promoting someone's particular religion on public land?  Or maybe they were trying to say that one group's God or other gods most probably do not exist and want to commemorate that by showing nothing at all. Atheists can do nothing that would be acceptable to Christians in this matter other than to erect nativity scenes and convert to Christianity.  I say Christians have SQUANDERED the money spent on these nativity scenes that could have been better spent on directly helping the needy, just to use the most offensive word from this story's headline. Meanwhile, read the New Testament, Matthew chapter 6 verse 5.