Sign Stolen?

[debilorrah]

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I thank everyone for setting me straight... I knew it started with an "S".

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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The problem is that anything can be offensive to someone if they wish it to be - for instance, the swastika was an ancient symbols used by Christians, Heathens, Tibetans, etc... yet once Hitler got ahold of it, it became something to be shunned and spit on.

I suppose that the Nativity, being a symbol that is Christian, if someone had issues with Christianity, then to them it might seem as hateful as painting a swastika on a sign and hanging it there. Perhaps they were abused by those who were in power in their church, and therefore have SERIOUS physical issues with Christianity, not just philosophical issues. Perhaps seeing the Nativity brings cramps to their stomach because it brings up horrible memories. Who knows, the point is, that the Nativity - and All Other Symbols That are NOT Court/Govt. Related should not be on courthouse lawns.

Now, of course, I was exagerating a bit for drama, there, but perhaps not - perhaps somewhere there is truly someone who feels that way.

Let's keep religious iconography and philosophical iconagraphy and signage where it belongs -
in message board tag lines

j/k

Meri

 

[PortageGirl]

Thomas Jefferson who worked very hard to get the idea of seperation of church and state in the government had some very good thoughts.

"It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."
-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

which sort of applies, people can say what they want, but stealing the sign is wrong.

Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting "Jesus Christ," so that it would read "A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination.
-Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography, in reference to the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom

I am not saying that any one or other or none or many is right, just that we can all disagree without harming each other, and I think Thomas Jefferson was a lot smarter than I am, which is why I frequently fall back on his quotes.

if you google "Jefferson + Religion" there is much on the topic.

"Because religious belief, or non-belief, is such an important part of every person's life, freedom of religion affects every individual. Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no faith, undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of an established religion tends to make the clergy unresponsive to their own people, and leads to corruption within religion itself. Erecting the "wall of separation between church and state," therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society."

 

[SterlingAcres]

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Now that is a good quote.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

That first quote by Jefferson is one of my favorites.

I (like someone else who posted before, & I aint goin' back to look it up, so there!) am comfortable and secure enough in my own religious beliefs that someone questioning said beliefs, or believing differently isn't any skin off my ... teeth.

I do not need the Govt. to post nativities, Christmas trees, mennorahs, or signs to validate my spiritual beliefs, nor can anything they post on their lawn nullify my spiritual beliefs. They are mine alone, bought from years of study, and inner study. Born out through experience and trial and error. I am firm enough in what I believe, and someone arguing to the contrary might be annoying, but not soul shattering.

Heck, I love a good religious debate (note I said "good").

edited -- cause I'm thinking about chicken dinner and not spelling properly

meri

 

[Birch Run Farm]

I think it is interesting how we humans, as a species, have come up with so many beliefs or non beliefs. Too bad we just can't all get along no matter what we think!

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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, actually... that is a very Deist (yet another religious belief) philosophy

(I'm naughty, you can spank me later)

meri

 

[JennsPeeps]

As a native Washingtonian, and someone who lives aobut 30 miles from said controversy, I'm not sure what to think about the fracas. It's been quite cringeworthy with all the media coverage.

A few thoughts & details:
* It was wrong to steal the sign.
* The sign seems disrespectful and belittling to Christians.
* There's a nativity scene across the foyer from the sign, maybe 20' away at most. Pick where you want to focus your attentions and ignore the rest.
* A local group has petitioned to erect a "Festivus Pole" in the same area.

Believe what your heart tells you is right but don't infringe on the rights of others to believe what their hearts tell them is right. That's my bottom line.

ETA: the stolen sign was returned via country music station, which seems pretty ironic to me. I mean, don't country music & God walk hand in hand? LOL

 

[andorraclaim]

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Winter Solstice follows the "death" and "birth" of the sun which happens around Christmas. Give or take a couple of days around the 24th.

Apparently, I didn't read enough. Didn't mean to be redundant.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

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Winter Solstice follows the "death" and "birth" of the sun which happens around Christmas. Give or take a couple of days around the 24th.

Apparently, I didn't read enough. Didn't mean to be redundant.

it's ok to be redundant, as long as you are agreeing with ME!

just kidding. This topic can get too serious, trying to keep it from "going there".

meri