It's amazing that Christians find any time to celebrate Christmas given the 24/7 whining mode they get into this time of year.

bulldg4life: They entered the process in the same manner that the churches did and were selected through a random lottery.

It's a shame the churches didn't get free reign to hog all the spots like most years?

The churches are usually the only applicants. It sounds like there's typically no competition for those sites.

The other groups have the same right to rent spaces as the churches do, but to buy up all the spots and then put nothing in them makes it obvious that this is just a turf war, and a spiteful one too.

So someone wishes happiness to others and the churches have a problem with this?

It's kind of tacky to go through all of that and not use the space in a positive way.

ginandbacon: It's kind of tacky to go through all of that and not use the space in a positive way.

Well, really, putting nothing on the sites the atheists have is kind of meta.

simplicimus: ginandbacon: It's kind of tacky to go through all of that and not use the space in a positive way.

Well, really, putting nothing on the sites the atheists have is kind of meta.

True...

Chariset: to buy up all the spots and then put nothing in them makes it obvious that this is just a turf war, and a spiteful one too.

On a further consideration it may not be that obvious. In this case the lack of a message on the site sends a message and not a spiteful one too. Just as a display of idols promotes worship of said idols an empty display promotes not worshiping idols.

Are not both points worthy of expression in a free society?

shinysign: Real life trolling?

Seems like it.

I don't care if you believe in God or not, but shutting down someone's christmas display is a dick move. this is why nobody likes atheists - they're dickbags.

give it a rest guys. slack off till after the holidays. down some eggnog and be happy for once in your short meaningless bleak existences.

also - dickbags. I just wanted to call them that again.

Some say their atheist hearts shrank three sizes that day.

Weaver95: I don't care if you believe in God or not, but shutting down someone's christmas display is a dick move. this is why nobody likes atheists - they're dickbags.

give it a rest guys. slack off till after the holidays. down some eggnog and be happy for once in your short meaningless bleak existences.

also - dickbags. I just wanted to call them that again.

These are the dickbags that give all the other, lesser dickbag atheists a bad rap.

Waah free speech waaah freedom of religion.

They bought them fair and square, and freedom of religion does not mean you have a right to put your religion everywhere. Nobody is stopping you from using your own churches and your own houses for your religion.

GAT_00: Waah free speech waaah freedom of religion.

They bought them fair and square, and freedom of religion does not mean you have a right to put your religion everywhere. Nobody is stopping you from using your own churches and your own houses for your religion.

It's still a douchebag move. Just because you bought them fair and square doesn't mean you aren't being an idiot.

violentsalvation: These are the dickbags that give all the other, lesser dickbag atheists a bad rap.

It's kind of like the #OWS folks - - some people with well-thought out ideas and opinions, drowned out by a few asshats with a score to settle. 'Tis the season.

violentsalvation: Weaver95: I don't care if you believe in God or not, but shutting down someone's christmas display is a dick move. this is why nobody likes atheists - they're dickbags.

give it a rest guys. slack off till after the holidays. down some eggnog and be happy for once in your short meaningless bleak existences.

also - dickbags. I just wanted to call them that again.

These are the dickbags that give all the other, lesser dickbag atheists a bad rap.

These sound more like anti-theists than atheists. Atheists are generally cool about leaving us to our delusions.

DamnYankees: It's still a douchebag move

Meh. They beat the system.

GAT_00: DamnYankees: It's still a douchebag move

Meh. They beat the system.

oh yes...ruin everyone's christmas. Because THAT will surely make people want to listen to your philosophies about life and religion....

Weaver95: oh yes...ruin everyone's christmas.

By not having displays? How does this ruin anyone's Christmas? I bet the churches will still have displays. You can still set one up in your home. How does it ruin Christmas?

coffeecrisp: So for the last 57 years, the spots were always awarded to people of the Christian faith. Public spaces being used to propagandize one religion. This year the Christians had some competition for the publicly owned spaces and they are crying fowl because they did not get them all for a 58th year. I really don't have a problem with this.

I imagine you have autocorrect. We only cry fowl at Easter. Otherwise, it's foul.

I really hate this argument. Look, celebrate, don't celebrate, I don't care. Leave other people alone and let them do whatever they want.

This also annoys me when people get their panties in a wad over the "Merry Christmas" "Happy Holidays" nonsense.

There are ACTUAL problems to worry about, and these people are biatching about this.

I take it back: I don't want anyone in this article to have a happy holiday or a merry christmas. I want them all to die in a fire.

GAT_00: Weaver95: oh yes...ruin everyone's christmas.

By not having displays? How does this ruin anyone's Christmas? I bet the churches will still have displays. You can still set one up in your home. How does it ruin Christmas?

*sigh*

whatever man. you go right on being a dickbag.

GAT_00: Weaver95: oh yes...ruin everyone's christmas.

By not having displays? How does this ruin anyone's Christmas? I bet the churches will still have displays. You can still set one up in your home. How does it ruin Christmas?

Well, some displays have live nativity scenes, which are fun to see. Otherwise, not so much. If the atheists used the space for Festivus orgies, that would also be fun.

OH...and t those people who are all "But I live in the bible belt, and I don't want my kids bullied for not celebrating Christmas"- move. No one forces you to live there.

Stupid. I get all annoyed with Christians for pulling this type of BS so fark these atheists as well.

Let people worship as they please without your interference.

what_now: OH...and t those people who are all "But I live in the bible belt, and I don't want my kids bullied for not celebrating Christmas"- move. No one forces you to live there.

Not everyone has the financial ability to move on a whim. In fact, I would dare say most people don't. That would mean leaving your job--in a market where finding a new job is highly uncertain--selling your house--at a time when more mortgages than I can count are underwater and yet no one is buying.

what_now: OH...and t those people who are all "But I live in the bible belt, and I don't want my kids bullied for not celebrating Christmas"- move. No one forces you to live there.

Or, I live in the Bible Belt, but want my children to have Halloween.

Weaver95: GAT_00: Weaver95: oh yes...ruin everyone's christmas.

By not having displays? How does this ruin anyone's Christmas? I bet the churches will still have displays. You can still set one up in your home. How does it ruin Christmas?

*sigh*

whatever man. you go right on being a dickbag.

You said it, and I know doing exactly what you just did - completely refuse to answer a direct question - annoys you. How does this ruin Christmas?

simplicimus: Well, some displays have live nativity scenes, which are fun to see.

And what's stopping these churches from doing that at their church?

what_now: OH...and t those people who are all "But I live in the bible belt, and I don't want my kids bullied for not celebrating Christmas"- move. No one forces you to live there.

One, I reject the premise that up in Massachusetts you don't have these people, and two, no I don't the ability to move.

GAT_00: simplicimus: Well, some displays have live nativity scenes, which are fun to see.

And what's stopping these churches from doing that at their church?

what_now: OH...and t those people who are all "But I live in the bible belt, and I don't want my kids bullied for not celebrating Christmas"- move. No one forces you to live there.

One, I reject the premise that up in Massachusetts you don't have these people, and two, no I don't the ability to move.

Re: Nativity Scenes, physical space and logistics can cause issues on church property.

GAT_00: How does this ruin Christmas?

It doesn't, how do Christmas displays ruin your solstice? They don't

it is just a f*cking dick move and the only reason they do it is to be f*cking dicks.

violentsalvation: It doesn't,

Yeah, but he said it did. So I want to know how.

violentsalvation: it is just a f*cking dick move

They had just as much right to buy the space as anyone else.

simplicimus: Re: Nativity Scenes, physical space and logistics can cause issues on church property.

Well, that's not my fault and it's not the fault of these guys either.

There is nothing necessarily "atheist" about this message. Pagans could just as easily put this up. Irks me that the paper doesn't point this out.

GAT_00: Meh. They beat the system.



Do you know who ELSE beat the system (new window)?

This is why I love my town. It may be in Virginia, and a pretty conservative place, but they absolutely refuse to change the policy that allows anyone to apply for a permit to put up a holiday display, which means, this year as I walk by the historic courthouse (Geroge Washington himself once spoke from its steps) I get to see:

"a large "letter from Jesus" appealing for kindness and civility that was written by an atheist, which advises: "Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home."

A Star Wars display, set to be erected Saturday, will be a poster that reads, "May the force be with our troops ... this holiday season,"

• A crèche, or nativity scene,.

• A sign showing a picture of the Easter Bunny, Santa and Jesus Christ with text that states, "Myths for Young and Old," a quote from Thomas Edison and information about the Loudoun Atheists,

• A banner with the text "Celebrating our Constitution" and language about keeping church and state separate, the banner comes from American Atheists and NOVA Atheists.

• A banner promoting "reason in the holiday season,"

• A holiday display that will either be a Tree of Knowledge or a holiday message sign

• A sign about the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

• Another sign from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, this one with a holiday message, .

• A nativity scene

and this :
• A piece of art work depicting Santa on a cross to "depict society's materialistic obsessions and addictions and how it is killing the peace, love, joy and kindness that is supposed to be prevalent during the holiday season," submitted by Middleburg resident Jeff Heflin Jr.

GAT_00: DamnYankees: It's still a douchebag move

Meh. They beat the system.

Douchebags beat the system a lot. Still douchebags.

GAT_00: One, I reject the premise that up in Massachusetts you don't have these people, and two, no I don't the ability to move.

Of course we do. But as they are the minority, we simply ignore them and move along with our lives.

At the end of the day- worrying about what your neighbor is doing, be it having gay sex or a lighting a giant inflatable Jesus on his lawn, is simply a waste of your time.

These bible-banging biatchers and moaners throw Matthew 6 right out the window, don't they?

DamnYankees: Douchebags beat the system a lot. Still douchebags.

Oh, ffs, is this really THAT big of a deal?

If the atheists were out protesting, letter writing, and/or just generally "whining" about the nativity displays most of the fark detractors would say "Hey, it's a free country. Buy your own place to display what you want instead of whining."

Now the athiests buy some spaces, and it's "Oh you farking douchebags! I need my baby Jesus all over the street or Christmas is RUINED!!!! Think of the children!!"

Hoban Washburne: Oh, ffs, is this really THAT big of a deal?

No, it's not THAT big a deal. But its still a stupid and petty thing to do.

If it was really a random lottery, then it was obviously God's will that the atheists got the spots...