Where would the Freedom From Religion Foundation be without Christmas?
Quite a bit poorer, for one thing.
As was demonstrated in the article Atheism Spirituality, it is actually normative to refer to Atheists as being neo-Pagan. In other words, it is not as if the majority of Atheists are counter-distinct with a small segment that are neo-Pagan; they are not some minority Atheist sect but a majority, if not all, Atheists—consciously or not.
The issue is that we worship that which we find to be greater than ourselves and for Atheists the universe/nature, is both greater and, on their view, our creator.
“But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You’re gonna have to serve somebody Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody”
—Bob Dylan song “Gotta Serve Somebody”
Since Atheism’s major assertion is a negative premise—there is no God, we do not have enough information to draw a conclusion, etc.—then they do not take positive actions. Thus, rather than establishing their own heartwarming aholiday they parasitically prey upon others.
Actually, they only prey upon one; Christmas. You do not find Atheists fighting billboard wars or placing monuments against anything to do with Ramadan, Kwanza or Hanukkah but only against Christmas. This is because Atheism is not a movement against any and all gods but against only one: YHVH the Judeo-Christian God; Atheism is an anti-Christian support group.
“They’re just jealous because they don’t have three
wise men and a virgin in the whole organization.”
—Vincent ‘Buddy’ Cianci Jr.
Enter The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) which is an organization that was established in the USA; a country founded upon the concept of freedom of religious expression. The FFRF is a watchgod group and time and time again Dan Barker and his wife Annie Laurie Gaylor, who is his organizational comrade, have proved that they are 1) neo-Pagan and 2) adherents of the positive affirmation of God’s non-existence denomination of Atheism (meaning that they actually believe that God does not exist…but, of course, do not prove it).
In fact, Annie Laurie Gaylor has stated that the (unscientific and faith based) statement “There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world” is an actual axiom of the FFRF (that motto was penned by Annie’s mother Anne Nicol Gaylor, who co-founded the FFRF).
As has been proved in the following articles, the The Freedom From Religion Foundation has, time and time again, sought to promulgate the observation of the equinox, and are thus neo-Pagan:
Dan Barker and Neo-Pagan Atheism
Addendum to “Dan Barker and Neo-Pagan Atheism”
Richard Dawkins Exhibiting Neo-Paganism-Atheism, Childhood Rejection of God
Atheist Neo-Paganism…In Other Words
The latest news release from the FFRF states, “Saturnalia comes to South Jersey – FFRF billboard counters Christian banner in Pitman” (December 12, 2013 AD); this further proves that they are neo-Pagans.
The press release notes:
“‘Keep Saturn in Saturnalia’…billboard…is meant to counter the ‘Keep Christ in Christmas’ display by the Knights of Columbus that the borough seems to think is appreciated by persons of non-Christian religions and those who follow no creed at all.”
This is the very point made within the Atheist Bus Ads and Billboards chronicles; Atheists should keep on posting billboards, bus ads, etc. and explaining them because nothing discredits them more than their very own statements.
“Keep Christ in Christmas” is meant to encourage Christmas celebrants to “Keep Christ in Christmas.” It is utterly fallacious to conclude that the Knights of Columbus posted the statement thinking that it will be “appreciated by persons of non-Christian religions and those who follow no creed at all.”
Although, this goes to another point about Atheist psychology; everything is about them. One cannot make any sort of religious statement without them taking it personally. The Knights of Columbus bought a billboard and it is not on government property thus, the FFRF should have nothing to say on the matter.
The press release notes that Pitman, the location of the Christmas billboard, has “Its roots are in 1870s’ land grants for a Methodist summer camp” and that the “FFRF first became involved in December 2011, when a resident reported the Christian banner as a potential state/church violation.” So, there hangs a happy billboard but because one person took it personally the FFRF went into action because it may, perhaps, possibly, who knows, be a state/church violation.
Well, look; the FFRF has to do something to raise funds so they do this all over the country every December and then beg for money to fight the evil establishment.
Lastly, note that as was demonstrated in the book Christmas is Pagan and Other Myths by J. P. Holding (which we reviewed here), “there’s no connection between Saturnalia and Christmas”:
“Saturnalia. Our chief source for this pagan holiday is an author named Macrobius, who lived in the early fifth century. He explains that Saturnalia was held on the fourteenth day before the kalends of January. If you compare that to Hippolytus, you can easily figure out that that’s six days’ difference…Saturnalia…wasn’t even on December 25th…the source cited for this [supposed Christian borrowing from Saturnalia] is usually Clement Miles’ Christmas Customs and Traditions: Their History and Significance. Miles wrote his book in 1912 and it is difficult to see why he should be accepted as an authority…As it happens, though, on the pages cited (273), he says nothing about Saturnalia.”
The Bible’s book of Romans chapter 1 elucidates the reason that Atheists are neo-Pagan:
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse; for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened.
Claiming to be wise, they became fools; and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”