Freedom from Religion in Santa Monica [View all]

[rug]

November 26, 2012
By roberthunt

A victory has been won in Santa Barbara by those seeking freedom from religion in public. (http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-denies-bid-park-nativity-displays-17762364#.ULIajIX5gnY.)

While it is perfectly understandable that some (Christian and atheist) may prefer the considerable beauty of the Palisades Park to be unmarred by any type of display, this may by a pyrrhic victory for atheism.

For about 60 years different Christian groups have mounted life-size nativity scenes on public land in the Palisades Park. Beginning in 2009 atheists asked for spaces for displays, so the city council held a lottery for parcels of land. Damon Vix got one such display space. The AP report tell us that “His first display quoted Thomas Jefferson: ‘Religions are all alike — founded on fables and mythologies.”

The AP reports that “In 2011, Vix recruited 10 others to inundate the city with applications for tongue-in-cheek displays such as an homage to the “Pastafarian religion,” which would include an artistic representation of the great Flying Spaghetti Monster. . . .The atheists used half the spaces they won, displaying signs such as one that showed pictures of Poseidon, Jesus, Santa Claus and the devil and said: ’37 million Americans know myths when they see them. What myths do you see?’”

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/roberthunt/2012/11/freedom-from-religion-in-santa-monica/