Dueling signs in FL show the war on Christmas has begun.

[madfloridian]

It's that time of year again, and all over town where I live the Jesus is the Reason signs are going up in yards. It's the annual war against Christmas.

Controversy in Lakeland over Christmas sign

Video at the link.

There is a sign controversy in Lakeland where a man created a sign five years ago that caught on around Christmas time. Now, a local group has put its own spin on his slogan -- a spin that stirred up controversy between neighbors. The slogan, "Jesus is the reason for the season," started small and local, but five years later it has become a nationwide Christmas tradition.

"Last year we shipped signs to California, and Oregon, Wisconsin, Texas and the Carolinas," he said.

http://www.advertisingsignsthatwork.com/holiday.html

There is another group making signs, pointing out that Mithra's birth was also attended by shepherds. They point out also that Mithra came about 1000 years B.C.E. (Before the Common Era)

Another group in Lakeland decided to make their own signs this year and about the same color and the same size, and only this group changed one word - on their signs, "Jesus" is replaced with "Mithra."

And that is stirring up a lot of controversy.

"Mithra had shepherds attending his birth, they brought presents, Mithra had twelve disciples," said EllenBeth Wachs of the Lakeland chapter of Atheists of Florida -- the same group suing the city over public meeting prayers.

Their signs went on sale Monday online.


http://atheistsofflorida.org/

[pnorman]

1. I OVE it!

And I'll be using it, sometime this month.

[Norrin Radd]

2. That's an awesome counter sign.

[WCGreen]

3. Love it!!! K & R

[Union Scribe]

4. Yep, that's the holiday spirit, jabbing at each other.

Just once a year people are supposed to not be fuckers to each other, and apparently that's one time too many for people who can't just enjoy friends and family and have to stuff their passive aggressive opinions down everyone's throats around them. Yeah, I know. Just like in the other thread that makes me a fundie-loving constitution-hater or whatever for not enjoying the discord sewn by the irl troll elements of both the religious and non-religious. Jesus. Pun fully intended. Flame away, holy and unholy warriors.

[some guy]

5. I might be wrong,

but I thought Jesus' thing was people were "supposed to not be fuckers to each other" all the time - not "just once a year"

:shrug:

Maybe you're a follower of Mithra, and his thing was "just once a year" ?

:shrug:

:hi:

[Union Scribe]

6. And a happy holidays to you too.

Get it all out of your system. I'm going to bed.

[some guy]

7. Thanks!

Happy Solstice! :)

[madfloridian]

8. Mithra and Winter Solstice...did not know this

http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/celsolstice.html

"Christ’s birthday was not celebrated on December 25th until the 4th century. Before then, December 25th was best known as the birthday of the Persian hero and sun-god, Mithra. The myth tells that he sprang up full-grown from a rock, armed with a knife and carrying a torch. Shepherds watched his miraculous appearance and hurried to greet him with the first fruits of their flocks and their harvests. The cult of Mithra spread all over the Roman empire. In 274 AD, the Roman emperor Valerian declared December 25th the Birthday of Sol Invictus, the Unconquerable Sun."