An Improper Attack on Religion

By Richard Land - Dec 10, 2008 - 4

A placard placed by an atheist group near a Nativity scene and a “holiday tree” (all privately sponsored) in a Washington state government building has generated plenty of reaction from Christians across the United States. The sign, which reads in part, “Religion is but a myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds,” and reportedly celebrates the winter solstice, was placed in a display area in the state’s legislative building by the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

I have written on previous occasions, including in my most recent book, The Divided States of America?, that perhaps the best solution for public religious displays in a very religiously pluralistic society is to have the government maximally accommodate the sharing of those public spaces by various religious groups.

For example, Christians could pay for a Nativity scene, and the government could accommodate their wish to have it displayed on a courthouse lawn or at the state Capitol during the Christmas season with the government providing security protection. Jewish and Islamic groups could similarly request that a symbol of their faith be displayed at a time of their choosing, perhaps Hanukkah and Ramadan.

The current travesty in Washington state, with an atheist group’s extremely hostile statement attacking religion in general and Christianity in particular (under the ruse of honoring the winter solstice) in immediate proximity to the Christmas display, is both denigrating and disrespectful to the Christian faith. One does not honor pluralism by disrespecting other people’s faiths in such hostile ways.

An appropriate symbol of the winter solstice (one can hardly imagine what that would be), placed in the public space to honor those who observe the winter solstice, does nothing to either denigrate or promote Christianity. The current display is hostile and disrespectful. In accommodating peoples’ wish to have their faith acknowledged in the public square, one must understand that such displays must not attack other faiths.

Princeton (A.B., magna cum laude) and Oxford (D.Phil.) educated, Dr. Richard Land has served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission since 1988. During his tenure as representative for the largest Protestant denomination in the country, Dr. Land has represented Southern Baptist and other Evangelicals’ concerns in the halls of Congress, before U.S. Presidents, and in the media.

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comments

1 On Dec 10th, 2008, at 4:10pm, eric wrote:

What you conveniently overlooked was that the state had been sued by the ACLJ to allow statements of faith to be placed in the Capitol.

Allow one faith, allow all.

You should be directing your righteous indignation at to ACLJ, whose legal suits to inflict Christianity on the public was directly responsible.

“Hostile and denigrating” sums up the Christian attitudde toward those of other faiths.

As ye sow, also shall ye reap

2 On Dec 11th, 2008, at 10:08am, Wendy Pitcher wrote:

If atheists do not have faith in anything or any type of god, then why do they celebrate the Winter Stoltice? I find this to be a bit of an oxy-moron and just an excuse to lash out at Christianity.

3 On Dec 11th, 2008, at 11:32am, James Reeves wrote:

Mr.Land you are so right on some of these issues as I understand them by the amount of information I have processed in my small memory bank. I know that some other religious entities want equal access to a nice Christmas display but do they really want equality or disclamation of what we believe. The high ground of our belief system is Jesus Christ the Lord in this world ruling hearts spiritually and results in our displays of kindness in letting others voice opinions even when they are wrong.
Should Christians use the clout they have in public office to promote compassion, joy, faithfulness, peace,and goodness?

James Reeves

4 On Dec 11th, 2008, at 7:10pm, eric wrote:

Wendy: The solstice celebrations date from earliest times. Christianity moved ‘Christmas’ to similar dates in Roman times, to co-opt the festive season. Why not celebrate having reached the nadir of the dark season, and the lengthening days ahead? It seems infinitly logical. It is certainly NOT an atheistic celebration, being rooted in ancient Nordic cultures.

Do you see everything you neither understand nor agree with as an attack? Do others not have the right to celebrate as they choose?

An oxy-moron (sic) is a contradictory statement. Where does the contradiction lie here?

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