Nativity scenes on public grounds

[Bucky]

Poll question: Nativity scenes on public grounds

Do you think they're unconstitutional? I'm talking about nativity scenes diplayed by themselves during the last two weeks of December.

[HEyHEY]

1. I look at it this way....

I'm not religious, I have the freedom to be. Some people ARE religious... if I outlaw their display of their faith then that's my personaly stance on religion infringing on their freedom of religion... so I don't mind the scenes.

[cosmik debris]

4. It's not about displaying religious symbols

on THEIR OWN LAND, it is about displaying religious symbols on land that belongs to EVERYONE.

I know that I would never give permission for people to use MY land for display of religious symbols. But they don't give me any choice.

[Bright Eyes]

9. Why don't they just put up nativity scenes

on their own property?

[NMMNG]

30. If they did, what would they have to scream about?

Plus the Santa, reindeer and snowmen are already taking up all the space on their own property. :shrug:

[patrice]

2. I would have no problem with scenes depicting appropriate figures

from all major religions. I can't imagine how that would work out, but wouldn't it be a glorious celebration of the life of a man named Jeshua!

[Bucky]

3. In Houston we put up signs celebrating Lunar New Year. Does that promote Buddhism?

The city also puts up a lot of Yuletime themed decorations. I don't see that that's promoting paganism. I think there's a substantive difference between nativity scenes and, say, posting copies of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

[Blue-Jay]

5. I really don't care.

That sort of thing is #101 on my list of Top 100 Things to Be Upset About.

[Quantess]

27. me neither.

[TankLV]

29. my thoughts exactly...

[Vanje]

6. Missing poll response : Who cares!

For Crying out loud!
Theres a little plywood manger scene at the entance to town.
It just dosnt rate on my list of big crappy national crises.

[sandnsea]

7. It's either part of a multi-religious display

or it's unconstitutional. I think it's ridiculous to say the nativity is the same as Santa. Religious freedom is part of our heritage and it's acceptable for communities to celebrate that, as long as it is inclusive of all beliefs.

[Blue-Jay]

8. How many religions need to be included to be considered "multi-religious"?

[sandnsea]

14. Whoever wants to be included

I expect the local religious leaders to come together and work with the city leaders for whatever is reflective. I don't expect any government official or worker to be personally involved in organizing a holiday display.

[Blue-Jay]

25. OK. That's fair.

Like I said up-thread, I don't really care anyhow. Baby Jesus doesn't offend an atheist like me, even if he's sitting in the City Hall yard during the holidays. I got bigger fish to fry.

[supernova]

10. No, and I would welcome other displays beside it

Even though I'm xtian in my worldview, having other displays along side would be a chance to experience, appreciate and expand my knowledge of other paths.

Exclusionists thrive on the not knowing. When you expose them to things that are different from them, they don't so readily exclude because they can't say something/someone is so foreign to them anymore.

[Warpy]

11. If the town doesn't pay for the display or the light bill for it

and only allows it on public land, it's OK by me, but only if they also allow the menorah and Kwanzaa candles in their time.

I lived in a town that did that. I don't share any of those holidays, but as long as I didn't have to pay for the display, I didn't mind seeing it in the town square any more than I minded seeing similar ones outside churches and temples.

[Breeze54]

12. It does NOT belong in front of a public building.

Put it in front of a church, like they do here.

Lights, poinsettia's and Santa for the kids are fine with me in front of townhall but not religion.

[Bucky]

19. Isn't Santa a religious figure?

It's St Nicholas, after all. That's a lot more sectarian than baby Jesus, who even pagans and Muslims revere.

[Breeze54]

21. No, I don't think Santa is religious...it's a fantasy...

Some say it's St. Nicholas... but I think it's evolved to be a generic thing/fantasy for fun for all kids.

snip-->

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply "Santa"
is a fictional folklore figure who, in Western cultures, is presented as bringing gifts on
Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.<1> or on his feast day, December 6.<2> The legend may have
its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of Saint Nicholas.

snip-->

Modern origins

"Scrooge's third Visitor", a colorized version of the original illustration by John Leech made for Charles Dickens's novel A Christmas Carol (1843).

Pre-modern representations of the gift-giver from church history and folklore merged with the British character Father Christmas to create the character known to Britons and Americans as Santa Claus. Father Christmas dates back at least as far as the 17th century in Britain, and pictures of him survive from that era, portraying him as a well-nourished bearded man dressed in a long, green, fur-lined robe. He typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, and was reflected in the "Ghost of Christmas Present" in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol.

The name Santa Claus is derived from Sinterklaas, the Dutch name for the character based on St. Nicholas.
He is also known there by the name of Sint Nicolaas which explains the use of the two fairly dissimilar
names Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas or St. Nick...

Father Christmas

[baldguy]

13. OK, as long as I don't have to pay for it.

[Common Sense Party]

17. Yes, agreed.

I think most of the time these displays are donated, anyway.

[XemaSab]

15. About 80% of Americans are Christian

It's a majority religion.

I think the "war on Christmas" just gives the Christians a reason to feel persecuted, and it's better to just ignore it. :shrug:

[Common Sense Party]

16. Nore nuanced response: Who the hell cares?

They can put up just about any religious display they want, short of animal sacrifice. There's nothing wrong with putting up something that some constituents identify with. Put up a menorah. Put up some Hindu or Buddhist symbols. Knock yourselves out. No one's joining any religion because of it.

Most of us are too busy leading our lives to notice, anyway.

[Quixote1818]

18. It bothers me if it's just a Christian display however I wouldn't mind it if other religions

put up displays too. Perhaps if the City invited all religions to set up displays and who ever wanted to participate could. Displaying Religion on public property is fine as long as everyone is on equal ground. Of course when the Devil worshipers show up then all hell breaks lose! :evilgrin: (no pun intended).

[libodem]

20. Who cares?

I just think that there should be the same right for a Jewish symbol or a Muslim or Buddhist. It's freedom of religion, not just freedom for the Christian majority. The Nativity Scene is our (dons fake southern drawl) culture and heritage.

[emilyg]

22. Don't care.

I love everything about Christmas.

[Dave From Canada]

23. It's a national holiday, already sanctioned by the Government. People should be allowed to display

decorations related to said holiday. Nativity scenes are obviously related to Christmas, so tough luck.

[NMMNG]

24. Go ahead and put up the Nativity scene

but require a display for every other holiday that is celebrated at this time of year. Next thing you know there will be all sorts of excuses as to why that can't be done (lack of space, insufficient funds, community backlash, etc.). Funny how those that insist their religion be displayed in the public square have a coronary if somebody else's might have a chance to be.

And I don't want to hear any of this stuff about how a Nativity scene is part of the secular American culture and not religious in any way. It celebrates the birth of Jesus, the Christian savior, so there's no way it can't be linked to a religion.

[Libby2]

26. Very well said, and I agree.

[TankLV]

28. Oh for christsake!

Just give everybody else some time on the damn lawn!

Anyone who's interested can reserve time.

My golden retrievers already left some presents there...

[Fire Walk With Me]

31. I'm going to start placing plastic meditating Buddhas at the base of large-leafed trees.

It shall certainly be the end of the world as we know it. Hopefully.