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Our Big Beautiful Billboard on the Boulevard!
If you drive north out of Raleigh on Capital Blvd., just past the Hwy 401 split near Ashton Shopping Center—look to the right and you will see our billboard in all its shining pseudo-stained-glass glory!
When the Triangle Freethought Society formed as a chapter of the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) in 2009, we set a goal to fly one of the FFRF billboards in Raleigh, our state capitol. Nothing like that had ever been seen in these parts, and we thought it would be a great way to make our presence known.
Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-founder of the FFRF, was excited at the prospect of having an FFRF board in the south, and encouraged us to move forward. Keeping in mind that our very existence is offensive to some, we decided that our first big sign should be positive, and to get people thinking and talking. We did not want our message to be dismissed as spiteful, a “war on Christmas”--and we wanted to draw in new members. So, the message we chose is pithy yet kind, and with a tinge of humor: Reason’s Greetings!
Next step, “where?” We wanted to have the billboard in a high-traffic area, and evidently you don’t get more heavily trafficked in the state of North Carolina than Capital Boulevard. But it turns out that it’s far easier to find a sign company to advertise stripper bars and gambling than a mildly irreverent message about the real “reason for the season”. One company said “Yes” and then said “No” when we showed them the design. Eventually we found a reasonable business, contracts were signed, and vinyl was printed…
Now our colorful billboard is UP! We are grateful for financial help from several members, including Todd Stiefel, whose Stiefel Freethought Foundation made a generous donation to this project.
On a cold, rainy December morning, a large group of TFS members trekked out along the boulevard to admire our new sign, and to give our biggest heathen smiles for a celebratory photo. We are proud to be making great progress in getting our message out there for all of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill to see!
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Comments
Hooray!
AWESOME billboard, guys! Kudos! I think it looks great!
Laura
Please allow me to say
Once again, let me say although I'm a Christian I think your billboard is great. I have no problem with ANYONE expressing their belief, on public property or not. It's great that people take a stand and are willing to share their belief whether they are Jewish, Christian, Atheist, or whatever. If it's done in the right spirit then it shouldn't be a problem. When it's done out of spite then it's just childish.
Thank you for allowing me to discuss here. It's appreciated.
Billboard
Nice friendly billboard.
Billboard
My question is: How many of the people in that photo celebrate christmas? How many particioate in some kind of family celebration on or near Dec 25th? How many of the children in that photo have santa visit on Dec 24th?
And what are the odds that this post doesn't make it on the blog?
Billboard
Hi Anonymous (don't be afraid - we don't bite)
I would imagine that many people in the photo celebrate during this holiday season (which does not just include Christmas, but Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Solstice, and a few others). We just do not celebrate in the Christian faith.
See, that's kind of the point of our billboard - to show people - to make them aware that there are people - good, moral citizens of the United States - in the Triangle who are not Christians - who, in fact, do not believe in a god or gods, but who still appreciate the holiday celebrations of gift giving, enjoying family, and knowing that the long nights will be over soon (ie., winter solstice celebration, which pre-dates Christian celebrations at this time of year).
So, you see, we don't celebrate Christmas (though many of us have family members who are Christian and we're not being disrespectful to them for their beliefs) so much as we celebrate the winter solstice season, and celebrate our families, our children, and the fact that we walk the earth at all.
Happy holidays!
Though I'm not in the picture
Though I'm not in the picture (unfortunately--the goal was to be there but the weather kept us home), I am happy to answer your question: Yes, my family celebrates a holiday we refer to as Krismas on Dec. 25th.
Our reasons for celebrating on that day are 1) I celebrated the xian version, Christmas, as a child, so the date is culturally relevant to me; 2)a vast majority of people in our community also celebrate, for various reasons, on or around that day, so it seems like a good choice as far as dates go (see also "culturally relevant" above); 3) we enjoy the lights, the tree, the food, the gifts, and all of the other secular aspects of the occasion--they provide a nice break from the routine and a lot of festivity and cheer during an otherwise dull and dreary time of year.
That's why I celebrate Krismas on the 25th.
You *are* aware, I hope, that the xian version of the holiday was based on preexisting Pagan celebrations? So, assuming you're a xian yourself, I have to ask, why do *you* celebrate the birth of your deity on Dec. 25th when biblical scholars have agreed that if Jesus actually existed, he certainly wasn't born in Dec.?
But even assuming for the moment that this man, Jesus, *was* born on Dec. 25th, I'm still curious to know how exactly you correlate hauling a tree into your house and stringing lights on it, the Santa Claus myth, snow men, etc. with the birth of Jesus? The way I see it, unless you sit at home engaged in bible study all day on the 25th, xians have less reason than anyone to participate in the secular (i.e. non-Jesusy) aspects of the celebration than anyone and should be the ones who have to justify themselves to others.
I'm only anonymous because
I'm only anonymous because that's what "it" said I was when I previewed my post. :)
I do not believe that Jesus was born on Dec. 25th. He was clearly born in spring. As you stated, the celebration by myself of his birth on Dec 25th is simply convenience as that is when it's celebrated.
I am also very aware of the "preexisting pagan celebrations." So? I fail to see how that even makes a difference. Have you ever celebrated your birthday on a day other than your actual birthday because it was more convenient? For whatever reason the 25th of Dec was chosen to celebrate his birthday. His actual birthday or not doesn't matter. It's about the reasons it is celebrated.
I don't mind your billboard. I don't mind that you people are atheist. I'm tolerant of all beliefs or lack thereof. I must say, however, that I have met many an atheist who seems to be a bit hypocritical when it comes to their celebration of Christmas. Also your (the author of the post) tolerance, or should I say lack of tolerance, of Christianity is well noted in that you capitalized Pagan yet couldn't even type out the word Christ to put in Christian or Christmas. LOL
I hope you have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
No offense intended
If you are very aware of the preexisting pagan celebrations, you will know that they took place around the time of the winter solstice. They were a celebration of the return of longer, brighter days. Christianity preempted the pagan solstice celebrations and claimed them for their own. They did this too at the time of the vernal equinox - Easter.
It makes a difference because, unlike a birthday celebration, it was an attempt to overrun the existing celebrations and replace them with religious, Christian ones.
The 'X frequently used in 'Xian' or 'Xtian' is an abbreviation for Christ. It arises from the Greek term Christos which starts with a Greek Chi, written as X. This usage dates back to the 1500s. Thus, the usage is not an attempt to "blot out" the name, or be offensive.
I have met many a hypocritical Christian; hypocritical people are out there everywhere. And I dare say that their hypocrisy is generally not limited to their religious or non-religious beliefs.
Question for Amy
Do you celebrate Christmas with your family, Amy? Do you call it Christmas? Do your children call it Christmas? Do you put up a tree and give Christmas gifts? Have a traditional Christmas dinner? Have a Christmas "party" with family who don't know you are atheist? Do you play the game, Amy, like so many other atheists?
Just curious. :)
My family celebrates the
My family celebrates the Winter Solstice. We read books about the Solstice season and we attend Solstice celebrations when there are any in the area. We have a Solstice tree in our living room with a snowflake on top, rather than an angel or a star.
What would you call a 'traditional' Christmas dinner? If you are asking if we eat on Christmas, then yes, but we eat every day.
I do gather with family during the holidays as everyone else does, but I am an out atheist to all of them. We celebrate another year of good health and happiness and the fact that we get to be with one another.
So yes, there is celebration around this time of year in my house, but it's not based on any Christian mythology. For someone who claims to know about the 'preempting' of the Solstice celebration by the Christians, you certainly are leading me to believe that you only feel like Christians have reason to celebrate this time of year.
Of course there are
Of course there are hypocrites in every walk of life. You'll get no argument from me that there are hypocritical Christians. Probably more than "good" ones. Who knows?
I know where the x comes from as well. However, you'll forgive me for not buying the fact that you aren't trying to blot out Christ. Of course you are! You are an atheist. ;)
Of course I celebrate Christmas
I'm not in the photo, but I sure support that billboard.
The seasonal celebration was borne from the early superstitions that a dragon was eating the sun, so the townspeople gathered and did what their leaders told them to do, the dragon stopped eating the sun and the daylight became longer again.
I'm a devout atheist and I celebrate Christmas. It was a delightful festival before the Christians adopted it, and I see no reason to avoid its celebration. I get great joy in picking out the right gift for the right person, and I like the lights, the decorations, and dare I say some of the music.
As for Santa, I certainly believe in him. He brings joy to young and old when they see him. He's everywhere. I even have a suit just like his. Santa and I are about the same build and when he gets really busy I offer to help out. You don't need anyone's god or religion to enjoy the fun things about the Christmas festival.
The warmth, joy, fellowship and social activities of Christmas are wonderful. We just don't need to believe in any gods or myths in order to celebrate.
Atheists are not bad people. We just believe in one less god than you do. We object to any religion attempting to impose its doctrine and dogma on us.
Merry Christmas!
Fred
Fred, I like you! You can
Fred, I like you! You can actually type "Christ." That says something about you. :) And you attitude towards Christmas is perfect.
More atheists need to adopt your kind of tolerance.
I guess what I find hypocritical are atheists who demand respect and tolerance yet don't provide that to Christians (and vice versa). They won't even spell the word correctly. lol Tolerance goes both ways. If you (I'm referring to the collective you) are going to desire it or demand it then you have to be tolerant of others as well.
Putting a nativity in a public area isn't imposing doctrine. It's celebrating what one believes in. Just like putting a billboard on the road or a Winter Solstice sign next to a nativity is celebrating what someone else believes. Unless they are put there to aggitate and aggrivate. ;)
Merry Christmas to you Fred!
Nativities
Putting a nativity in a public area quickly does become a problem if said public area is a courthouse lawn, a town hall building, or a public library lobby (for instance). You see, these properties are paid for by tax dollars, and to utilize them to display a "Christmas" tree, a nativity scene, a Jewish menorrah, or any other sort of religious symbol is to make it appear that the government is endorsing one religion over another.
If a church wants to put a creche in front of their sanctuary, if a private homeowner wishes to erect a cross in his yard at Easter, if a private business wishes to etch a Jesus fish on the front door of their building, that is completely at their discretion and within their rights. But it is a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution for the government or any entity of the government to appear to endorse any type of religion.
Look to your own holy book, Matthew 6:5-6 specifically, for more guidance on this matter:
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
So putting your winter
So putting your winter solstice sign next to the creche on public property isn't the same kind of problem? Why not? If the property you put your sign on was paid for with tax dollars then it does just what you described with the creche. You can't have it both ways.
If you are going to quote scripture you may want to take it in context first. There are all kinds of passages you can quote out of context to make a point. The problem is it isn't correct. ;)
Our motivation for placing
Our motivation for placing our Solstice sign last year was purely so that we could point out that no religious or non-religious displays have any right to be on public property. Of course, the city was not going to ban the creche so we had to put up something that would hopefully bring up enough controversy that the city would no longer allow anything from that year on. We actually hoped to only have to use our sign once in Moore Square and never again.
Reasons Greetings
The comment made it on the blog, and the billboard is nice and friendly. Considerably more friendly than the billboards in NJ and Manhattan which were sniping at each other.
I would have made the signature on the bottom bigger and simpler so people could more easier look at the Freethinkers Society web site.
Just my thoughts (after some thinking).
Jack van Dijk
Billboard
Congrats Anonymous, you made it on the blog.
In answer to your questions: Despite going back to St. Nicholas, Santa is not exactly a religious icon these days. Not to speak for everyone, but personally I would not promote any mythical figure as if it were real to a child, whether that be Santa, God, or the Easter Bunny. We believe in promoting reason.
Also, a mid-winter celebration is not a religious invention.