'tis the season

[BT]

On Politics: Capitol nativity scene draws criticism; opposing display planned

 Posted: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 3:45 am
A tiny figure of baby Jesus is surrounded by Mary, Joseph and the three wise men in a new nativity scene in the state Capitol rotunda. The conservative group Wisconsin Family Action set up the manger scene on Sunday, and its president Julaine Appling said the group plans to display it through the end of the month.

A tiny figure of baby Jesus is surrounded by Mary, Joseph and the three wise men in a new nativity scene in the state Capitol rotunda.

The conservative group Wisconsin Family Action set up the manger scene on Sunday, and its president Julaine Appling said the group plans to display it through the end of the month. But the move angered the Madison-based Freedom from Religion Foundation, which is now planning its own "slightly blasphemous" Capitol nativity display celebrating the winter solstice.

"It's distressing to me that we have a manger scene on top of all of the religion at the Capitol," Freedom from Religion co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor said. "Every day it's religion, religion, religion."

Gaylor said her group applied for a permit for its display on Friday, and hopes to set up the solstice scene as soon as possible. She didn't provide many details about it, but said "we will have a different type of wise people."

The foundation's permit was approved on Monday morning, said Jocelyn Webster, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Administration.

Appling said her group applied for permission to set up the manger on Dec. 1, and believes the rotunda is a public area and an appropriate place to express different opinions.

"Even with the court's current definition of the separation of church and state, it has not been abridged," Appling said.

The nativity scene includes six figures and a quote from the Bible that reads, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon his shoulder."


http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/on-politics-capitol-nativity-scene-draws-criticism-opposing-display-planned/article_6f437626-24d6-11e1-b26b-001871e3ce6c.html?print=1

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Is that quote actually in the bible?

[hnumpah]

Isaiah 9 verse 6.  For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Leave it to an atheist to find it, rofl.
 

[BT]

thanks bear.. didn't recall seeing it before.

[Xavier_Onassis]

The very worst idea that Mankind has ever invented: that religion and government should be joined. The Egyptians seem to have invented it, and lamentably, the Hebrews brought it with them.

Is that the KJ version you are quoting?

[hnumpah]

thanks bear.. didn't recall seeing it before.

Probably because it is in the Old Testament prophecy, not the New Testament where one might expect to find it. Not a problem though.

BTW, the quote as given is from the New American Standard Bible. You can find alternate versions at http://unbound.biola.edu/index.cfm?method=unbound.welcome

[Xavier_Onassis]

My experience has been that atheists and agnostics tend to surpass believers when it comes to the Bible. Believers embrace the parts they like and forget the rest.

[hnumpah]

My experience has been that atheists and agnostics tend to surpass believers when it comes to the Bible. Believers embrace the parts the like and forget the rest.

That I once studied to become a minister helps.

[Christians4LessGvt]

I was pleasantly surprised last Friday night when
I discovered a tradition in my new neighborhood.

About 8PM I heard a fire truck slowly going down my street
blowing it's siren off and on. I ventured outside to discover
a fire truck creeping down the neighborhood streets with
a Santa sitting outside on top waving, throwing candy to the kids,
saying "Ho Ho Ho Merry CHRISTmas!".

I called my niece that lives in the same community
and she said "oh yeah they do that every year".

ACLU?.....Ha Ha Ha Ha! Merry CHRISTmas!

[hnumpah]

Silly boy. Volunteer (and no doubt some paid) fire departments have been doing that for years.

[BT]

Silly boy. Volunteer (and no doubt some paid) fire departments have been doing that for years.

It's actually one of their biggest fundraisers.

[Christians4LessGvt]

wow...I've never seen it in my lifetime
but I've never lived in the city I do now
they were regular city fireman riding on a large city owned fire engine
they were not taking donations....
ACLU be damned!

ps: also an update....I have seen a resurgence in stores
this year of decorations, wrapping paper, cards, and
clerks saying "Merry CHRISTmas"!

[BT]

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.154779731224491.25989.119799054722559&type=3

[Xavier_Onassis]

I have nothing against Christmas decorations, nativity scenes and stuff like that. I can see where some people might find them offensive, but I don't. I only hate twittering tree ornaments, and I suspect everyone else does, too, snce3 I have not heard one for four years or more.

The local ACLU Chapter here in Miami seems to be mostly run by Jewish lawyers, judging from the3 names on the Board of Directors. I was a member for a year or so, but they mostly sent me appeals for money every month for things of minimal importance, and I let it lapse. They have sent me a FINAL NOTICE to renew my membership at least twelve times in five years.

I do not condemn them, but I think that Common Cause and Public Citizen do more constructive work. The ACLU must spend over half their budget on mail asking for donations and renewals. That accomplishes nothing useful.

[Plane]

The local ACLU Chapter here in Miami................................but they mostly sent me appeals for money every month for things of minimal importance, and I let it lapse.

     This makes me very courious , what sort of thing did you think was minimally important , thereby disagreeing with the ACLU?

[Xavier_Onassis]

Stuff like city Christmas decorations, prayers at meeting held in schools, schools requiring uniforms. The most irritating were one telephone calls appealing for "special contributions" four times in a year, and tons of repetitious mail pleas for more money, money, money. This was as number of years ago, and I cannot recall all the various campaigns. It seemed to me that the local ACLU was asking for money to pay local lawyers who were ACLU members. They sure wasted a fortune on postage.

I hate anyone calling me and putting me on the spot to "make a pledge". I don't do pledges, ever. If I want to send money, I do so. If I do not have the money, I do not pledge. Also, they got my middle initial wrong by accident and so when I started getting tons of mail begging me for money addressed to my misspelled name, I deduced that they sold my name to some mailing list.