War on Christmas – Page 7

War on Christmas Extends into January

Jan 3, 2014JerryChristmasChristmas, War on Christmas

The war on Christmas has spilled over into January.

According to the Baxter Bulletin, on Wednesday of this week (New Year’s Day), an atheist group wrote a letter to Baxter County Judge Mickey Pendergrass, Mountain Home Mayor David Osmon, and Mountain Home attorney Rick Spencer. The letter complains about a Nativity scene on the courthouse lawn in Mountain Home, and threatens legal action if the Nativity is not removed.

Now, Christmas is already over and the Nativity scene (which you can see here) will be “removed” soon anyway, if it has not been already. Just the same, this group wants to be assured the Nativity, which has graced the courthouse lawn for the past fifteen years, never will be put up again.

But the Nativity is well within the bounds of the U.S. Constitution. According to Alliance Defending Freedom, courts have ruled that government offices can place Nativity scenes and other decorations with a religious connotation on their public property–especially if non-religious decorations are present as well.

The display in Baxter County includes a large Christmas tree with a Santa Claus standing next to it — neither of which is a religious decoration. In the background, an arch of holly is visible surrounding the doors to the courthouse, and red bows are visible on the building — both are Christmas decorations, but not religious.

The courthouse’s Christmas decorations are not exclusively religious; in fact, they are exactly the kind that judges have ruled constitutional.

We keep saying it: Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is also an official holiday in this country. Why would our government be free to recognize Christmas as a holiday; give its employees time off from work on Christmas day; put up decorations commemorating Christmas; but not even mention the very event Christmas celebrates? It’s ridiculous.

ADF Busts Seven Myths About Christmas Celebrations

Dec 19, 2013JerryChristmas, Religious FreedomChristmas, War on Christmas

Alliance Defending Freedom has put together a handy fact sheet busting seven common myths about how Christmas can and cannot be celebrated by and in our public schools.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a school can ban teachers and students from saying “Merry Christmas,” or whether a Nativity scene can be placed on school property, ADF has the answers.

Click here to download the fact sheet.

What do Americans Think of Christmas? Rasmussen Has the Numbers

Dec 16, 2013JerryChristmasChristmas, War on Christmas

Rasmussen Reports has published some interesting poll results on Christmas in the past couple of weeks.

According to Rasmussen,

This tracks with a poll from 2012 that found 60% of Americans celebrate Christmas primarily as a religious holiday.

While these numbers are interesting by themselves, on the whole they show Americans overwhelmingly celebrate Christmas and that Christmas is viewed as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is also legitimately recognized as a federal holiday. With that in mind, why are there so many efforts underway right now to try to make Christmas about something other than Christ or prevent Christmas from being celebrated publicly? Why should a public official or public Christmas display be expected to recognize any element of the Christmas celebration except the very event Christmas celebrates?