First of all, I don’t understand how the presence of
Christian symbols—the Ten Commandments, a cross, a verse from the Bible—threatens
anyone. How are these things threatening? Why is it better for society if they
aren’t present in public view?
I’m a Christian, but I don’t recoil at the sight of a
synagogue, a mosque, or a statue of Buddha. I don’t feel threatened by those things.
When I come across a verse from the Torah or the Koran, I often consider it and
realize how similar it is to verses I’ve read in the Bible, how similar the
sentiments are. I’m not going to jump religions and abandon Christianity
because I’ve seen those images or those buildings or read those verses. I
simply read them, observe them, or even ignore them sometimes, and I go about
my day. I don’t feel threatened by them, and I don’t see any need to get rid of
them or hide them.
So why do we have to diminish Christian symbols? How can
those of other religions be threatened by those things? How can ridding society
of Christianity and Christian symbols make those who believe in other religions
feel better? I don’t think they do. I don’t think members of other religions
are the ones at the forefront of movements to do this because I think they
feel, for the most part, the way I feel about this.
However, there are the atheists. Why do atheists feel
threatened by Christian symbols and the like? This one really confuses me
because atheists don’t believe in any god at all. So why in the world are they
so against Christian symbols, etc. in public places? How in the world can they
feel threatened by or infringed upon by something they don’t even believe is
real?
Pretend like you’re in San Diego and Comic-Con is going on.
There are all kinds of people walking around in all kinds of costumes—there are
aliens, there are Trekkies, there are zombies, there are superheroes of all
makes and varieties—it’s a smorgasbord of fictional characters. (Yes, sorry,
Trekkies—Klingons aren’t real.)
Are you going to feel threatened by these people who are
dressed up in these costumes, representing characters and beings that you know
aren’t real, that you know don’t exist? No. You’re not. And I know you’re not.
You might laugh at them. You might admire their creativity in designing their
costumes. You may think you want to go to Comic-Con next year.
But you aren’t going to feel threatened. You aren’t going to
petition city hall to have those people removed from public space BECAUSE YOU
KNOW THEY AREN’T REAL.
So what’s the deal with atheists and Christianity? God isn’t
real for them, so why should they care if there are religious symbols—any religion’s
symbols—out in public? Should the Easter Bunny not be allowed to come to town
for egg hunts? He’s not real. Should Santa Claus be banned? Should we no longer
allow any family to place a little money under their children’s pillows when
they lose a tooth because—gasp!—the tooth fairy isn’t real and is a very threatening
figure.
I just don’t understand. What’s wrong with religious symbols
being present? Those symbols aren’t trying to convert you. They aren’t
threatening you. They simply reflect certain beliefs, beliefs atheists don’t
share and therefore can’t be threatened by.
Like I said, this has bugged me for a long time, and I thought
it was time to say something. I don’t get it. I’ll never get it. I'll never understand, either, the government's willingness to diminish religion in public. We have to cater to those who don't believe. Those who do believe are persecuted.
But I can tell you one thing, zombies don’t piss me off, and
I don’t have a burning desire to prohibit them from walking around in public. I
don’t believe in them, but I do admire their costumes.
It's Satan...and Satan trembles at the mention of His name.
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