MERRY christMAS?

Many of us are accustomed to seeing signs that connect Christmas to Christianity, with lights that shine, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” or with the countless nativity scenes in front of churches and people’s homes. However, this year, there are unusual holiday messages that have started to appear in Washington D.C. They read, “No god? …No Problem!” or “Be good for goodness’ sake,” to name a few. These signs are part of an atheist campaign, sponsored by secular groups all over the world.

Roy Speckhardt, executive director of American Humanist Association explains, “We don’t intend to rain on anyone’s parade […] it’s just to say that you can be good without god.” Needless to say, his statement still did not prevent strong, dissenting reactions from religious communities. As Mathew D. Staver, Dean of Liberty University School of Law, says, “It is the ultimate Grinch to suggest there is no God during a holiday where millions of people around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.” This debate and demand for respect from both sides will likely “spark a theological war of words,” as mentioned in the article.

This brings to focus the debate about the American Creed, made up of a loose set of values: liberty, individualism, freedom, and egalitarianism. Followers of the American Creed believe that despite political disagreement, these values join in the idea of limiting government, thus, limiting political debate. However, dissenters of this belief, like Hertzke, do not feel that there is such a consensus, and that for Americans, there are conflicts on matters. It seems that in this case, Hertzke’s argument holds firm ground. It is obvious that religion is very important in American society and in American politics. So, in the midst of the atheist campaign versus Christian communities, one must wonder, “If people are fighting, is the liberal answer (everyone can do what he or she wants) good enough?”