We have previously discussed the war on atheists and agnostics that seems to be accelerating with the rise of people claiming to have no religious affiliation or belief in God in the United States, according to recent polls. There is a steady stream of statements from the national and international campaign by leaders against atheists, who appear to be fair game for hateful, ill-informed rhetoric. While you may have seen this already, Pat Robertson pushed this trend to a new low: telling his many viewers that atheists want to everyone to be miserable because they are miserable. They therefore what “to steal your holiday [Christmas] away from you.”
Here are his words of wisdom:
It’s, well, Christmas all over again. The Grinch is trying to steal our holiday. It’s been so beautiful, the nation comes together, we sing Christmas carols, we give gifts to each other, we have lighted trees, and it’s just a beautiful thing. Atheists don’t like our happiness, they don’t want you to be happy, they want you to be miserable. They’re miserable, so they want you to be miserable. So they want to steal your holiday away from you.
There is obviously a rising concern among political and religious leaders that faith is declining in society. Thus, even though the non-religous is now a majority in places like England, politicians are ratcheting up such rhetoric. Robertson’s rhetoric is particularly raw and inciteful, as are comparisons of atheists and agnostics to terrorists. It is an ironic twist. The effort to leave religious expressions to each citizen (as opposed to religious displays by the government) is viewed as a war on religion. There remains an insistence that the government affirm religious — and generally Christian — values and objects of faith. Robertson’s comments not only reflect a surprising insecurity as to the place of religion but an open hostility to those who want their government to be secular-based.
Oh the good old days, the really old ones! When the king with assistance of men dressed as women declared that we would no longer celebrate Midwinter Blot, but Christ’s Mass. The Blot was better, there we got a small sliver of the “sacrificed King” as appetizer to the sausage we could eat with our mead. Here it is only some sour vinegar (they call it wine) and a badly baked bread, symbol of the new king in heaven.
Then the merchant’s realizing one celebration drawing people was as good as another, continued to set up their stands and wares for sale. The greenery remained the same, the trampled mud the same, and the the need for a sweet fro grandpa and one for each of 13 kids remained.
Next year the priests are promising to add witch baiting, whatever that is—-to ease the boredom of November. And sometime in the future, Pat Robertson will be born, who will lead us on the straight and narrow path, despite our drunkenness and excursions into the bushes.
Hallelujah.
ElaineM,
“It is people like Robertson who are the miserable ones–always looking for problems and finding fault with other people who don’t view the world as they do. Not everyone is or wants to be a Christian–or a member of any organized religion.”
Gnerally, I feel that people don’t come to church because they are satisfied. Unfortunately, there is no complaints counter, only a preacher who says that it is either your fault or the demons are after the church. GIVE MORE, is the eternal solution. And if you kill any of the demons, you’ll be forgiven—-by the church.
we Incremental Infidels have been trying to ruin X-Day for the Church of the SubGenius for years.
by adding and/or subtracting days from their calendar so they never know when X-Day really is.
repeatedly referring to Ivan Stang as Arnold Stang
one year I drew a big handlebar moustache(some say mustache) on “Bob”
this year I’m going to put Jehovah 1’s “stark fist of removal” in warm water while he’s sleeping.
None of this has made me any less miserable but I think I pissed off R Crumb so it’s all good
come join the dark side, well it’s not really dark more dim than anything I guess
Phil Ochs anyone. I wonder if Pat knows any carpenters.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/26/pentagon-prayer-breakfast-ray-giunta_n_2193051.html ” Pentagon Prayer Breakfast To Feature Discredited Pastor Ray Giunta”
December 25th was not celebrated as the birth of Christ until 354 AD, when Pope Julius I choose this date because it coincided with Pagan rituals. The main purpose was to supplant the pagan holiday with a Christian holiday.
If Pat Robertson wants to take some shots about stealing the holiday then Pat should put his xmas tree up in July and start complaining about Pope Julius I.
Gene, clowns were a problem for me at times in my youth!
Now Congress is,…… It just goes to show ya, ….the more things change, the more they stay the same. 🙂
OS, I e-mailed your link to some local people that are competent and vocal in their abilities. These innerwebs are amazing.
OS,
That’s just not right.
This is the result of the seeds of hate Pat Robertson and his ilk have been sowing
Warning: graphic images. You have been warned.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/26/1164854/-AL-lesbian-viciously-beaten-by-girlfriend-s-brother-in-horrific-Thanksgiving-Day-hate-crime
they call me “Mister Grinch”
(said in my best Sidney Poitier voice)
David,
It reminds me of the bumper sticker I saw the other day: “Jesus is coming. Look busy.” It was right next to one that said, “Can’t Sleep. The clowns will eat me.” so make of that what you will.
God created the heavens and earth in 6 days. On the 7th day he rested.
God must still be resting, I have never heard anything about what he did on the 8th day. …… But when he does wake up and goes to work on the 8th, Pat Robberson may want to step aside,….VERY aside. 🙂
Pat Robertson…. I’m dleting this blog from the WordPress feed I get every day….. Nothing you have to say can have any meaning or importance to me. Go squat over a christmas tree………
henman:
good point.
Isn’t it strange that with all the large and beautiful churchyards in America, the Christians always want to put their nativity scenes in front of city halls, village halls, courthouses, and public schools? I wonder why.
Must be the annual “War on The Separation of Church and State.”
One of our guest bloggers recently pointed out:
(The Pilgrims’ War on Christmas, by Nal). I guess the Pilgrims were atheists according to RobberSon.
Akinoids, they are everywhere anymore.
Pat Robertson took all the joy out of Christianity and Christmas years ago. According to him Christians can only prove they are right with god by hating a long list of people and categories of people and believing that health care for Americans is an attack on the Christian religion. I have a message for Pat: Christ called and he wants his religion back.
He would also like money changers like Robertson out of his church entirely.
As an atheist I would have been offended to be categorized with the pagans! Pagans are animists, they believe everything has a soul & his holy & refer to ‘The Goddess” Thats not the same – you guys are sucking the joy out of the Atheist Holiday!!
But I am no longer an atheist, I have converted to the one true faith, Pastafarianism. The Flying Spaghetti Monster (all blessing be upon Him) touched me with His noodly appendage and saved me from a life of moral degradation. His commandment is “Should any person approaceth thee offering pamphlets in my name or insisting on relaying tidings of My greatness kicketh thou them inst their meatballs. Suffer a missionary not to reproduce.” So it is written so should it be rAmen!
Here’s another way to look at it:
http://www.sitefile.org/showimage/200/atheist.htm
Liberty University is suing the Feds about Obamacare again. Should we support praying as a form of health care for college students? They do tend to be the healthiest demographic.