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The Racine Post is reporting that atheists have placed a pyramid near a Nativity Scene to protest the promotion of religion in a public place. The pyramid contains several quotes that oppose or criticize religion. The following is an excerpt of the news release that appeared in The Racine Post:

There are, as any cursory drive around town will prove, scores of beautiful churches in Racine. The phone book lists more than 150.

The seasonal symbol of their belief sitting in Monument Square for a week now — the Nativity scene recalling the birth of Christ more than 2,000 years ago — has been joined by an 8-ft. tall, white-painted plywood pyramid, the work of fewer than a dozen Racine atheists.

“This country was founded on the principle of separation of church and state,” said Al Sorenson, 70, who built the pyramid. “The Nativity Scene is a violation that doesn’t belong on public property; it’s an ancient superstition, based on a myth.”

The pyramid’s four sides each have a quote opposing the practice of religion. One side says, “There was a time when religion ruled the world. It is known as the dark ages.”

Another side says: “The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” That quote, from Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli, 1796, which was signed by President John Adams and ratified unanimously by the U.S. Senate, has been a point of contention regarding the proper interpretation of the doctrine of separation of church and state.

The protest reflects the desire of atheists to remove religion from the public arena. The effort to use the words “Xmas” and “Xians” instead of Christmas and Christians is an evidence that a small minority of Americans is trying to eliminate mentioning of the name of Christ in public and impose their views on the majority of people who are religious and believe in God.

It is at this time that we should remember the words of the Apostle Paul: “ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Merry Christmas

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Atheism, Christmas, Nativity Scene, Pyramid