Published:December 5th, 2008 12:57 EST

Atheist Attacks Christmas

At this time of the year you can`t drive a city block or enter most public or private buildings without being overwhelmed by decorations, trees and other symbols of Christmas.

An individual who doesn`t go along with the yuletide program is considered a Scrooge who should be shunned by polite society.

He may be tilting at windmills, but an atheist put up a sign in a Legislative building in the state of Washington, proclaiming that the Christmas story is a myth.

"Alongside a Nativity scene at the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington, a sign put up by an atheist organization celebrates the winter solstice. But it`s the rest of the sign that has some residents and Christian organizations calling atheists Scrooges for attacking the celebration of Jesus Christ`s birth.

"Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds," the sign says in part.

Dan Barker, a former evangelical preacher who now heads up the atheist and agnostic Freedom From Religion Foundation, said it was important for atheists to see their viewpoints validated alongside everyone else`s."

CNN.Com

Anyone who goes against the prevailing paradigm isn`t going to be met with holiday good cheer, and Barker has been called everything but a child of God.

I don`t celebrate the winter solstice any more than I honor the eclipse of the moon or any other aspect of nature. But Barker is free to observe the winter solstice, and to label religion a harmful myth.

It may not be kosher to put up a sign condemning religion in the Holiday Season, but free speech isn`t always pretty or polite.

There shouldn`t be any religious displays or signs in a public building, but as long as there are Barker has every right to put up his somewhat insensitive poster.