Are You Offended By Public Displays Of Religion?

Question

In recent years there has been a major push by various groups to remove public displays of religion, whether it be Christmas wreaths or statues of Ganesh. These groups claim that it is offensive to display them in public. I'm curious: are you offended by such displays? In what context are they offensive (for example, is it okay for someone to put up an Menorah in their front window, but not in a schoolroom?)?

Thank you for your time.

Answer 1

It depends on the display and where it is located.



Our government is supposed to represent me, an atheist, the same as it represents anybody else. Therefore, I get offended when I see it taking sides. Sorry, but this is not a Christian nation. It supposedly welcomes people of all religious faiths or none.



Public school has a different function than a church. If I had a kid, I should expect to be able to send him there without wondering what religion the teacher is pushing on him. I also shouldn't have to worry about him being ostracized by the teachers for being an atheist. So, I get offended by religious displays at school, supported by teachers, aimed at the kids.



I'm also wary, to various degrees, of businesses that try to push religion on their customers. I tend to steer clear of such establishments. It is their right to use their business to push their beliefs, but I don't have to frequent them. Depending on how it is done, it could also become religious discrimination, which I do get offended at.



As for the rest of the displays, no, I'm not offended by them. What you put on your own property is your business. However, it does sadden me that so many adults still buy into such blatent religious superstition.

Answer 2

No, I'm not offended by the displays, but I am often offended by the disrespectful responses to them. Spray painting obscenities on the side of a creche for example.



The whole thing centers around a woman named Madelaine Murray O'Hare, as I recall. She was an atheist, was raising her son to be an atheist, and sued the local school board over having Bible reading and/or prayer in the public school. The response to this upset has been religious people defending their rights, and an attempt to broaden the concept of what religion is, at least so far as public displays (often paid for with taxes) are concerned. After all, we do have a First Amendment which forbids the establishment of a government-sponsored religion.



The problem is not freedom OF religion but freedom FROM religion. Taken to extremes, it means an atheist should be able to walk through life pretending religion is either insignificant or non-existent. Such is simply not the case. Religion is very important, influences decisions most people make, for good or ill, and needs to be acknowledged.



What we need, however, is respect for all religions to the extent possible. Granted, one can hardly respect a religion that makes direct attacks on what you believe, let alone shouting for your death. But if we could learn about what people believe in all walks of life, how people respond differently to the Divine, what symbols they use, rituals they perform, and what they mean to them, we would be a lot better off.



The problem comes when all information seems to be prosyltizing. When all available literature is designed to try to convince you that you should join them. Some even go so far as to say you will be punished for eternity if you do not join.



This is why I especially appreciate the Living Insights Center in St. Louis. It is a unique place, with different rooms dedicated to the symbols of different religions, and respect for all flows through it. People meet there to share their insights, the healing power of brotherhood and sisterhood, and to discover that we are often talking about the same spirit, just using different words and symbols. It's a wonderfully enriching experience.

Answer 3

The only thing that is offensive about it, IMHO, is the fact that not all religions are able to display their religion publicly. By "allowing" some but not others, it's a question of "all religions are equal... but some are more equal than others."



Look at the stonewalling that has stopped the Pentacle from being approved for soldiers' headstones in military cemeteries - nine years later, and they still won't approve it, even though Wiccan soldiers continue to give their lives in defense of their country.



The difference between the front window and the schoolroom is a question of private versus public property. If they allow the cross and menorah, then they also need to allow the star and moon, the pentacle, etc. etc. etc.

Answer 4

Religion has and always will be there and there is no harm with moderate symbols of faith. In modern times there are so many extreme people. Any true scientist will never make claims that can't be backed up and not one has, or ever will come close to disproving God. Science states that there must be an answer to everything, which also means there must be no exceptions to anything and there must be an ultimate number. Please tell me what that number is and I'll accept your argument. PS. By the way, if there was no God, everything would be dark because there would be no sun or life because there would be no reason for either.

Answer 5

No, I'm not offended by public displays of religion. I am offended when a group decides it's better than any other group and tries to deny their right to that freedom. If they all can't be displayed, then none should be displayed.



After all, that is how we teach our children how to play fair and share, right? No wonder our kids are confused... we tell them one thing and do another... I guess we have to return to treating adults with childish behavior as children...

Answer 6

I am not offended by Public Dispays of religion like the 10 Commandments or crosses. I like seeing them. It really upsets me that groups like the ACLU are trying to get rid of them, only because a small group of people are offended by them. What about the majority who's not offended by them?



If anything I'm offended by groups like the ACLU who want to take down those symbols like crosses & the 10 Commandments.

Answer 7

I have no problem with public displays of religion on private property.



When it comes to property that is school or government related, though? It has no business there, and while offended isn't the right word, I am against their being there and would demand that they be removed. You want to display a nativity scene? Put it in your yard or your church's yard NOT on the state house lawn.

Answer 8

"These groups claim that it is offensive to display them in public. "



What groups?



ACLU suits against publicly-funded/supported religious displays have nothing to do with anyone being "offended". Those suits are the defense of the free practice of religion: it is wrong - and illegal - to force me to support religious beliefs with which I disagree.



There is quite a bit of "political correctness" among religions, with each claiming the right to not be offended by the others. But the ACLU, atheists, and the U.S. freedom of religion have nothing to do with this.



Right-wing Christian groups claim that these suits are an attempt by "secularists" to eliminate religious expression in public. That claim is simply a lie, and a particularly anti-American one at that. You have the right to put crosses, Menorahs, Stars of David, or whatever in your windows at home, or to paint 'em on the side of your house if you like. There's a house a couple of doors down from me that used to have Bible verses painted on panels on the side: the guy was a wacko, but I never once thought "I'm offended" let alone "he shouldn't have the right to do that".



But if you put those symbols on the side of the public school, you're WAY over the line. Not because it's offensive, but because it's anti-American. We are at a real risk of losing our nation to right-wing Christians, and the ACLU has done more to defend the nation in the past 15 years than all of her soldiers put together.

Answer 9

Only if you are spending my tax money on it. Then I am very offended.



The whole thing with public property is that if you allow one, you have to allow them all. If you think the Menorah is OK in the class room you need to make room for a Pentagram and a Yin Yang and everything else too. It the Church of Satan wants to display it the only fair was is to allow it. This gets unmanageable pretty fast and it is easier just to keep it out.

Answer 10

In Australia we are free to do what we want. If someone does not like it then this person does not need to look at it. Personally I do not display any religious items simply because I do not like it and do not need it.However it is my free choice not based on any consideration what others feel about it. FREEDOM is another word for God, try also LOVE and LIFE the you will understand how this displays are not worth looking at.Ignore it.

Answer 11

Most people are not against public displays of religion. It is the public displays by the government, on government property, using our tax dollars, that people dislike.

Answer 12

I am offended that they are taking down crosses and religious symbols that have been up for years in my community. We can't have Christmas trees in public places, no carroling. We aren't even allowed to say God in the pledge of allegiance. Children can not pray in school even if they want to. I am surprised that the opinions of the people offended by these displays have more right than those of us who do have pride in our religion. I am offended that God is being taken away from the Americans who are religious, and that we are having to supress our religious nature to entertain people who are non believers. Just imagine, what if you aren't allowed to show pride in your heritage because it offends people? What if people were offended by the sky, would the lawyers of the world sue our government to get rid of it? It feels that petty to me. If you don't like it, don't look at it. If it offends you look away. Simple and sweet.

Answer 13

No. You can only get offended if you take others' peoples actions and beliefs personally. Since I do not care about what people decide to do with their religion, it cannot offend me.

Answer 14

Accept everything as it is, they do no harm by displaying beliefs. Also what some see as religious symbols others can be art to others.

Answer 15

Not offended, just annoyed. Why do groups constantly want to ram their belief system down everyone's throats? Do those groups really think that they are going to change people? They don't. They just annoy everyone.

Answer 16

I think not! Baptism is a very public declaration of one's dedication to God, and thousands approve of it every time it is done.

Answer 17

No, we live in a society that accepts all religions including those that encourage idolatry.

Answer 18

I want to see them everywhere

but I want to see them ALL

I think it is lovely to display culture and religion

Answer 19

im not very religious but things like that dont bother me as long people aren't shoving their religion down my throat

Answer 20

Live and let live.As long as they don't bring that s h i t to my front door I'm cool with it.

Answer 21

It is exactly like displaying cartoon characters.

Answer 22

I am just exhausted by Christian pseudo-symbols everywhere... it is mostly their hype that I want gone... make more room for others.

Answer 23

No...but religion is offensive!

Answer 24

no, if it is entertaining enough...and not brain washing repetative as they usually tend to be.

Answer 25

I'm not offended. (atheist)

Answer 26

No