(CNN) (http://cgi.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/05/atheists.christmas/index.html) -- An atheist sign criticizing Christianity that was erected alongside a Nativity scene was taken from the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington, on Friday and later found in a ditch.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation had a placard up in the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington.

An employee from country radio station KMPS-FM in Seattle told CNN the sign was dropped off at the station by someone who found it in a ditch.

"I thought it would be safe," Freedom From Religion Foundation co-founder Annie Laurie Gaylor told CNN earlier Friday. "It's always a shock when your sign is censored or stolen or mutilated. It's not something you get used to."

The sign, which celebrates the winter solstice, has had some residents and Christian organizations calling atheists Scrooges because they said it was attacking the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth.

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

The sign, which was at the Legislative Building at 6:30 a.m. PT, was gone by 7:30 a.m., Gaylor said.(read the rest at the link)

Well first whoever stole is was in the wrong of course...second, now they know how we feel having the Ten Commandments removed from court houses...yes it was done legally...but even legal loop holes can be found to do things that really are nothing more then stealing...and now they know what its like to be told people don't want to hear what you have to say. Happens to us all the time! Then they say, thou shall not steal..falling back on one of the commandments...that has been removed. Gee how is anyone suppose to know stealing is wrong when we can't display the Ten Commandments anymore???

Second...I really wouldn't be bothered by someone truly expressing a holiday...but they barely mention their Winter solstice but spend most of the sign on attacking our faith. And where does it say in the Nativity scene believe or go to hell? :hmm: We don't put up signs that say this. Third...they make it sound as if everyone was observing the winter solstice up until just recently then bang, us Christians come in and 'steal' their holiday from them. Shoot...Christmas was being celebrated when these people were born! Its been around for hundreds and hundreds of years...the distortion of their claims is always what just amazes me...

I guess this (among other obvious things) is why I could never be an atheist...the distorted thinking they have going on, being such hypocrites...plus being in a constant state of extreme anger and hate...just doesn't sound very attractive to me at all..

God bless

I guess this (among other obvious things) is why I could never be an atheist...the distorted thinking they have going on, being such hypocrites...plus being in a constant state of extreme anger and hate...just doesn't sound very attractive to me at all..

God bless

Hi MG, thanks for the link. I live about three hours from here and have yet to see anything on the local news, although I am not in that media circle.

I agree with what you've said and I think you would also agree that we should not judge the entire group by the actions of the loud few.

Hi MG, thanks for the link. I live about three hours from here and have yet to see anything on the local news, although I am not in that media circle.

I agree with what you've said and I think you would also agree that we should not judge the entire group by the actions of the loud few.

Agreed again. I never understand why it's not OK with the mass population of America to tell a person, "Jesus loves you" but it's OK to say hateful things about religion/believers.

Hmmm....found it in a ditch and then taken to radio station....sure. With all of the ditches around this small placard was dumped in a ditch that was well traveled? Someone just happened to find it, then instead of thinking it was just junk they thought to take it to a radio station. This is a set up for publicity. If a Christian decided to fight this battle by taking the sign, it wouldn't have been found in one piece. I think the poster of the sign is also the taker of the sign.

I think you would also agree that we should not judge the entire group by the actions of the loud few.

Agreed.

We are supposed to be better then the world.
aka. The world judges all Christians by the actions that a few that get the media's attention and call themselves Christians ( not saying anything about the persons salvation status, but rather , that the world doesn't care as long as they 'say the c word'.)

So, we must not judge them, even though they condemn us all the time.

Yes, most atheists have many double standards. They feel the need to express their "beliefs" because they feel left out.