Looking for your opinion:
On my neighborhood Facebook page I have a neighbor who was very upset and said she felt attacked. Someone apparently left an atheist pamphlet on her door entitled “Why we Are not a Christian Nation” and asked if any of her other neighbors received such a pamphlet.
No one had. She said, “Maybe the reason I was attacked is because I have a ‘Jesus is the Reason for the Season’ wooden sign in my yard. Maybe I’ll just leave it up a few extra months.” She was greeted with strong support by other neighbors who told her to stand for Jesus.
My thoughts:
- It is her lawn. She should be able to put anything on her lawn that doesn’t violate HOA policy.
- “Attack” seems like the incorrect word to use in this situation. I am bothered by people so easily using inflammatory connotative language to describe an incident. (I feel the same way about “sexual assault.”) That being said, if she wants to express her belief, can others respond to her belief? I don’t think it’s appropriate to walk up to someone’s private property and put a pamphlet on their door, but what if her neighbor put up a sign saying “No Jesus for Me in the holiday Season”? Would that be ok?
This pamphlet left other neighbors discussing whether or not this was a safe neighborhood to live in anymore with people leaving these attacks on the doors of Christians.
Since moving in, I have had several very polite Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses come to my door and ask to leave their info with me. I politely decline. They politely go. I am not “attacked” by them because they gave me a different belief.
So I just want to know your thoughts. We are, in fact, a nation in which the vast majority of its residents are Christians. Yes, there are less with each passing century and probably each passing year. I, therefore, understand the reaction of Christians to fight harder to assert their identity. We see far more “reason for the season” and “keep the Christ in Christmas” declarations and decorations than we used to
AND I’m sure you have also heard the joke about the atheist:
So here are the questions I’m asking you to ponder…
- Was my neighbor attacked?
- Should we feel that we we can post our beliefs and have no one respond to those beliefs? What if it’s on our private property? (our lawn, our cars, our t-shirt)
- Is it the duty of Christians to publicly state their beliefs?
- Are atheists attempting to “recruit” other atheists?
As for the whole “Christian nation” argument… I don’t think there really is an argument. We have more Christians in this nation than any other religion or LACK of religion… but it’s a fundamental part of our national character that we are NOT a theocracy… therefore NOT a Christian nation.
Pretty simple… but I wouldn’t want to attack anyone by leaving a pamphlet about it.
Part-Time Teacher; Full-Time Human 
I don’t think she was attacked. Since when is a piece of paper she would have gotten on her porch anyway an attack on her religious beliefs? I’ve been noticing a trend in our society lately that has been quite alarming to me. Why do people think they are being attacked when someone questions or does not agree with everything the first person says or believes in? Is this a result of the fascination with seemingly “reality” TV shows where every minute situation is blown up into epic proportions to “make good tv?” I know that if they came to my house with a camera and filmed my day-to -day life, that it’s not that interesting! We are now making our own lives into TV reality dramas! Why? Humans mimic behavior and sensational behavior (however deplorable) is being mimicked. If “reality” TV ACTORS (yes they are) behave this way and it’s supposed to be reality, then why can’t I? Gone are the days of agreeing to disagree! I think that most religions are guilty of recruitment. Atheism is not a religion. It is distinctly the absence of one. Unfortunately there is a pervasive attitude, especially from Christians, that if you don’t believe the exact same way that they believe that you are actively being influenced by the devil. Atheism has frequently been wrongly equated with Satanism. I really don’t know any atheists that actively try to recruit people. Most of the atheists I know are very quiet about their beliefs because of the community they live in or work in and the backlash that would cause. If you want to post/decorate your lawn with your beliefs, then it is your perogative, but please don’t be offended and inflammatory when those beliefs are questioned or disagreed with.
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