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	<title>Comments on: Atheists &#8216;hijack&#8217; Nativity display in Santa Monica, critics say</title>
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	<link>http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/12/atheists-hijack-nativity-display-santa-monica-critics/</link>
	<description>The official Derren Brown Blog</description>
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		<title>By: Shaun Banks</title>
		<link>http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/12/atheists-hijack-nativity-display-santa-monica-critics/#comment-99024</link>
		<dc:creator>Shaun Banks</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:21:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17498#comment-99024</guid>
		<description>Berber Anna: said

That’s why religious images, while fine inside the home, have no business in public places. If you place the imagery of one religion in public space, you’re favouring that one religion over the others. That’s not what public space is for.

Should all beliefs and ideals be removed from the public domain and from culture as a whole and reside only in one&#039;s private space?

A world without dreams would be nightmare.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Berber Anna: said</p>
<p>That’s why religious images, while fine inside the home, have no business in public places. If you place the imagery of one religion in public space, you’re favouring that one religion over the others. That’s not what public space is for.</p>
<p>Should all beliefs and ideals be removed from the public domain and from culture as a whole and reside only in one&#8217;s private space?</p>
<p>A world without dreams would be nightmare.</p>
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		<title>By: Berber Anna</title>
		<link>http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/12/atheists-hijack-nativity-display-santa-monica-critics/#comment-98911</link>
		<dc:creator>Berber Anna</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:58:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17498#comment-98911</guid>
		<description>Mark: In your exact words: &quot;The religious don’t demand that an image of Jesus be put in the house of every atheists, why must the atheists demand that every public image of Christianity be removed.&quot;

The atheists aren&#039;t demanding that an image of Jesus be removed from the house of every believer. But while the atheists don&#039;t own the homes of the Christians (nor the other way around), public images, as the word suggests, belong to the public. Which consists of atheists, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans and what have you, as well as Christians. That&#039;s why religious images, while fine inside the home, have no business in public places. If you place the imagery of one religion in public space, you&#039;re favouring that one religion over the others. That&#039;s not what public space is for.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mark: In your exact words: &#8220;The religious don’t demand that an image of Jesus be put in the house of every atheists, why must the atheists demand that every public image of Christianity be removed.&#8221;</p>
<p>The atheists aren&#8217;t demanding that an image of Jesus be removed from the house of every believer. But while the atheists don&#8217;t own the homes of the Christians (nor the other way around), public images, as the word suggests, belong to the public. Which consists of atheists, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans and what have you, as well as Christians. That&#8217;s why religious images, while fine inside the home, have no business in public places. If you place the imagery of one religion in public space, you&#8217;re favouring that one religion over the others. That&#8217;s not what public space is for.</p>
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		<title>By: Mark</title>
		<link>http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/12/atheists-hijack-nativity-display-santa-monica-critics/#comment-98903</link>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:24:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17498#comment-98903</guid>
		<description>To me it seems like these two groups are different sides of the same coin and that&#039;s the HATE coin.  The religious HATE the atheists and the atheists HATE the religious.  It&#039;s a real pity that the atheists didn&#039;t take the &quot;high ground&quot; and display non-religious seasonal images, such as Santa, wintery scenes, etc.  Or maybe they could have displayed copies of amazing works or art or something that would have inspired, expanded, or enriched the lives of those that viewed them.  However, they decided to use the space to attack others beliefs, and try to force their &quot;religious beliefs&quot; down your throat.  The religious don&#039;t demand that an image of Jesus be put in the house of every atheists, why must the atheists demand that every public image of Christianity be removed.  To me it seems shallow and hateful and I&#039;m not even Christian!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>To me it seems like these two groups are different sides of the same coin and that&#8217;s the HATE coin.  The religious HATE the atheists and the atheists HATE the religious.  It&#8217;s a real pity that the atheists didn&#8217;t take the &#8220;high ground&#8221; and display non-religious seasonal images, such as Santa, wintery scenes, etc.  Or maybe they could have displayed copies of amazing works or art or something that would have inspired, expanded, or enriched the lives of those that viewed them.  However, they decided to use the space to attack others beliefs, and try to force their &#8220;religious beliefs&#8221; down your throat.  The religious don&#8217;t demand that an image of Jesus be put in the house of every atheists, why must the atheists demand that every public image of Christianity be removed.  To me it seems shallow and hateful and I&#8217;m not even Christian!</p>
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		<title>By: Shaun Banks</title>
		<link>http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/12/atheists-hijack-nativity-display-santa-monica-critics/#comment-98536</link>
		<dc:creator>Shaun Banks</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:26:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17498#comment-98536</guid>
		<description>I am bored now so I will wish all of you Lunatic Atheists a Happy New year

L. Ron Hubbard: &quot;If you want to get rich, you start a religion&quot; I am off to buy some books on Atheism or maybe even write one or create an Atheist exercise video- kerching! Kerching!

I shall now leave you all alone forever as I have a DIY full frontal lobotomy I need to finish (God bless science)

You do all realise that Atheist is an anagram - I thought I would just have one last dig.

I am gonna throw my bits and bytes into the data streams of cyber space and see where it takes me.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I am bored now so I will wish all of you Lunatic Atheists a Happy New year</p>
<p>L. Ron Hubbard: &#8220;If you want to get rich, you start a religion&#8221; I am off to buy some books on Atheism or maybe even write one or create an Atheist exercise video- kerching! Kerching!</p>
<p>I shall now leave you all alone forever as I have a DIY full frontal lobotomy I need to finish (God bless science)</p>
<p>You do all realise that Atheist is an anagram &#8211; I thought I would just have one last dig.</p>
<p>I am gonna throw my bits and bytes into the data streams of cyber space and see where it takes me.</p>
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		<title>By: Shaun Banks</title>
		<link>http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/12/atheists-hijack-nativity-display-santa-monica-critics/#comment-98466</link>
		<dc:creator>Shaun Banks</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:07:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17498#comment-98466</guid>
		<description>As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being. - Carl Jung

Oh what a wonderful world it would be if this was the case, unfortunately too many of us want to mean so much more than everyone else and some are prepared to be very mean in doing so. 

The problem is not with religion it is with mankind and until we exorcise Vanity, Ego, Greed etc then there is going to be a lot of meanness before there is enough meaning to live our lives with real purpose.

Perhaps religion has served its purpose and perhaps now we should learn to except our responsibilities for ourselves, each other and the world we live. If we can&#039;t help ourselves then who can. 

How stupid mankind is. I have never met anyone better than you or me.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being. &#8211; Carl Jung</p>
<p>Oh what a wonderful world it would be if this was the case, unfortunately too many of us want to mean so much more than everyone else and some are prepared to be very mean in doing so. </p>
<p>The problem is not with religion it is with mankind and until we exorcise Vanity, Ego, Greed etc then there is going to be a lot of meanness before there is enough meaning to live our lives with real purpose.</p>
<p>Perhaps religion has served its purpose and perhaps now we should learn to except our responsibilities for ourselves, each other and the world we live. If we can&#8217;t help ourselves then who can. </p>
<p>How stupid mankind is. I have never met anyone better than you or me.</p>
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		<title>By: Shaun Banks</title>
		<link>http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/12/atheists-hijack-nativity-display-santa-monica-critics/#comment-98441</link>
		<dc:creator>Shaun Banks</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:30:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17498#comment-98441</guid>
		<description>Feed The Troll Please - Troll Love Atheists......NOT!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Feed The Troll Please &#8211; Troll Love Atheists&#8230;&#8230;NOT!</p>
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		<title>By: Shaun Banks</title>
		<link>http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/12/atheists-hijack-nativity-display-santa-monica-critics/#comment-98380</link>
		<dc:creator>Shaun Banks</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:07:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17498#comment-98380</guid>
		<description>If God can only exist in all of our minds this solves the problem of evil as it can coexist with God in our minds subject to the short comings of our own poor reasoning.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If God can only exist in all of our minds this solves the problem of evil as it can coexist with God in our minds subject to the short comings of our own poor reasoning.</p>
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		<title>By: Shaun Banks</title>
		<link>http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/12/atheists-hijack-nativity-display-santa-monica-critics/#comment-98299</link>
		<dc:creator>Shaun Banks</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:01:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17498#comment-98299</guid>
		<description>God like perfection and beauty is subjective and therefore can only exist in all of our minds. 

With God existing in all of our minds this would mean that the burden of responsibility for the power that God wields would be shared amongst us all and the future of mankind would be in our hands - Where else, other than in all of our minds, could such reasoning be found capable of handling such power. 

Just a thought.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>God like perfection and beauty is subjective and therefore can only exist in all of our minds. </p>
<p>With God existing in all of our minds this would mean that the burden of responsibility for the power that God wields would be shared amongst us all and the future of mankind would be in our hands &#8211; Where else, other than in all of our minds, could such reasoning be found capable of handling such power. </p>
<p>Just a thought.</p>
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		<title>By: Shaun Banks</title>
		<link>http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/12/atheists-hijack-nativity-display-santa-monica-critics/#comment-98292</link>
		<dc:creator>Shaun Banks</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:41:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17498#comment-98292</guid>
		<description>@James

It seems you have have come to a cross roads in your life and only you can make the choice of which way to go - I know that is not very helpful but I would not want to try and make you mind up either way as this is one of the most fundamental decisions you will ever make. All I will say is that personal development is only ever limited by what you settle for, by fear and by indecision and you are clearly not settling for all that you believe in and you are obviously not afraid to challenge those beliefs, which means, in time, all that is left, is for you to make a choice.

Do what sets you free. Any Good God would want that, but you should want it even more.

PS Don’t take my Atheists criticisms on this blog too serious – It’s xmas and I am just throwing snowballs at Atheists.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>@James</p>
<p>It seems you have have come to a cross roads in your life and only you can make the choice of which way to go &#8211; I know that is not very helpful but I would not want to try and make you mind up either way as this is one of the most fundamental decisions you will ever make. All I will say is that personal development is only ever limited by what you settle for, by fear and by indecision and you are clearly not settling for all that you believe in and you are obviously not afraid to challenge those beliefs, which means, in time, all that is left, is for you to make a choice.</p>
<p>Do what sets you free. Any Good God would want that, but you should want it even more.</p>
<p>PS Don’t take my Atheists criticisms on this blog too serious – It’s xmas and I am just throwing snowballs at Atheists.</p>
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		<title>By: Shaun Banks</title>
		<link>http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/12/atheists-hijack-nativity-display-santa-monica-critics/#comment-98289</link>
		<dc:creator>Shaun Banks</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:48:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17498#comment-98289</guid>
		<description>@ Kelly S

&quot;As much as I would defend the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee’s rights I do get fed up with some religious types treating us none believers as lepers. You expect us to respect your right to worship any way you wish but you won’t grant is the same.&quot;

Now I am getting really confused - are you saying you want to worship something?

To me the main issue with Atheism is the fact that you all seem to have different views on what Atheism is or what it means - Just like religious theologians - Perhaps that is the problem all round.

Most of you at best sound like Agnostic Atheists &amp; more likely most of your are just Agnostic who are a little angry with religion &amp; instead choose to be Atheists to challenge it from a more conflicting misunderstood position.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>@ Kelly S</p>
<p>&#8220;As much as I would defend the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee’s rights I do get fed up with some religious types treating us none believers as lepers. You expect us to respect your right to worship any way you wish but you won’t grant is the same.&#8221;</p>
<p>Now I am getting really confused &#8211; are you saying you want to worship something?</p>
<p>To me the main issue with Atheism is the fact that you all seem to have different views on what Atheism is or what it means &#8211; Just like religious theologians &#8211; Perhaps that is the problem all round.</p>
<p>Most of you at best sound like Agnostic Atheists &amp; more likely most of your are just Agnostic who are a little angry with religion &amp; instead choose to be Atheists to challenge it from a more conflicting misunderstood position.</p>
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