Each Christmas there is bound to be a debate somewhere in the country over whether a local municipal building or other piece of public property should be allowed to display religious holiday symbols. A battle erupted a couple of years ago in Santa Monica, California between atheists and Christian groups over spaces along two city blocks that had traditionally been reserved for nativity scenes. A North Carolina courthouse this year was forced to remove a nativity scene that it had been displaying for 40 years. In Florida, atheists erected a Festivus pole alongside the nativity scene at the Capitol Building. Similar conflicts have occurred all over the country; it is a debate that's almost as heated as whether to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays."
According to a new survey by the Pew Research Religion and Public Life Project, Americans are somewhat split on how to handle these holiday displays. Of those surveyed, 44 percent have no problem with such displays of Christian symbols, and another 28 percent think they're acceptable so long as other religions have a chance to be represented too. But 20 percent of Americans are completely against religious symbols being displayed on public property. As the Pew report notes, both sides can find positives in these numbers:
"On the one hand, nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults (72%) favor allowing Christian symbols on government property in at least some cases–either by themselves or with symbols from other faiths. Looked at another way, however, nearly half of Americans (48%) express reservations about these displays, either saying that Christian symbols must be accompanied by those from other faiths or that no religious displays should be allowed on government property."
While it certainly seems reasonable to support religious freedom by opening up holiday displays to multiple faith groups, as the Florida case shows, this also opens up a can of worms. A Hannukah display alongside the Christmas imagery isn't likely to cause too much of a disturbance, but things get much more controversial when the Satanic Temple takes legal action to have its display included as well. And of course the Pastafarians want to be included too. And who knows what other religious groups–or anti-religion groups–will also want to be part of the mix.
To avoid these kinds of complex situations, one could understand taking the position of outlawing all religious symbols from public display. But going the Grinch route isn't going to make everyone happy either.
So what's the solution? Clearly there's no easy answer, and it is going to take a lot more debate and discussion–likely in each community where the question is raised–to find a reasonable compromise. Let's just try to remember that, especially for those who celebrate Christ's birth, 'tis the season to be charitable toward others–even if they don't want to wish you a merry Christmas.
Flickr image cc by Brad Clinesmith
