Chicago's Daley Plaza Holiday Display Includes Nod To Atheism, Bill Of Rights

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 4, 2013 5:20PM

There is room at the annual Daley Plaza holiday display for Christianity, Judaism and even atheism. If you’ve visited you’ll notice a giant “A” nestled between the Hanukkah menorah and the Nativity scene. That “A” stands for “atheism” (or “agnostic” if you’re hedging your religious bets) and was set up by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, along with a banner explaining the winter solstice celebration and the Bill of Rights "which reminds us there can be no freedom OF religion, without having freedom FROM religion in government."

This isn't going to go over well with the "War on Christmas" set.

Dan Baker, Freedom From Religion’s co-president, said “If the government is going to open up a public forum to religion, then it has to permit the nonreligious — nearly 20 percent of our nation today — to express our point of view as well.” The group was able to erect the display by simply filing a permit with the city. Mayoral spokesman Tom Alexander said the permit was approved Oct. 26 and the display may stay in Daley Plaza until Dec. 29.

The Nativity scene has been a fixture in Daley Plaza’s holiday display for over 30 years after surviving court challenges. The atheist display explains the winter solstice as “the birth of the unconquered sun.” Similar signs were erected in Springfield and Madison, Wisc. The Springfield sign reads:

“At this season of the winter solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

The Daley Plaza display was met mostly with replies of "it belongs here as much as the Nativity" from passers-by.