An atheist activist group took out a controversial ad in the Wednesday edition of the New York Times calling for the separation of church and state by reimagining the Nativity scene.
The ad, titled “Joy to the World … A Bill of Rights is born,” was placed by the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) in honor of the 230th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791.
According to Faithwire, the group is using the artwork to make a point about “Nativity scenes on government property.”
In the illustration, a copy of the Bill of Rights is placed in the trough where Jesus would traditionally lie. Mary, Joseph and the three Wisemen were also replaced by three of the nation’s founders and the Statue of Liberty. The artwork was created by Jacob Fortin.
“The scales of justice have been alarmingly tipped in favor of a privileged status for religion in our country. The capture of the Supreme Court by Christian nationalist forces is complete,” the ad states. “A third of our high court and almost a third of our federal judiciary were appointed by Trump, and their influence and decisions are imperiling the precious American principle of separation between religion and government.”
“All personal and civil rights – including the right to abortion – are in jeopardy,” it continued.
According to a press release by the FFRF, the group hopes the ad will encourage people to call for the separation of church and state.
“One of the biggest myths we have to surmount in this country is this misconception that the majority rules in matters of religion,” Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president, explained. “The Bill of Rights places individual liberties and freedom of conscience above the fray of tyranny of the majority. And that is something to truly revere – and celebrate!”
The FFRF was established in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1978. The group has several chapters across the nation with over 30,000 members, including atheists, agnostics, and religious skeptics.
HD Editor’s Note: Why Is This News Biblically Relevant?
Ken Ham, the Founder and CEO of Answers In Genesis, responded to the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s advertisement, explaining that although the group claims to be without religion, they are, in fact, advocating for their “anti-God religion” to be forcefully imposed on society.
“FFRF are a group of religious bullying zealots from Wisconsin who spend their lives trying to impose their religion of atheism on the entire culture,” Ham asserted on social media.
“Currently the state religion as advocated by most political leaders, education leaders etc., is for all practical purposes the religion of naturalism, which is atheism,” he wrote.
“When nativity scenes are removed, the situation is not neutral as now they’ve imposed their anti-God religion of atheism on the culture,” he insisted. “Don’t be fooled by these anti-Christian religious zealots.”
“A certain percentage may claim they don’t have a religion, but everyone has a religion,” he said in a separate post on Saturday. “There’s no non-religious position as everyone has a worldview, a way of thinking, & it has a foundation.”
Jesus made it clear that there is no neutral ground when He stated, “He that is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30).
“Ultimately if the foundation is not God’s Word it is man’s word,” Ham underscored. “Atheism is a religion–the religion of naturalism. They have beliefs that determine their worldview. They believe there’s no God, & believe the universe & life came about by natural processes & they believe man subjectively determines morality.”
“It’s an anti-God religion,” he reiterated.
Furthermore, the Bible speaks about an increasing hostility toward Christians arising in the time prior to Jesus’ return. In 2nd Timothy chapter 3, the apostle Paul explains that in the “last days” men of “corrupt minds” will “resist the truth” and be “reprobate concerning the faith.”
The chapter goes on to state:
2 Timothy 3: 1, 12-13 KJV – “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come… all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”
