Los Angeles (CNN) -- Every Christmas for the past 60 years, Nativity scenes have dominated two blocks of a park on bluffs overlooking the ocean in Santa Monica, California.
The 14 scenes depicting Jesus Christ's birth have long been a popular attraction among area residents and tourists to the southern California city.
This year, however, atheists have taken over most of the two-block stretch, nearly shutting out and angering a group of churches who contend the atheists have organized against the Christians and gamed a city lottery process allocating the holiday exhibit space.
In response, a leader of the atheist group says he's just looking for evenhanded treatment to present his beliefs in a public space -- and goes so far as to say that the city shouldn't even be allowing any religious or even atheist expression in the park.
That's why he and his group have put nothing on half of the park exhibit spaces that they've secured from the city this year.
MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/22/us/california-nativity-atheists/?hpt=us_c2
The 14 scenes depicting Jesus Christ's birth have long been a popular attraction among area residents and tourists to the southern California city.
This year, however, atheists have taken over most of the two-block stretch, nearly shutting out and angering a group of churches who contend the atheists have organized against the Christians and gamed a city lottery process allocating the holiday exhibit space.
In response, a leader of the atheist group says he's just looking for evenhanded treatment to present his beliefs in a public space -- and goes so far as to say that the city shouldn't even be allowing any religious or even atheist expression in the park.
That's why he and his group have put nothing on half of the park exhibit spaces that they've secured from the city this year.
MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/22/us/california-nativity-atheists/?hpt=us_c2
See also...
Nativity scene loses out to atheist billboard in California park
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/holiday-guide-2011/Nativity+scene+loses+atheist+billboard+California+park/5897441/story.html
And...
No drama this year over holiday displays
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/12/22/1954877/no-drama-this-year-over-holiday.html
Atheists group plans to sue city of Warren over nativity display (with video)
http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2011/12/22/news/doc4ef33470d905a100239596.txt
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/holiday-guide-2011/Nativity+scene+loses+atheist+billboard+California+park/5897441/story.html
And...
No drama this year over holiday displays
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/12/22/1954877/no-drama-this-year-over-holiday.html
Atheists group plans to sue city of Warren over nativity display (with video)
http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2011/12/22/news/doc4ef33470d905a100239596.txt
