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Society

Swedish Christmas market resurrects Jesus

Published: 18 Oct 12 16:21 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/43902/20121018/

The decision to ban a nativity scene from a Christmas market in southern Sweden was reversed on Thursday by the market organizer, who confessed to being “a little too hasty” in his original decision.

Organizers of the Christmas market at Fredriksdal Gardens and Museums in Skåne County always planned for their markets to have a nativity scene including Jesus, Mary and the three wise men.

However, the organizers soon changed their mind and emailed the two churches who were to provide the nativity scene, stating that the plan was cancelled as the market was to be a “politically and religiously independent operation”.

But this move prompted a storm of criticism from the Swedish public, forcing the head of the event, Joakim Thomasson, to back down.

“I was a little too hasty and hadn’t done my homework,” he told the TT news agency.

“He thought that it was a question of some kind of church ritual,” said Andrea Danielsson, head of the cultural board of the local authority (Kulturnämnden), to TT.

Church official Eva Åsare, who initially blasted the ban as a “blatant fear of religion”, also welcomed the quick reversal.

“It gladdens me. It was good that we made the effort on this. And full credit to people who can change,” she said.

TT/The Local/og
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16:47 October 18, 2012 by millionmileman
What a wonderful concept. I wish people in America would fight back against the Atheist Grinches that we have to deal with every Christmas over here.

http://youtu.be/ZGmDOqJxKqA
18:20 October 18, 2012 by Grokh
@millionmileman dont speak about things you dont understand.

in sweden even though most people are atheists they couldnt care less about stuff like this.

They will even brag that church here is not as bad as everywhere else.

This has nothing to do with atheism and people who push for secularism.

It has more to do about swedish insecurities and fear for not getting muslims to show up.

Personally as an atheist i grew up with people having the nativity scene, as well as santa claus with the coca cola, both didnt mean anything . Christmas meant a nice holiday to spend time with family and friends. which is more noble than to worship zombie jesus.

Just like christianity took the date from previous religions to celebrate something, future generations will use the date to celebrate something else just be glad its no fanatic worship or goat killing or blood drinking stuff.

And remember in sweden christmas is "jul" which as a word has nothing to do with christ or nativity.

You americans can shove your paranoia over "war on christmas" where the sun doesnt shine because most people use christmas for something better than believing in fairy tales.

and get some more information. Most secular anti symbol ,that pushes religious stuff away, comes from other religions people and the fear of insulting them.

Atheists couldn't give a rats ass , and would rather focus on exposing the brainwashing of children by religious fanatics throughout the world. As well as stopping religion based politics.

having a stupid nativity scene at a christmas doesnt mean anything and doesnt affect society in an oppressive way.
20:21 October 18, 2012 by dizzymoe33
I personally don't care if people celebrate as religious or non-religious when it comes to holidays. But what I do care about is a group of people telling me what I can or can not celebrate when our Country was founded on certain principles. I can't even stand up and say a pledge to my own Countries flag because of group of people crying it is not right!! I am so over this politically correct bulls*it!!! There are more important things to concern ourselves with.
23:14 October 18, 2012 by Sven-Ingvar
Seems that the politically correct wish to continue having Swedes lobotomized as to Sweden's only Legally defined God being our Christian God, whose compound redemptive name is Lord Jesus Christ.

This makes the only legal definition for religion in Sweden a denomination of Christianity. Sweden's king Eric the Holy saw a golden cross in the blue sky, a sign from our Christian God.

Thus creating the worlds very first national flag.

A Gold cross of Jesus on a blue sky.The Swedish Flag.

Are the politically correct going to replace our flag with a crescent moon to further burn Christ from one,s mind?
08:17 October 19, 2012 by SecondGen
@Sven-Ingvar

Eventually, the nordic flags may well be replaced.

But it's not really important, right?
18:29 October 19, 2012 by cogito
Few religions are more fundamentalist than atheism. The only difference is that atheists substitute a political party for a church, and worship presidents or politicians as their messiah.

Their demons are whoever disagrees with their dogma.
14:05 October 21, 2012 by bcterry
" Few religions are more fundamentalist than atheism. The only difference is that atheists substitute a political party for a church, and worship presidents or politicians as their messiah.

Their demons are whoever disagrees with their dogma".

Wow, i never knew that.

That's very profound, did you come up with that all by yourself?
16:31 October 21, 2012 by JoeSwede
I'm glad that commen sense persevered.

Showing the nativity scene should not offend anyone.

In our modern society we should encourage people to explore
20:33 October 21, 2012 by HarryM-B
As a Muslim I feel it is offensive that you shove the image of Jesus in our faces in this way. Why don't you have a model of a baby Mohammed instead?
16:11 October 22, 2012 by k2kats
I'm delighted that common sense prevailed!

Reasonable, peaceful people respect each others' beliefs and introduce us to their own... rather than try to shove us out of the way. Celebrating differences enriches us all.
04:44 October 27, 2012 by wendyb
It seems as if the same type of thing is happening all over. in Chilliwack, B.C. a parent went to the school board demanding that they scrap a decades old tradition of the Gideon's giving Bibles to the students.

The children must take home a permission slip for the parents to sign before they can receive the Bible.

Parents raised a cry and hue when they heard about the complaint, writing numerous letters to the local paper, and sending calls to the school board and the school board dismissed his complaint.

So sad that Christians are having to fight now for traditions that have been held sacred forever.
23:21 October 28, 2012 by esvahnt
its a pitty that christians are so easy going when its about their faith or tradition

so different from other religions like muslim or jewish who are fanatically proud of their gods and ceremonies

christians should learn from that fanatic believing and defend their own religion as well

but it seems this way they will be soon barred from scene

only the strong ones survive
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