Dec. 10, 2008
At Christmastime, some secularists' thoughts turn to holiday trees—-holiday trees that celebrate nontheist thought, that is.
However, one humanist group, the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia (FSGP) faced complications from county commissioners about erecting a symbolic tree representing humanist values in front of the Chester County Courthouse in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
According to Margaret Downey, founder and former president of the group, FSGP was told on Dec. 8--the day before the freethought tree was supposed to be go up--that the Tree of Knowledge would be a no go unless a sign saying "Tree of Knowledge" and identifying the FSGP as sponsors was taken away.
Last year's Tree of Knowledge
Photo courtesy of Margaret Downey
The fresh evergreen sports ornaments handmade by FSGP volunteers using color copies of book covers that highlight various points of view from the freethought perspective. There are also book covers from the Bible and Qur'an. Downey thinks that individuals first have to familiarize themselves with religious traditions before making up their minds whether to reject them.
According to Downey, the commissioners told FSGP that the sign would make "too many holes in the ground." When Downey offered to put the sign poles in pots, she was turned down.
But being a creative freethinker, Downey had the eleventh hour idea to put the same information on 10-foot-long streamers. Unfortunately, the streamers block some of the book titles. "It's a compromise," said Downey. The tree is placed in between a Christmas crèche sponsored by the the Pastor's Network and a more traditional holiday tree. A Hanukkah menorah is on the way.
Last year, was the first year the Tree of Knowledge went up—with an identifying sign.
When the Humanist Network News spoke with Evelyn Walker, chief executive officer from the Chester County Commisssoner's Office, she said that FSGP's application didn't include a request for sign in front of the tree.
According to Walker, none of the other religiously-oriented holiday symbols has a sign, except for one sponsored by the United Way. Walker said that this sign was grandfathered in.
Last year, a different set of county commissioners chose not to apply the no sign policy, which is why the first Tree of Knowledge sign went up intact in 2007, said Walker.
Sounding a bit steely, Walker denied that there was any discrimination around the sign issue. "Ms. Downey is well aware. She has a copy of the policy," said Walker.
The lighting of the tree and a commemorative celebration took place at dusk on Tues., Dec. 9. It will be on display from Dec. 9 until Jan. 12 of next year.
"We want to see a beautiful symbol of the humanist community," said Downey. "We think the Tree of Knowledge is perfect."
When it looked like there was a problem with the tree going up, FSGP consulted with an attorney from the Pennsylvania ACLU to see what their options were. They considered filing a law suit on the grounds that their freedom of speech was infringed.
Downey is unsure if they will pursue that now.
FSGP President Sally Cramer said, "By having a place alongside other displays at this time of year, we seek to present opinions that are not often seen or discussed and to prove that the United States of America is not a Judeo-Christian nation."
The Greater Philadelphia Coalition of Reason or PhillyCoR, had planned to erect another Tree of Knowledge in Philadelphia on the lawn next to the National Constitution Center, but, due to lack of money, is planning on putting up a secular holidays mini-billboard instead.
The sign, which will also appear in Philadelphia across from the National Constitution Center, will be a modified version of ads just launched by the American Humanist Association.
