Book covers on Atheists "Tree of Knowledge"

The head of Atheists Alliance International plans to put up a tree this weekend on the lawn at the Chester County Courthouse to stand beside three traditional holiday displays there.

The 20-foot tree will be hung with copies of covers of books, including "Why I Am Not A Christian," "Why I Am Not a Muslim" and "Judaism Beyond God."

This addition to last year's three holiday displays is sponsored by the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia which, its president Margaret Downey said, is "welcoming to agnostics, atheists, humanists, skeptics, rationalists of all kinds."

As there was last year, there is also a Chamber of Commerce tree - 32 feet high - meant to attract shoppers, as well as a Christian creche and a Jewish menorah.

Downey said her display, which she is calling "A Tree of Knowledge," is decorated with covers of works such as the Bible.

"The reason we advocate reading the Bible," she said in an interview, "is because so many people become atheists upon completing the entire reading of it."

Next to the Bible, she said, is Bertrand Russell's "Why I Am Not a Christian and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects."

Next to a copy of the Koran on the tree, she said, "we are placing 'Why I Am Not a Muslim,' by Ibn Warraq." And then there is "Judaism Beyond God" by Sherwin T. Wine.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/chester/nabes/20071202_Atheists_join_religions_in_holiday_display.html

:dunce: