A B.C. atheist group says it welcomes a public menorah lighting in Kelowna, if only because it a balance to the city's annual nativity scene.
The Centre for Inquiry Okanagan drew controversy this week after a member was quoted in a local paper taking umbrage with Kelowna's decision to allow the Jewish symbol in a public park.
But Loren Price, who founded the Centre, insists his group does not officially oppose the menorah.
"We welcome it because it shows a bit of diversity as opposed to just having a nativity scene. [Including both is] more representative of a secular society," Price told ctvbc.ca.
"I think you either say no to everyone or you open it up to everyone," he said, adding that local atheists will likely apply to have a secular-humanist symbol erected in the park next year.
Atheist Guy King, who was interviewed by the newspaper, says he made it clear that he was not speaking as a representative of the Centre.
"I was just expressing a few personal reservations about how many religious displays we should be putting up, and whether we should be putting up any," King said.
"At least with the menorah they're paying for it, I'm sure, whereas the nativity scene the citizens of Kelowna pay for."
If the city chose not to allow any public religious symbols, churches and synagogues could easily host their displays on private property, King added.
Rabbi Shmuly Hecht, co-director of the Chabad-Lubavitch of the Okanagan, organized the menorah lighting and says he received a "beautiful letter" from local atheists apologizing for the hullabaloo.
"They said it was taken out of context," Hecht said.
Public menorah lightings are held in more than 75 countries, he added, and symbolize "the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, peace and growing every day."
