The Religious Razzberry Awards

Obviously not.

That's why a select few deserve special recognition for their curious antics in 2000 a Religious Razzberry Award.

Recipients are asked to stand after everyone is introduced to receive the appropriate tribute. Here are the lucky ones:

OMEONE NEEDS A LITTLE CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL AWARD to the Anti-Defamation League.

The last thing the league thinks we need is a politician invoking the name of God. Never mind the religious comments of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln and all the other presidents. At least that seems to be the conclusion of the league.

It insisted that Sen. Joseph Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew and the Democratic vice presidential candidate, should refrain from mentioning God during the campaign, calling his references to religion ``inappropriate and even unsettling.''

Inappropriate and unsettling? Those words more aptly describe the Anti-Defamation League for opposing an observant Jew's desire to share his views, guided by his faith, with those he wants to serve.

HE WE-REALLY-DIDN'T-MEAN-IT CHUTZPAH AWARD to a conservative Christian publisher.

You remember Jane Fonda. She was right up there with the anti-Christ as the conservative Christians' favorite villain.

That is until she reportedly converted to Christianity. Soon after, a conservative religious publisher was begging her to endorse its books.

``It's sickening,'' the Rev. Gerald Durley said of such hypocritical efforts. Fonda has attended his Missionary Baptist church in Atlanta.

Hmmm. ... I wonder whether Larry Flynt would get the same treatment if he ``saw the light''?

NAPPING, CRACKLING AND POPPING OVER THE BIBLE AWARD to General Mills.

What could possibly be wrong with offering free software in a box of cereal? Plenty, if the CD-ROM includes a version of the Bible.

General Mills, which provided the biblical software along with a popular video game, insisted that it happened without its consent. But an e-mail from a General Mills' spokeswoman to the firm that helped create the CD-ROMs indicated that she thought the inclusion ``should be a great bonus for consumers.'' Oops. She didn't mean it quite that way.

Although 12 million boxes of cereal already had the software, General Mills decided not to include it in any more of them. The reason? The company didn't want to ``advance any particular set of religious beliefs.''

Wonder whether they'd have a problem with violent video games packed in their cornflakes?

BE PREPARED FOR THE BOOT Award to churches that kicked out the Boy Scouts of America.

After the Supreme Court upheld the right of the Boy Scouts not to allow gays to serve as troop leaders or members, some churches decided that troops could no longer meet in their buildings.

While people may disagree with the court's decision, or the policy of the scouts' national body, local troops simply are trying to provide a learning and caring environment for boys. And churches are trying to aid the effort. At least, most are. The rest seem to have their shorts tied in a square knot.

TANNENBAUM, O ... TIMBER! Award to Jim Johnson, city manager in Eugene, Ore.

It seems the city manager decided his town shouldn't have Christmas trees in public places. In a five-page memo, he declared that the Christmas tree was a religious symbol. To display it on public property would violate the separation of church and state.

Hold on. Mr. Johnson needs a lesson about the history of Christmas trees. For centuries, evergreens have been used as symbols by various nationalities and religious groups, including Egyptians, Romans, Druids and Vikings, often in conjunction with celebrations at the winter solstice.

While the Christmas tree has Christian roots, it has little, if any, deep-felt religious significance for most people, whether they're Christians or non-Christians.

Except for a bah-humbug city manager in Oregon.

There you have it. This year's Razzberry winners. Please stand to receive your award (thumbs on your noses everyone ...)

THWPFHHHHHHPFFFFTHHHHH!!!!