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The sign from the Freedom From Religion Foundation calls religion "myth and superstition." It has sparked controversy since it went on display Monday and even made it on national television.

Fox News' Bill O'Reilly had an 8-minute segment on his show Tuesday night decrying the inclusion of the atheistic billboard along with other holiday decor at the Capitol. The conservative TV personality called the display "political correctness gone mad" and urged viewers to call Gov. Chris Gregoire's office to complain.

"She is a weak and confused leader who allows a fanatical group parody in Christmas displays. I mean how crazy is this?" he ranted. "Washington State is ground zero for every nutty secular cause on earth."

Earlier this week Gregoire spokesman Pearse Edwards said the office had been getting about 200 calls an hour, as well as e-mails.

The sign drew protesters to Olympia Friday. Pastor Ken Hutcherson, a Christian preacher well-known here for his commentary on social issues, arrived to put up a sign that flipped the atheists' message into an affirmation of religion.

"Hey, I believe in Jesus Christ and if you don't that's OK because you're going to fry like a Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage on Judgement Day," said Hutcherson.

Another small group put up a handmade poster reading, "The fool hath said in his heart, 'There is no God."'

Several other parties submitted applications to state groundskeepers, seeking to display everything from a set of Nativity balloons to an aluminum Festivus pole -- an homage to the invented "holiday for the rest of us" coined by the long-running comedy show "Seinfeld."

Burly State Patrol troopers paced the hallway the whole time, presumably guarding against any other shenanigans. Statues of the Holy Family remained undisturbed in their cedar stable.

To cap off the day, the Capitol holiday tree was lit Friday night.

How it started

The state began granting broader access to religious displays a few years back, after a Jewish group added a Hanukkah menorah to the long-standing display of a massive evergreen Christmas tree -- these days called a "holiday tree" -- sponsored by the Association of Washington Business.

A local real estate agent sued after his subsequent request for a Nativity scene was denied, but the case was settled and the creche installed. This year is the first time the Freedom From Religion Foundation added its holiday message to the mix.

State carpenter Jim Buenzli, who first noticed the missing atheist sign Friday morning, said he was fed up by the whole furor. That's why he applied for permission to place the Festivus pole, which he planned to purchase and install next week.

"I got sick of the way these things were going, so I wanted to put some humor into it," Buenzli said. "They're making a big mockery out of our state on the news."