Freedom From Religion Foundation draws criticism for holiday sign

Badger Herald ^ | 12/6/05 | Carolyn Smith

[dukeman]

'Tis the season, I suppose.

[Pessimist]

"the back of it reads, “Thou shalt not steal,”

LOL!!

[L98Fiero]

“We felt that it would be important to have a sign saying to keep church and state separate,” Gaylor said

Of course you felt. It takes a brain to think.

[sgtbono2002]

These people are beneath contempt.
If they dont wish to believe in anything thats fine, they should just go somewhere and STFU.

[imskylark]

“At this season of the Winter Solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”


They can post their beliefs but forbid us ours?

[metmom]

If religion is so evil, WHY THE HECK ARE THEY QUOTING IT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Hypocrites!!!!!!!!

[FormerLib]

Funny how they always claim to be driven by reason while their words and actions are clearly the result of an all-consuming hatred.

[MarineBrat]

There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world.

But still, you'll have to take it on faith!

[randog]

There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world.

Sounds like a religious conviction to me.

[headstamp]

"Suder said the sign “has demeaned people of all faiths” and sends a bad message to everyone who visits the capitol, especially children; Suder also said the group “struggles for relevance” and has gotten negative reactions."


It's one thing to post a "Winter Solstice" sign but it is quite another to also incorporate a political statement or editorialize against other religions as this sign evidently does. A Merry Christmas greeting does not go on to attack other religions or editorialize against them. A simple, innocuous message of perhaps "Greetings of the Season on this Winter Solstice" or whatever would have sufficed but this group steps over the line IMO. The message from this group spreads absolutely no goodwill whatsoever.

[paudio]

Isn't there a religion that celebrate Winter Solstice? The group should be named Freedom from Christianity instead of Freedom from Religion.

[fizziwig]

"The message from this group spreads absolutely no goodwill whatsoever."

You cannot spead something that you do not have....they clearly do not have any good will to spread around.

[wideawake]

Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.

If religion hardens hearts and enslaves minds, why are opponents of religion using imagery taken directly from the Christian Bible - namely the imagery of hearts being hardened and minds enslaved?

Is it not ridiculous?

[wideawake]

Isn't there a religion that celebrate Winter Solstice?

Quite a few. The most common in the US is, I suppose, the synthetic religion known as "Wicca" by its illiterate proponents.

[NearlyNormal]

"There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world."

Then, for them, may their belief be granted!

[Alex Murphy]

"the back of it reads, “Thou shalt not steal,”

Nice of them to acknowledge the seventh commandment. Maybe they should keep it in context by acknowledging the first commandment, too...

"You shall have no other gods before Me"

[newgal]

There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell

That's their belief.

There is a GOD. There is a devil. There are angels in heaven but not in Hell

That is my belief.

Why can they promote their beliefs but I can't promote mine?

[Tzimisce]

Athiesm is a religion. So if we're going to separate church and state, you should be removing yourself.

[SampleMan]

"Winter Solstice" ????

I strongly object to this "hemispheric" language, which tries to force our northern hemisphere seasons upon all the peoples of the world. I can't believe the utter arrogance of these people.

[joylyn]

1. This sign does not promote separation of church and state. It uses government property to promote atheism in a rather aggressive and confrontational way. Isn't this against the spirit of the separation doctrine?

2. It takes nerve to fall back on the Ten Commandments to discourage theft and vandalism. If I agree with the sign, then "Thou shalt not steal" carries no weight with me.