Posted on 12/07/2005 12:07:15 PM PST by dukeman
A sign promoting the separation of church and state now accompanies the many holiday decorations at the State Capitol as of Friday.
The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation posted their annual Winter Solstice sign in the first-floor rotunda area, which has been gracing the building for the past 10 years despite mixed reactions from those who visit the states seat of government.
The sign declares: 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.
Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the foundation, said the FFRF strictly followed the state procedures regarding the proper way to post a sign, which is in response to the regular appearance of Christmas-like and religious decorations adorning the capitol each winter season.
We felt that it would be important to have a sign saying to keep church and state separate, Gaylor said.
In the past, however, the sign had been vandalized and stolen. Though the perpetrator was never found from a marring of the sign which took place several years ago, Gaylor noted it looked like an inside job.
As a warning to those intending to take or damage the sign, the back of it reads, Thou shalt not steal, as well as State/Church: Keep them Separate.
Gaylor even noted an instance where former Gov. Tommy Thompson removed a banner with their message from the rotunda.
He also changed the rules so there could be nothing like that allowed again, Gaylor said. But you could put up a little 30-by-40 inch sign, so we started to put up this sign at that time.
State Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said he disagreed with the placement of the sign at the capitol.
Apparently Scrooge left his sign in the capitol and I wish Governor Doyle would remove it, Suder said. I think it is unnecessary for the Freedom From Religion Foundation to attack Christmas.
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.
We have had groups or individuals come down who have been very disgusted with the sign; they find [the FFRF] message to be both appalling and very disturbing, Suder said, adding he encourages people to post pro-Christmas signs or signs promoting their own religion in response.
Most people ignore it, but it does disturb some, and its unfortunate that this group has to continue to promote their agenda against all religions, Suder said.
Some at the capitol took the sign with a grain of salt.
It doesnt really affect anything were doing, Mike Prentiss, a spokesperson for State Sen. Scott Fitzgerald said. They have been given the right to put the sign up, and they put the sign up it is what it is.
Fourteen percent of the U.S. population is not religious, Gaylor said, adding many Wisconsinites pay homage to the sign annually.
There are people who come back every year, Gaylor said. I think its been a little bit of a tourist attraction.
Both Suder and Prentiss said, however, they feel most citizens in the state disagree with the signs message.
I certainly do not think they represent the views of the majority of people in Wisconsin, which is a good thing, Prentiss said.
You do realize that essentially condemns them to Hell?
I have to wonder, however, when Ali is approaching with the Big Knife, and the video camera is running and everyone else is wailing "Allah Akbar!", just what these cranks would be thinking. If what is about to happen is just myth and superstition, what is going to happen in the next 15 seconds? Is reality really a banner in Madison, Wi?
You know it, I know it, but if they don't believe, they don't believe. Obviously they are aware of the Truth, but choose otherwise. It's a shame, but so be it.
It doesn't promote atheism. It is clearly an attack on Christianity shrouded in an "inclusive" mold. They are pushing hatred in a cloak of "tolerance".
"Isn't there a religion that celebrate Winter Solstice? "
Sure. Most of them are pagan religions. However, Christmas also falls pretty close to that astronomical event. In fact, Christmas was set to correspond to the pagan celebrations, in order to help convert the pagans.
These days, in the USA, it's mostly Wiccans who celebrate the solstice. In other countries, other groups do.
The Winter Solstice is also noted and celebrated by many atheists. It's a recognizable event of science, and there's plenty of reason to celebrate the beginning of longer days than nights, especially if you live in northern regions.
Second the motion. This is unacceptable hemisphobia. Our Southern neighbors cannot help it if they were born that way.
There is nothing more irrational than declaring that the world has absolutely no ultimate meaning and then proceeding to crusade for ideological goals of some sort. And since there is allegedly no G-d to define the hardening of hearts and enslaving of minds to be morally wrong, why are these people getting all in a dither over nothing?
There are plenty of people who claim to believe that the world is meaningless. But there is no one who actually lives like this.
"I have to wonder, however, when Ali is approaching with the Big Knife, and the video camera is running and everyone else is wailing "Allah Akbar!", just what these cranks would be thinking."
Well, I'm an atheist. If that happened, I'd pull out my Glock and fix Ali's clock. Beats the heck out of praying.
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!
Maybe they believe hardening hearts and enslaving minds violates the laws of "our natural world," sort of like water running uphill.
But if "our natural world" doesn't forbid these things, and if "our natural world" is all that exists, what the blazes are these people yipping about?
PS: Unfortunately, we have people like this at Free Republic as well.
Andjust what sign do you erect for Ramadan?
Brings to mind the old wheeze about the dead Atheist. "Pity him, All dressed up and nowhere to go..."
"Now, now, putting 150 grains of hot death thru Ali's brain pan is hardly showing respect for his diversity, is it? These pudknockers wouldn't have a Glock to begin with.
Brings to mind the old wheeze about the dead Atheist. "Pity him, All dressed up and nowhere to go...""
Just gotta love those intelligent people that are soooooo much smarter than us idiots, huh?
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