Atheists win fight over high school football team’s religious monument
Source: Washington Times
By Jessica Chasmar - The Washington Times - Thursday, October 16, 2014
A controversial monument at the entrance of a Georgia high school football stadium will be altered to remove its biblical scripture after atheists complained it was offensive.
The Madison County school board voted unanimously Tuesday night to have the monument altered, following a nearly two-hour closed session to discuss the issue, Madison Journal Review reported.
The monument gained national attention when it was erected in August. Two different groups sent letters to the school system arguing that it violates the separation of church and state and demanding it be removed.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/16/atheists-win-fight-over-high-school-football-teams/
The original article in the Georgia paper ran yesterday, and the meeting was on Tuesday night.
Updated: Biblical scriptures will be removed or covered on monument
Posted by Margie Richards
Wednesday, October 15. 2014
Updated: 3 hours ago
The controversial monument bearing Biblical scripture in front of the high school football field house will be modified to comply with state and federal laws, which means the Biblical scriptures will be removed or covered.
That was the unanimous decision of the Madison County school board Tuesday night, following a nearly two-hour closed session to discuss the issue.
The closed session followed public comments from three citizens who had signed up to speak on the issue. All three speakers, Anna Martin, Jess Martin and Theresa Gordon, spoke in favor of leaving the monument just as it is. Loud applause followed each speakers comments.
....
Gordon spoke on behalf of the monument first, saying she believed it was her duty as a Christian to speak up for the monument. ... We are not here as haters, we are here to love all, she said. It seems as if these (atheist) groups are here as haters, willing to spend millions to remove God from (our society), which means they are antichrists by definition they must have hatred in their hearts to fight so hard to remove Him from this small object that was placed for others to enjoy.
Apparently, the words from the Bible were not part of the original design. From the article:
The monument has gained state and national attention since its unveiling in August.
....
Meanwhile, the identity of who decided to place the scripture on the monument remains a secret. The monument was donated by North Georgia Monuments and All Sports Consulting and Construction. Tim Huguley of North Georgia Monuments said recently that the plans for scripture on the monument were made by someone from All Sports. He said he thought the first name of the person was Clint, but he didnt know the last name.
There is a large sign for All Sports at the high school football field, but it includes no phone number. The Madison County Journal filed an open records request last week with the county school system seeking any documents related to All Sports. {Superintendent Allen McCannon} said there are no such papers to turn over.
There are no documents with All Sports, he said, adding that the only record of All Sports being involved with the monument is the inscription on the actual monument.
TerrapinFlyer
(277 posts)Tired of the free-loadin' religions not paying their fair share...
Hoppy
(3,595 posts)Why, suppose he wants him a Slurpy. Given his size, it would have to be a big Slurpy and where else is he gonna get the money to pay for it except from tax free donations.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)7962
(11,841 posts)but church owned property is another story. If a church owns other property, its also tax free. That shouldnt be allowed.
RKP5637
(67,102 posts)ChazII
(6,204 posts)on church property that house the food and clothing banks? Many churches have these banks that provide food and clothing at no charge.
http://www.ststephens.org/outreach-ministries.html
http://www.fbcscottsdale.org/chaneni-house/
These are the two in which I volunteer.
immoderate
(20,885 posts)--imm
Response to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
notrightatall
(410 posts)arcane1
(38,613 posts)Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)SoapBox
(18,791 posts)elleng
(130,861 posts)state and federal laws, and refers to those seeking compliance 'haters.'
I have little hope for us all.
SamKnause
(13,091 posts)Your religious friends can put religious monuments on their front lawns.
Your religious family members can put religious monuments on their front lawns.
Your places of worship can put religious monuments on their front lawns.
Your religious schools can put religious monuments on their front lawns.
The United States of America was never meant to be a Theocracy.
I really do not understand what they are complaining about.
They can pray 24/7 in multiple locations.
They can worship 24/7 in multiple locations.
Why must they always involve public spaces and public venues ?????
I am an Atheist.
I am not a hater.
I am not an antichrist. I don't believe in gods or devils.
I am not a threat to anyone's religion.
strawberries
(498 posts)something you don't believe exist? How can you be insulted because it has no meaning to you. just asking
whatthehey
(3,660 posts)It's not anger at what doesn't exist.
The assumption that we're all Christians definitely exists
The enforced prayer and deference to religious opinion definitely exists
The conflation of "Christian" with "good person" definitely exists
The embodiment of religious dogma in laws such as Sunday restrictions, blue laws, and the like definitely exists
The use of public spaces taxes and amenities for religious proselytizing definitely exists.
If you're really "just asking" that should be a good enough answer. We're really not "angry at God" like the brain-dead polyester clad pulpit puppies pretend. Any more than you're angry at Zeus for not believing in him. But think for a moment. Replace EVERY instance of Christian representation in the US with the same for Zeus. and pretend you are surrounded 24/7 by people who not only take Zeus seriously, but insist non-stop that you must too, in civil intercourse and in law that binds Zeus believer and nonbeliever alike.
Would you object? Just asking.
strawberries
(498 posts)never really thought of it that way
Never too old to learn
vlyons
(10,252 posts)I was deeply moved by the reported comments of Theresa Gordon:
We are not here as haters, we are here to love all, she said. It seems as if these (atheist) groups are here as haters, willing to spend millions to remove God from (our society), which means they are antichrists by definition they must have hatred in their hearts to fight so hard to remove Him from this small object that was placed for others to enjoy.
They (Fundie Christians) really don't get us. They think we are haters. And truth to tell, there are a lot of non-Christians, who do hate them. That's why I keep telling DU and KOS folks not to hate them, even tho' they are bigoted and ignorant. This woman is so encased in her Christian belief system, that her sense of self is totally identified, attached, solidified with everything Jesus. She's like a fish in water that doesn't know what water is until it's hauled into the boat. Anything that challenges her religion being everywhere, including over my personal boundaries, is a threat not to her religion, but to her sense of self. BTW: I'm a Buddhist.
The supposed citations on the monument are really quite offensive.
If God be for us, who can be against us? from Romans 8:31, and, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, from Philippians 4:13.
Of all the Bible quotes to be had, wouldn't you know it would be their rather supremacist sounding ones. Well for starters, the people, who are offended by having somebody else's religion shoved in their face everyday are agin ya. And no, Jesus isn't even going to overcome the County School Board to keep the plaque up. It just seems to me that if the purpose of the monument was to inspire students to measure up to challenges and achieve goals, which is what those scriptures are supposed to mean, there are a hell of a lot of other quotes that would not offend people. But not offending non-Christians never occurs to them because our religions/non-religions are simply not valid in their world view. We don't count, except for bragging rights if they bring somebody to Jesus.
Religious art does not belong in public schools. But ... if I had to choose one religious thingy to put up in a public school, it would definitely be Mark Twain's The War Prayer.
Feral Child
(2,086 posts)of posting Christian quotations on a monument portraying a powerful Pagan image is totally lost on Gordan.
The tactic of trying to drown out Pagan thought with Christian hypocrisy is self-evident, though.
vlyons
(10,252 posts)procon
(15,805 posts)It looks like the only reason they agreed to stop was the threat of an expensive lawsuit that would have named the individuals responsible for this decision. How many times do the courts have to step in and uphold the Constitution after these bible belt school boards try to proselytize their religion by setting up divisive icons on public school grounds?
This issue is never about religious freedom because if any other religion -- that's say Muslim -- rolled out something similar and had it plunked down at the entrance to the school, heads would explode all over the South. It only comes from certain Christian followers who believe in a fictional alternate history that favors their religious views over everyone else.
TxDemChem
(1,918 posts)Too bad these religious nuts don't understand how separation of church and state also protects them.
Judi Lynn
(160,515 posts)Found a photo of the "monument" and the school's football team, filing out of what looks like an aluminum shed.
[center][/center]
Georgia high schools statue ignites ire of atheist groups
Published September 28, 2014
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/09/28/georgia-high-schools-statue-ignites-ire-atheist-groups/
BobbyBoring
(1,965 posts)N/t
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Actually in chiseled in stone, so very very slow moving.
vlyons
(10,252 posts)does that mean you can sack the opposing QB?
daleo
(21,317 posts)Like Merlin.
Feral Child
(2,086 posts)Thor_MN
(11,843 posts)Seriously, gawd doesn't give a damn about high school football.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Most likely 'cuz it's a figment of human imagination.
Budgies Revenge
(216 posts)I went to this particular high school, and still live in the county--so my facebook feed has been one long screed of former classmates, people I know in the community, etc talking about how they love Jesus so much, they will punch you in the head, urinate on you, throw you out of the county-state-country(take your choice), and/or possibly shoot you if you so much as imply that you might be against that ugly damn chunk of concrete and quarry rejects.
RKP5637
(67,102 posts)and deaths.
daleo
(21,317 posts)"she believed it was her duty as a Christian to speak up for the monument. ... We are not here as haters, we are here to love all, she said. It seems as if these (atheist) groups are here as haters, willing to spend millions to remove God from (our society), which means they are antichrists by definition they must have hatred in their hearts to fight so hard to remove Him from this small object that was placed for others to enjoy."
She is not a hater - she just calls people who don't agree with her evil demons.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)They were busy at home making "I am with stupid T-shirts" for Sunday service.
rurallib
(62,406 posts)also put up a Muslim rock and a Hindu rock and a Buddhist rock and a Druid rock and a Taoist rock and a Sikh rock and a humanist rock and a ........
well I think you get my drift.
And every member of the football team and every member of the coaching staff would have to touch each rock before getting to the football field.
Touching would commence 2 hours before game time. Sadly the team may be too tired to play after all that touching.
lindysalsagal
(20,656 posts)May the children of the world grow constantly in spiritual awareness and peace consciousness. May more and more young people each day find the wisdom of simply being and awakening. May we all find the alert stillness of our Buddha natures.
- Beliefnet member Rachel_Zen1110
Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Buddhism/Buddhist-Prayers.aspx#hXCtgjj7kz1ZZpOI.99
The problem with religion in public-owned places, like schools, is that it will always make some children feel unwelcome or less deserving.
No child should experience that in their own school.
Religion should not be promoted by government entities, ever. But it should always be protected by the government, when expressed on private land.
It's so simple, and those who choose to push religion through public entities are fools, ignorants, and bigots.