Atheist Sign Stolen in Washington State ... and ...

[defendandprotect]

Missing atheist sign found in Washington state Story Highlights
NEW: Placard from Washington state Capitol found in a ditch, radio station says
By Mallory Simon
CNN


(CNN) -- An atheist sign criticizing Christianity that was erected alongside a Nativity scene was taken from the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington, on Friday and later found in a ditch.


The Freedom from Religion Foundation had a placard up in the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington.

An employee from country radio station KMPS-FM in Seattle told CNN the sign was dropped off at the station by someone who found it in a ditch.

"I thought it would be safe," Freedom From Religion Foundation co-founder Annie Laurie Gaylor told CNN earlier Friday. "It's always a shock when your sign is censored or stolen or mutilated. It's not something you get used to."

The sign, which celebrates the winter solstice, has had some residents and Christian organizations calling atheists Scrooges because they said it was attacking the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth.

"Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds," the sign from the Freedom From Religion Foundation says in part.

The sign, which was at the Legislative Building at 6:30 a.m. PT, was gone by 7:30 a.m., Gaylor said.

The incident will not stifle the group's message, Gaylor said. Before reports of the placard's recovery, she said a temporary sign with the same message would be placed in the building's Rotunda. Gaylor said a note would be attached saying, "Thou shalt not steal."

"I guess they don't follow their own commandments," Gaylor said. "There's nothing out there with the atheist point of view, and now there is such a firestorm that we have the audacity to exist. And then stifles our speech."




http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/05/atheists.christmas/index.html?iref=hpmostpop

[The Straight Story]

1. Well, people steal baby jesus all the time, so why not

:rofl:

[angrycarpenter]

5. True story

About 15 years ago I repaired and repainted a nativity scene for a church. It consisted of about a dozen unrealistic hollow foam figures. The baby Jesus was a large black baby doll that had been spray painted lily white in just the face. I saw it as a metaphor for how a simple Hebrew prophet was turned into a white, war loving, republican god.

[The Straight Story]

8. That's pretty messed up right there

but it does not surprise me at all.

[tekisui]

2. They should add another sign to it:

'god is dead'

[defendandprotect]

10. They are ... note attached ...."Thou shalt not steal" ......

The incident will not stifle the group's message, Gaylor said. Before reports of the placard's recovery, she said a temporary sign with the same message would be placed in the building's Rotunda. Gaylor said a note would be attached saying, "Thou shalt not steal."

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"I guess they don't follow their own commandments," Gaylor said. "There's nothing out there with the atheist point of view, and now there is such a firestorm that we have the audacity to exist. And then stifles our speech."

Gaylor said that police are checking security cameras pointed at the building's entrances and exits to see if they can see anyone stealing the sign.

"It's probably about 50 pounds, " Gaylor said. "My brother-in-law was huffing and puffing carrying it up the stairs. It's definitely not something you can stick under your arm or conceal."

[anonymous171]

3. lol O'reilly's call to arms did not go unanswered.

:rofl:

[TexasObserver]

4. because the godly can do whatever they want

[Critters2]

6. There was already a thread about this here, that got moved to R/T. nt

[Bill McBlueState]

7. "criticizing Christianity"

To say that the sign was criticizing Christianity, while not technically false, is misleading. The sign was critical of all religion, and to single out Christianity rather than (say) Scientology is designed more to get a particular reaction from readers than to give a clear impression of the events.

[ConsAreLiars]

9. For the CNN true believers Christianism is the only religion. The rest are just lies. (nt)