debbi alter: Atheists Build Monument In Florida, Promise 50 More

Monday, July 1, 2013

Atheists Build Monument In Florida, Promise 50 More

I?ve often said that I have no problem with the 10 Commandments being on public property: the religious clause is about government establishing a national religion, not against the government displaying religion. The clause was in response to how much the Church of England was involved in government pre-revolution. That said, I?ve also stated that if other religions would like monuments on government property. Fair is fair. Of course, while most atheists are decent people who just don?t believe, there are those who are militant, and instead of putting up a respectful monument, they drive down the road towards Denigration

(The Blaze) A group of atheists on Saturday unveiled a monument to their unbelief in God?and it sits alongside a granite slab that lists the Ten Commandments.

American Atheists President David Silverman said that the organization has plans for 50 more monuments at public sites across the country, notes Raw Story.

?When you look at this monument, the first thing you will notice is that it has a function. Atheists are about the real and the physical, so we selected to place this monument in the form of a bench,? said Silverman. (snip)

?We reject outsiders coming to Florida?especially from outside what we refer to as the Bible Belt?and trying to remake us in their own image,? said Michael Tubbs, state chairman of the Florida League of the South. ?We do feel like it?s a stick in the eye to the Christian people of Florida to have these outsiders come down here with their money and their leadership and promote their outside values here.?

So, it wasn?t really the business of the carpetbaggers. But, fine, they put their display up

At another point, Eric Hovind, 35, of Pensacola jumped atop the peak of the monument and shouted his thanks to the atheists for giving him a platform to declare Jesus is real. Atheists shouted at him, and he stepped down after about a minute. One man yelled that religion is a fairy tale.

Very tolerant people, these Atheists, wouldn?t you say? There?s a photo down at the end of The Blaze story showing Silverman standing on the 10 Commandments display, without being shouted at or denigrated. Here?s a photo of the monument, which, instead of being respectful, is meant to be insulting to Christians (more at their Twitter feed)

And, of course, instead of being graceful over their ?win??.

While Silverman said he believes religion is wrong and teachings in the Bible are violent, he said he welcomes non-Christian religions to follow the atheists? example and put in their own monuments in free-speech zones.

?I will back them because it will be their right,? he said. ?This is one of the tricks that Christians have used, because they go up and call it a free-speech zone, and then they?re unopposed. They get their government legitimization because nobody else calls their bluff and puts something in.?

The momument includes ?a list of Old Testament punishments for violating the Ten Commandments, including death and stoning?. Interestingly, these militant atheist groups never seem to want to insult Islam, because they aren?t stupid, and know that the hardcore Islamists still practice those types of punishments and could get really violent against atheists.

Crossed at Pirate?s Cove. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach.

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