Mild mannered atheists everywhere—and of course there are mild mannered atheists everywhere—be aware that you may be lumped in with the worse that atheism has to offer. Enter “Atheist Activist”—a group of atheists reported on by local radio station 770 KKOB AM’s Jim Villanucci—who are currently encouraging the destroying of road side memorials in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Their stated purpose is to provide, “a tool for the atheist who wants to bring about change through activism to benefit the secular community…” Sadly, their recommended actions are virtually tailor made to vilify the “secular community,” give atheism a bad name and bring ill repute to atheists in general.
From their subtitle and their further reference to “separation of church and state” one discerns that they know not of what they speak as the US Constitution provides the Establishment Clause and not “separation of church and state.”
Roadside memorials are generally crosses, flowers, etc. little reminders placed by families at the side of roads where their loved ones died in car accidents or being run over. It appears that Atheist Activists are so saturated with hatred that they encourage the destruction and disposal of these. They refer to them as “macabre eyesores and dangerous distractions…offensive, annoying and depressing” and state, “When you do see them, remove them as soon as possible…the State condones religious symbols being placed along the road on State property. There is nothing stopping us from taking down these religious symbols. We don't need any new laws, we need direct action.”
They also quote the Freedom From Religion Foundation (previously reported on here, here and here) lawyer Robert R. Tiernan who, not to be outdone, stated, “For us, the memorials raise serious church-state constitutional concerns because they usually feature religious symbols and are placed on state property.”
Their call to action is clearly a very thinly veneered emotional reaction of prejudice against religious people expressing themselves as per the very premise of the USA’s freedom of religious expression and the right’s given to us by what the Declaration of Independence refer to as our “Creator…nature’s God.”
Comments
As an atheist I'm appalled at the idea of ripping a cross off of a roadside. This isn't exercising my right as an atheist, this is trampling on others.
To reiterate: as a theist I most certainly regret that some would look down on you because of the actions of those described in the article.
Apparently, the author is unaware that every court in the country is more than familiar with the principle of "separation of church & state" and makes rulings based on it. It is part of our legal system. He also fails to mention that making a private claim to public property is called "adverse possession" and runs afoul of the law. Why is it that all of a sudden, having one grave for each dead person is not enough?
I'm an atheist and I don't like those memorials, but I don't think it's right to vandalize them (even if it were legal) and I think doing so is rather childish. I also think it is rather obnoxious and arrogant for people to wear crosses over their clothing and clothing with religious sayings/symbols, but I will defend their right to do so (and I expect them to defend my right to free speech as well). On another note, the cross has become a standard grave marker, even for atheists and the non-religious and people need to realize that. The displays bother me because I think they're creepy and weird (I also think it's asinine to put up some kind of public display wherever someone gets killed and I don't see why automobile-related incidents should get special recognition).
this is ridiculous. i'm an atheist and i maintain that if people need their faith, they have their right to it. the only point of organized religion that i am against is the practice of assimilation, which these radical atheists clearly contradict. crosses have the connotation of a religious symbol because jesus was crucified. however, he's not the only one who was ever crucified, to me it is nothing more than an appropriate symbol of death. like stephen said, it's a common gravemarker to even non-christians. presenting religious symbols is merely pride in one's own faith, not the attack of another. i personally don't feel like my rights are being invaded until someone starts trying to preach their good book to me. also, just because a small group of atheists condones this practice, this scenario shouldn't be a point of judgement of atheists. after all, i don't think all white protestants are neo-nazis.
Im with Soja absolutely appalling
bmcg61 Barry - Your website does more to promote the stereotype of Atheists as uncaring mean people than anything else I've seen. Keep up the good work.
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