Public Atheist Monument Going Up Near Courthouse In Starke, Florida, Is Country's First

[steve2470]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/atheist-monument-starke-florida_n_3368319.html



A small city in heavily Christian northern Florida is about to become home to the first public monument in the United States dedicated to atheism.

Florida members of American Atheists, a national advocacy group, plan to erect a 1,500-pound granite display in front of the Bradford County Courthouse in Starke, Fla., next month, opposite a controversial year-old display of the Ten Commandments outside the same courthouse.

"We'd rather there be no monuments at all, but if they are allowed to have the Ten Commandments, we will have our own," said Ken Loukinen, the director of regional operations for American Atheists who designed the monument.

The new structure will feature quotes related to secularism from Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and American Atheists founder Madalyn Murray O'Hair on a 4-foot-high panel, alongside a bench. It will stand in a small square in front of the courthouse, opposite the 5-foot, 6-ton Ten Commandments monument sponsored by a Christian group.

[MineralMan]

1. As an atheist, I say "whatever."

My non-belief needs no monuments or even notice.

What is remarkable is that religions appear to need such things. You'd think they wouldn't, but they seem to, and the larger and more obtrusive the better.

Atheism is the default. It needs nothing.

[Mariana]

2. I think religions "need" their numerous public displays

in the same way that gangs "need" to tag walls and doorways with their particular colors, symbols, and signs.

[MineralMan]

3. Yes, I think you're right.

It's much the same thing, I suppose.

Religions that are evangelical, meaning that they seek to get new members, tend to advertise themselves. Religions that are not, don't. Christian churches are generally large buildings that stand out from surrounding structures. Synagogues are generally not. In the Middle East, mosques dominate the landscape and calls to prayer are loudly proclaimed.

If you want new customers, you have to advertise. That principle applies to religions as well as to businesses.

Atheism isn't trying to convert anyone and atheists don't belong to atheism organizations, for the most part. We simply don't believe in the supernatural. It's very simple. Most atheists don't really care if you believe in such things or not, as long as you don't try to impose your beliefs in such things on us.

[burnodo]

5. it's remarkable that the religious need such things?

Have you seen those crosses everywhere? The depiction of Christ's vehicle of death as sacred symbol to their beliefs?

[MineralMan]

6. It's not remarkable. It's just salesmanship.

Advertising. It costs money to build those big churches, ya know.

[burnodo]

8. I don't really approve of this atheist "statue"

though I think the design is clever "Let me offer you a seat so you can read those Ten Commandments in relative comfort."

[MineralMan]

10. I don't approve or disapprove.

I just don't care.

[leftyohiolib]

4. "but if they are allowed to have the Ten Commandments, we will have our own," this statement makes

this act sound like a childish tit for tat.

We'd rather there be no monuments at all, but if they are going to be allowed then we would like to add our own," would have been better

[burnodo]

9. tit for tat was what I was thinking

when I read this story

I love that they made a little sitting bench though

[LostOne4Ever]

7. I think it would have bothered the 10 commandment supporters more

if they had erected a monument to Wiccans!

They hate witches with a purple passion.

[cordelia]

11. Get rid of the both of them. Plant some flowers, trees, or something - depending on

the space being wasted by these useless things.