Comments on: Sidin’ with the Atheists on Secular Crosses http://atheists.org/blog/2008/08/12/sidin_with_the_atheists_on_secular_cross A Blog of Atheist Thought Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:12:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: 3E8 http://atheists.org/blog/2008/08/12/sidin_with_the_atheists_on_secular_cross/comment-page-1#comment-87175 3E8 Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-87175 It's sickeningly hypocritical for our gov't to 'secularize' the cross. How out of touch can they be?? I'm glad the Catholics can come to their senses on at least one issue... I suspect they are responding more to the choice of wording 'secular' being associated to any form of the cross than the fact that gov't chose a cross for public display. It’s sickeningly hypocritical for our gov’t to ’secularize’ the cross. How out of touch can they be?? I’m glad the Catholics can come to their senses on at least one issue… I suspect they are responding more to the choice of wording ’secular’ being associated to any form of the cross than the fact that gov’t chose a cross for public display.

]]> By: what http://atheists.org/blog/2008/08/12/sidin_with_the_atheists_on_secular_cross/comment-page-1#comment-87179 what Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-87179 These crosses are twelve feet tall!? If all they want is to acknowledge the death of a cop then put a two foot tombstone there instead. Better yet put the tombstone in a cemetery. These crosses are twelve feet tall!? If all they want is to acknowledge the death of a cop then put a two foot tombstone there instead. Better yet put the tombstone in a cemetery.

]]> By: joe zamecki http://atheists.org/blog/2008/08/12/sidin_with_the_atheists_on_secular_cross/comment-page-1#comment-87180 joe zamecki Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-87180 The cross hasn't been secular since theists nailed a god up to one. This is just another scheme. Like the moment of silence. Like "religious expression" in public schools. Like Bible classes in public schools. <br /> <br /> This time it's something tangible and long-lasting. It's also a symbol of violence that we can always remind Christians about. If they say it's not a torture device, just ask them if Jesus enjoyed his time on one. They'll eventually have to admit that it's actually a terrible terrible thing...that they wear on their freakin' necks...!<br /> <br /> This is just another reason why we should be disposing of all of the roadside memorial torture devices in our world. <br /> <br /> Joe Zamecki<br /> Austin The cross hasn’t been secular since theists nailed a god up to one. This is just another scheme. Like the moment of silence. Like “religious expression” in public schools. Like Bible classes in public schools.

This time it’s something tangible and long-lasting. It’s also a symbol of violence that we can always remind Christians about. If they say it’s not a torture device, just ask them if Jesus enjoyed his time on one. They’ll eventually have to admit that it’s actually a terrible terrible thing…that they wear on their freakin’ necks…!

This is just another reason why we should be disposing of all of the roadside memorial torture devices in our world.

Joe Zamecki
Austin

]]> By: what http://atheists.org/blog/2008/08/12/sidin_with_the_atheists_on_secular_cross/comment-page-1#comment-87183 what Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-87183 <blockquote> BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Baltimore police have obtained warrants for five alleged cult members accused of starving an 18-month-old boy to death because they thought he was a ?demon.? </blockquote> Religion is vile.

BALTIMORE (Map, News) – Baltimore police have obtained warrants for five alleged cult members accused of starving an 18-month-old boy to death because they thought he was a ?demon.?

Religion is vile.

]]> By: billh http://atheists.org/blog/2008/08/12/sidin_with_the_atheists_on_secular_cross/comment-page-1#comment-87185 billh Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-87185 what, yep, disgusting.<br /> <br /> on a lighter tone which may be a good thread:<br /> http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,401722,00.html<br /> <br /> And the bible teaches not to do this! Sweet. what, yep, disgusting.

on a lighter tone which may be a good thread:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,401722,00.html

And the bible teaches not to do this! Sweet.

]]> By: GodFree&Glad http://atheists.org/blog/2008/08/12/sidin_with_the_atheists_on_secular_cross/comment-page-1#comment-87186 GodFree&Glad Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-87186 I've never understood the whole business of planting crosses on the roadsides where someone has died.<br /> <br /> If erecting a cross where someone has died is the thing to do, then why isn't every hospital lawn crowded with crosses? Or if there is no lawn then why aren't the buildings plastered with them? And why aren't there crosses on lawns in front of homes where someone has died? And maybe crosses should be painted on convenience stores because a clerk has been shot and killed there. And the site of the twin towers--why bother with a memorial? Wouldn't thousands of crosses be the ticket? This list could go on until eternity. The whole cross idea, completely aside from the issue at hand, smacks of stupid! I’ve never understood the whole business of planting crosses on the roadsides where someone has died.

If erecting a cross where someone has died is the thing to do, then why isn’t every hospital lawn crowded with crosses? Or if there is no lawn then why aren’t the buildings plastered with them? And why aren’t there crosses on lawns in front of homes where someone has died? And maybe crosses should be painted on convenience stores because a clerk has been shot and killed there. And the site of the twin towers–why bother with a memorial? Wouldn’t thousands of crosses be the ticket? This list could go on until eternity. The whole cross idea, completely aside from the issue at hand, smacks of stupid!

]]> By: justme http://atheists.org/blog/2008/08/12/sidin_with_the_atheists_on_secular_cross/comment-page-1#comment-87190 justme Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-87190 I thought crosses were in honor of Osiris who was nailed to a lead-lined cross and tossed into the Nile (and later dismembered), only to be resurrected and rule the everlasting and bountiful afterlife.<br /> <br /> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osiris#Mythology I thought crosses were in honor of Osiris who was nailed to a lead-lined cross and tossed into the Nile (and later dismembered), only to be resurrected and rule the everlasting and bountiful afterlife.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osiris#Mythology

]]> By: septos http://atheists.org/blog/2008/08/12/sidin_with_the_atheists_on_secular_cross/comment-page-1#comment-87191 septos Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-87191 If this is the first time any of them has supported us that would make this a sort of a milestone. If this is the first time any of them has supported us that would make this a sort of a milestone.

]]> By: neowolfe http://atheists.org/blog/2008/08/12/sidin_with_the_atheists_on_secular_cross/comment-page-1#comment-87192 neowolfe Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-87192 I wish I knew how to do the quotes of posts to which I would like to respond, but, I don't. I like what Zamechi said, and I agree. Wearing a cross is no different than if your father is killed in a driveby shooting, and all who remember him wearing an ornament around their neck that resembles an assault rifle.<br /> I think that what justme said is very relevant as well. The cross is much much older than Christianity. The earliest known use as a religious symbol was in Mesopotamia to represent "Tamuz", a mythical god-king, roughly translated, meaning "the cleansing fire." Then came the Egyptian anhk which is really a fallis representing the eternal cycle of life, with a vagina, her butt cheeks, and an inserted male genetalia.<br /> The cross is no different than Christmas being celebrated at the winter solstice, Easter being represented by the rabbit, a pagan fertility symbol, and the worship of the madonna. They were all doctrinal compromises the Roman Catholic Church made to smoothly absorb the pagan tribes conquered by the Roman Empire. <br /> Which complicates everything, what symbol would you leave at the site of a fallen loved one, or a hero, that would satisfy everyone? Most likely nothing would fill the bill.<br /> I understand the fight we have with the seemingly self blinded automatons who consider "family values and morality" as the sole possession of fundamentalist religion. And I understand the intentions of those who have committed themselves to fending off the attempts of fundamentalists to dig inroads into our government policies, and if I weren't so old, tired, and busy, I would be right there with them.<br /> I wonder sometimes, though, are we choosing the right places to make a stand. I may be wrong, but, I think that maybe if we demand that a Christian policeman who died in the line of duty, and the family and his friends want to mark the spot, and believe he has gone on to his reward for his sacrifice, is that a good place to draw the line in the sand? <br /> I think sometimes we need to work smarter, not harder.<br /> <br /> NeoWolfe <br /> <br /> I wish I knew how to do the quotes of posts to which I would like to respond, but, I don’t. I like what Zamechi said, and I agree. Wearing a cross is no different than if your father is killed in a driveby shooting, and all who remember him wearing an ornament around their neck that resembles an assault rifle.
I think that what justme said is very relevant as well. The cross is much much older than Christianity. The earliest known use as a religious symbol was in Mesopotamia to represent “Tamuz”, a mythical god-king, roughly translated, meaning “the cleansing fire.” Then came the Egyptian anhk which is really a fallis representing the eternal cycle of life, with a vagina, her butt cheeks, and an inserted male genetalia.
The cross is no different than Christmas being celebrated at the winter solstice, Easter being represented by the rabbit, a pagan fertility symbol, and the worship of the madonna. They were all doctrinal compromises the Roman Catholic Church made to smoothly absorb the pagan tribes conquered by the Roman Empire.
Which complicates everything, what symbol would you leave at the site of a fallen loved one, or a hero, that would satisfy everyone? Most likely nothing would fill the bill.
I understand the fight we have with the seemingly self blinded automatons who consider “family values and morality” as the sole possession of fundamentalist religion. And I understand the intentions of those who have committed themselves to fending off the attempts of fundamentalists to dig inroads into our government policies, and if I weren’t so old, tired, and busy, I would be right there with them.
I wonder sometimes, though, are we choosing the right places to make a stand. I may be wrong, but, I think that maybe if we demand that a Christian policeman who died in the line of duty, and the family and his friends want to mark the spot, and believe he has gone on to his reward for his sacrifice, is that a good place to draw the line in the sand?
I think sometimes we need to work smarter, not harder.

NeoWolfe

]]> By: tarma http://atheists.org/blog/2008/08/12/sidin_with_the_atheists_on_secular_cross/comment-page-1#comment-87199 tarma Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-87199 septos,<br /> <br /> septos,

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