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A federal appeals court in Denver is weighing a lawsuit over Utah’s use of crosses for roadside memorials honoring fallen highway patrol troopers, with some judges questioning Utah’s declaration that the crosses are nonreligious, secular symbols of death.

OK so here’s the scoop on the Utah cross case. Utah has a law banning roadside memorials EXCEPT for one instance — fallen troopers. Fallen troopers get memorials. Of course, American Atheists salutes fallen troopers and has NO PROBLEM with them having memorials.

But this case is not about that. It’s never been about that on either side.

The memorials could have been obelisks, or gardens, or signs, or plaques, or anything else, but instead, they are 12-foot tall crosses. These are on public land, with the Utah State Highway Patrol insignia attached. Why isn’t this a clear endorsement of religion? Simple. According to the state of Utah, crosses aren’t religious symbols. Sometimes they can be secular.

That’s very convenient. Secular crosses. I suppose we could put secular crosses on top of the white house, or in courtrooms, or anywhere else, and never have to worry about equal access, because they aren’t religious crosses, they are secular.

This, dear readers, is a lie. They are lying to break the law. This is not about the troopers (if it was, they would never have started this fight). This is about USING FALLEN TROOPERS to protect this attack on our constitution and set the precedent that the cross is not a religious symbol, so they can place one wherever they want without worrying about equal access. This case disgusts me. We have no choice but to sue, and they knew it when they started it.

When this case broke, I went on the Catholic Radio Network and pleaded my case. Once everyone understood, guess what! The Catholic callers AGREED with ME 100%, because they know, like we ALL know, the cross is a symbol of Christianity. Additionally, they weren’t pleased with their religious symbol was being dishonestly de-religionized for the sake of breaking the same constitution for which these same officers had died.

If the cross is secular:
1) Atheists, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews and Moslems would have crosses for tombstones, and wear crosses on their necks. Anyone see that happening?
2) We could deface the cross, hold “Deface the cross” Rallies where crosses could be placed in urine and dung, but nobody could complain because the crosses would be “secular crosses” and not religious crosses. Anyone who thought it was an anti-religious exercise would have to agree with us — that crosses are ALWAYS religious.

We are fighting this because we have to — because they made us fight — , and everyone should be on our side, including the troopers and their families, as well as Christians and Jews. The case is an insult to everyone and a dead-on attack against the separation of church and state. To use dead troopers to this pathetic end is unconscionable.

Shame on you, Utah!

A major new survey of religion in America reports three huge trends: that “nones”—people claiming no religion—constitute the only “religious” tradition that’s growing in all 50 states, that nearly 40 percent of mainline Protestants now also identify themselves as evangelical or born again, and that the nation’s massive Roman Catholic population has shifted from the Northeast to the Southwest. According to one survey’s investigators, “California now has a higher proportion of Catholics than New England.”

Enormous political implications here. Released today, the American Religious Identification Survey—conducted by the Program on Public Values at Trinity College—pays special attention to the growing ranks of American “nones.” From the press release:

The percentage of Americans claiming no religion, which jumped from 8.2 in 1990 to 14.2 in 2001, has now increased to 15 percent. Given the estimated growth of the American adult population since the last census from 207 million to 228 million, that reflects an additional 4.7 million “Nones.” Northern New England has now taken over from the Pacific Northwest as the least religious section of the country, with Vermont, at 34 percent “Nones,” leading all other states by a full 9 points.

“Many people thought our 2001 finding was an anomaly,” [Ariela] Keysar said. We now know it wasn’t. The ‘Nones’ are the only group to have grown in every state of the Union.”
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The trend continues. Be prepared for a backlash against us but the dying mythology-pushers. Donate time and money to make this growth stable and strong, but don’t forget to sit back and take it all in. You were there when the USA evolved into the 21st century.

According to an Associated Press report, Levada “…described as ‘absurd’ the atheist notion that evolution proves there is no God.” And reportedly he was speaking on behalf of the Vatican.

I have to say that the notion that atheists hold a “notion that evolution proves there is no God” is absurd. Just as I cannot think of one atheist who has ever said “I believe that nothing created everything,” I cannot think of one atheist who ever said “evolution proves there is no God.” That is not to say that I have heard every atheist who has ever existed speak on either topic, but, if it were a dominant line of thinking, I would expect to have run across it at least once. But, I haven’t.

What ever happened to “thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor?” Oh, I forgot… all they have to do is apologize to Jesus… no harm, no foul. It seems that asking Jesus for forgiveness is like having a “Get out of Hell free” card. Read More

I need to agree with the reporter on this one. How many times have we been told that we believe we descended from monkeys (why are the monkeys still here) or that we hate god, etc. I just wish they’d tell the truth — you know, about us, the child-raping, etc.

DARN! There I go again reminding everyone that the Catholic Church actively hid child molesters for their own political protection, and that the Pope was involved directly. Shame on me. But at least I’m not lying.

It’s Sunday, and I should be in church!

[ALF laugh: Ha!]

This is Jared, who will generally avoid the urge to invade Dave’s space like a 7th grade gym teacher.  I have moved him and us from b2 evolution, and for testing purposes, made the switch now, before he was even part of the waking world.  There are a few posts missing, and a bunch of blogs he gets to re-categorize.  I do apologize, especially to his fans and random flamers.  For the latter group, suck it, we’re on Word Press, and we can finally block you.  How’s that taste?  You like that?  Yes you do.  Yes you do.

In order that you don’t all cry for the loss, I have posted below the most recent Atheist Viewpoint for your viewing and pointing pleasure.

Be Reasonable,

J-Rock, Web Non-Diety

[edit - actually, this is not a Viewpoint, it's a response to the election and its effects on atheism.]

Critics of the Scouts who are outraged that the group is allowed to exclude gays and atheists while receiving federal funding are urging Obama to reject the group’s honorary presidency, a designation bestowed on every U.S. president since William Howard Taft in 1910.”I’m hoping and praying he turns down the honorary presidency,” said Howard Menzer, president of Scouting for All, which advocates for inclusion of gays into the Boy Scouts.”No way should he be involved with a discriminatory group. That would be the best thing that could happen if he said, ‘You discriminate too much for me. I can’t be your honorary president.’ I think that might begin to change a few things.”Obama was meeting with a delegation of the Boy Scouts in the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon, at which time he was to accept the group’s 2008 Report to the Nation.A Boy Scouts spokesman said Obama has indicated he will accept the title of honorary president.

Both his parents would be terribly insulted that President Obama will accept the leadership position of a group that would treat them as immoral outsiders. Bad choice Mr. President!