31 Comments on If You Are Atheist, Do Things Like Crosses Being Erected As Memorials Offend You?

Blue on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 6:22 am


Crosses as memorials don’t offend me…unless, as one answerer said, it is in direct defiance of the deceased’s or their family’s wishes. I’m rather appalled by that revelation.
Yes, I think there should be no mention of any God on our national currency. It clearly defies the separation of church and state. Before you protest with the bogus, “it doesn’t say WHICH God” b-crap, I point you to that wonderful tool called Google to learn a bit about the history of the phrase. Does it offend me? Not really. It just tells me that the Christian right is so petty and delusional that they will happily settle for this pathetic concession in their fight for an American theocracy. “It’s a foot in the door, boys! Next stop: world domination!” Silly.
This essay, “God in the Constitution”, was written by a 19th century freethinker named Robert Ingersoll. He wrote it in a time when there was pressure from the radical religious right to completely discard the idea of plurality and liberty and acknowledge (the Christian) God in the constitution. The scary thing is, almost the exact same essay could have been written 100 years later when power-hungry clerics were trying to shoehorn “under God” into the pledge of allegiance. The religious right is tireless in its attempts to undermine the constitution. Don’t get comfortable. I urge EVERYONE to read it, theist and non-theist alike:http://www.infidels.org/library/historic…
It’s not terribly long (6 pages in Word). Even just read a few paragraphs and then hang it up, if you want. I’m aware that even 1 person reading it is too much to ask…but hey, I tried.

Sebastin on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 12:49 pm


I find it annoying. I got a lot of flak in high school because I refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance due to the “under god” part (which was added by Eisenhower.) I don’t mind personal memorials having crosses on them, but war memorials and things like that to multiple people that are erected by the state I think should remain secular. Socially, I find it a little odd that everyone expects me to be doing something for Christmas and seems to think that there’s something wrong with me or that I’m desperately lonely because to me it’s just an extra day off from work.

Cathy B on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 2:01 pm


Yes, the ‘in god we trust’ logo is offensive and discriminatory, especially considering the history. It was illegal until the 1860’s to put religious slogans on coins. During the civil war, the south was seen as more religious and more contemporary religious sects supported the south. In order to bolster popular support, the north violated the separation of church and state and put out pro-christian slogans. However, the slogan was not put on as a matter of course until the 1950’s as part of McCarthyism and the Red Scare. This was explicitly for the purpose of promoting Christianity and degrading other religions or atheism as treasonous and unpatriotic. So yes, it is a violation of separation of church and state and it is offensive. Is it as bad as some other violations (“Faith Based Programs”)? No, but that does not make it okay either.
As to crosses as memorials, did you know that Arlington has actually been asked by families of some people buried there (Jewish people in that case) to allow non-religious symbols for non-Christians, a request that they refused? Not all people who die in car crashes, war, etc. are Christian and it is also not the business of the government to be erecting huge religious symbols either.
“Do you ever feel discriminated against because of your beliefs or lack there of?” In my lifetime, a US president has said that atheists should not be considered citizens. How do you think we live in this culture?

IronMan of Rome on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 4:15 pm


Do things like crosses being erected as memorials offend you?
–Yes, but I respect the freedom of religion as well.
Does the fact that the dollar bill has ‘in god we trust’ on it, make you feel like it
violates your constitutional right to have separation between church and state?
–Yes.
Do you ever feel discriminated against
because of your beliefs or lack there of?
–I keep my lack of beliefs a private issue most of
the time, so I’m not faced with said discrimination.

swarovski rhinestones on Sun, 15th Nov 2009 7:23 pm


I don’t give a damn. I care more about the state constitutions of Tennessee, South Carolina having clauses explicitly saying an atheist cannot run for public office. I feel it goes against the little clause in our Constitution of the U.S. when it says no ‘religious test shall be imposed for public office’. I care about that not about trivial things.

how to loose weight fast on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 12:02 am


No one with even a slight amount of intelligence actually believes that religion has no control over government. It’s kind of a fact of life, and is prevalent currently and historically.
That’s just how it is. I don’t see any reason to get my panties in a knot over it.

Buffalo NY plastic surgeon on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 12:03 am


Memorials: No, they don’t offend.
Currency motto: Does not offend, is historical and acceptable, but does very slightly disappoint.
Feel discriminated against? Sure. Go count the atheist elected officials and get back to me. But it’s minimal, and doesn’t bother me in everyday life much.

Meditation For Beginners on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 6:43 am


Memorial crosses… eh.
Money… If people want to cheapen their beliefs by putting it on money, who am I to stop them. At least I know they don’t hold their beliefs nearly as sacred as many other cultures do.
Discrimination… While I tend to keep it my business and don’t solicit much direct personal discrimination, like any other way of being a minority however that is viewed as “less,” you still know it’s there. It’s still a “bad” thing to be. Still too many people parroting what their church told them to think about us.

Logo Design on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 6:54 am


I couldn’t care less, except that such things are often then dredged up as evidence that the US is a “Christian Nation”. If people just treated them for what they are, no problem, but stop trying to use them as wedges to topple the First Amendment.

Hell Kitty on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 11:18 am


I feel offended by the dollar bill .
About memorials–hard question.I mean, if memorial is built in somebody’s honor, and that somebody was Cristian, it is fine.

sailorma on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 5:09 pm


I don’t think a country that is supposed to separate church and state should do those things, but there are much bigger issues to worry about. No need to sweat the small stuff.

Photogra on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 6:18 pm


I feel ashamed actually. Ashamed to live in a country that worships an imaginary god. This shows most people still have a mentality at the same level as our stone age ancestors…

invisibl on Mon, 16th Nov 2009 11:19 pm


It doesnt matter. Religion is just a thought, putting crosses up changes nothing, just gives religious people false hopes and empty comfort

Fiddler on the Green on Tue, 17th Nov 2009 4:20 am


Nope.
It doesn’t bother me in the slightest.
People may find that I am much more tolerant and accepting of other viewpoints in real life. Also much more respectful.

shasalor on Tue, 17th Nov 2009 10:28 am


It doen’t really bother me. Forced indoctrination and idiots trying to get their religion made law or passed as science arte bigger concerns for me.

Crossfire 1 on Tue, 17th Nov 2009 1:21 pm


Why would it – things like that aren’t hurting innocent people and antagonising them for going about their daily lives – there is a difference between being affected by beliefs and putting up with symbols etc.

LOL on Tue, 17th Nov 2009 4:29 pm


They make children chant “one nation under God” every day through grade school, but other than that it doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

EatYourV on Tue, 17th Nov 2009 9:32 pm


I’m more offended that a six-inch piece of paper enslaves human beings more effectively than the strongest chain.

sjp on Wed, 18th Nov 2009 3:34 am


Truthfully, I do not care. I just do not like it when people force me to fallow their religion or something in that manner.

MomSezNo on Wed, 18th Nov 2009 7:47 am


No, no and no.
BTW – It’s “couldn’t care less” – unless you really DO care a lot!

Hannah on Wed, 18th Nov 2009 11:38 am


i dont give a crap. the only thing that offends me is the overly religious people trying to enforce their religion on me.

Kaden on Wed, 18th Nov 2009 11:50 am


No it doesn’t offend me, I just think it looks and sounds really really silly.

gutbucke on Wed, 18th Nov 2009 5:14 pm


I don’t really care, but I don’t like it either.

schnicke on Wed, 18th Nov 2009 11:00 pm


never

Rock My Socks on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 12:07 am


Not at all.

National Coming Out Day on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 6:35 am


It’s all good.

Kevin on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 10:25 am


I’m not offended by it just annoyed.

scotch explosion on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 2:48 pm


no i could care less about that stuff

Mai on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 7:26 pm


No, I’m not offended by those things.

Free WP Autoposter Plugins on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 11:28 pm


No but then its a rare occurence in the free world

daljack -a girl on Fri, 20th Nov 2009 12:06 am


Nope…..none of that bothers me.
As long as this isn’t forced down my throw I’m fine with it.

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