Thread: Atheist group demands Rhode Island city remove cross from atop war memorial

A national atheist organization is demanding that a Rhode Island city remove a cross from a 91-year-old memorial honoring hometown soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their county.
Although the memorial has stood in the parking lot of the Woonsocket fire station for decades with no complaints, the Freedom from Religion Foundation is now calling for it to be stripped of the cross that sits atop it, claiming it violates the First Amendment's freedom of religion clause. The group also wants the Woonsocket Fire Department to remove “The Firefighter’s Prayer” and a picture of an angel from its website.


Read more: Atheist group demands Rhode Island city remove cross from atop war memorial | Fox Newswooncross.jpg


The Freedom From Religion Foundation is making these demands to remove this memorial based on the "Seperation of Church and State clause". This memorial has been there for almost a century and this memorial is a sacred site for those that fought and died in the military in this town. Is this really an issue of government trying to force people to be religious? I think this Freedom From Religion foundation has taken this issue one step to far. Jefferson never intended to have peoples religious rights stripped by the Seperation of Church and State clause. His purpose was intended to keep government from controlling peoples religious freedoms, not extinguishing them. What do you think? Has the Freedom From Religion Foundation gone to far? This organization is forcing their agenda down peoples throats. I would like to see Atheist labeled as a religion so this would stop

The memorial is only "sacred" to one group who died. Where is the recognition for those of many other, or no faiths who also died for their country? They're not "demanding", they are merely asking for the religious section of the memorial to be removed, not the memorial itself, which would then include everyone who gave their lives.

Just rotate it a bit so it's an X, and then add little feet, in the same direction, at the end of each arm of the cross.

Paint it black. Perfect. Now it's not a cross anymore.


I think it's painfully obvious that this group is deliberately out to piss people off. They don't really care about the monument, they want the story to be in the news to get their point across.

When someone complins about them they will then get an opportunity to list all the reverse sistuations that piss them off just as much. Like town councils and states declaring "Jesus day" or "Bill to affirm our devotion to God" or Ten Commandments statues being constructed on public property.

They're right, but when you prove someone wrong by doing EXACTLY what they do then you're also wrong so no one cares you're right when someone esle does it - and they get so angry at you that your message gets lost.

I think they're right, but they're counter productive. I think if they really care THIS much (Why would they???), they should limit themslves to new and current issues. Focus on somewhere that's trying to build a NEW religious symbol on public lands TODAY. Then you win easily and people nod and say, "yeah, that's probably right".

Originally Posted by aboutenough

.... I would like to see Atheist labeled as a religion so this would stop

I'm curious about your last comment. How would objecting to religious displays on public grounds stop?



However, I agree with Doc's comments. You can be right and wrong, at the same time. And while they might be 'right', they are wrong targeting an almost century old display. They should make their case, if necessary, when new public displays are being proposed or built.

The cross is not hurting anybody, it's a very juvenile argument.. While I understand what you guys are saying, common sense told you both this was a stupid argument, so let's just call it that; Stupid..

Originally Posted by aboutenough

A national atheist organization is demanding that a Rhode Island city remove a cross from a 91-year-old memorial honoring hometown soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their county.
Although the memorial has stood in the parking lot of the Woonsocket fire station for decades with no complaints, the Freedom from Religion Foundation is now calling for it to be stripped of the cross that sits atop it, claiming it violates the First Amendment's freedom of religion clause. The group also wants the Woonsocket Fire Department to remove “The Firefighter’s Prayer” and a picture of an angel from its website.


Read more: Atheist group demands Rhode Island city remove cross from atop war memorial | Fox Newswooncross.jpg


The Freedom From Religion Foundation is making these demands to remove this memorial based on the "Seperation of Church and State clause". This memorial has been there for almost a century and this memorial is a sacred site for those that fought and died in the military in this town. Is this really an issue of government trying to force people to be religious? I think this Freedom From Religion foundation has taken this issue one step to far. Jefferson never intended to have peoples religious rights stripped by the Seperation of Church and State clause. His purpose was intended to keep government from controlling peoples religious freedoms, not extinguishing them. What do you think? Has the Freedom From Religion Foundation gone to far? This organization is forcing their agenda down peoples throats. I would like to see Atheist labeled as a religion so this would stop

I, like the others who've responded think they're right on principal, but the practice is wrong. The memorial means more to the city than a religious symbol, considering its age.

Atheism can't be labeled a religion as there's no set beliefs, no churches, no tax exemption, etc. And by far the Freedom From Religion Foundation does not speak for all Atheists when they do these things.

Originally Posted by Babylon

The cross is not hurting anybody, it's a very juvenile argument.. While I understand what you guys are saying, common sense told you both this was a stupid argument, so let's just call it that; Stupid..

I agree, but they're right in theory. 100%, which is why it's silly to judge things on their individual merits.

should arlington national cemetery exist?

Originally Posted by jackalope

I'm curious about your last comment. How would objecting to religious displays on public grounds stop?



However, I agree with Doc's comments. You can be right and wrong, at the same time. And while they might be 'right', they are wrong targeting an almost century old display. They should make their case, if necessary, when new public displays are being proposed or built.

If Atheism was declared a religion, then any government office would not have to take orders from a religious organization due to the Seperation of Church and state clause.

Originally Posted by LokiGragg

I, like the others who've responded think they're right on principal, but the practice is wrong. The memorial means more to the city than a religious symbol, considering its age.

Atheism can't be labeled a religion as there's no set beliefs, no churches, no tax exemption, etc. And by far the Freedom From Religion Foundation does not speak for all Atheists when they do these things.

they have come close a few times to being called a religion ACA: Online Articles