Freedom From Religion Group Brings the Hate to the State House

Look, I get the public debate and enjoy it.  So, while I’m inclined to chortle that the RI Humanists put up a banner presenting a guy who named his colony in homage to God as if he’s the symbol of a secular state, their sign struck a fair balance between making a statement and respecting neighbors.

That fits in reasonably well with a policy that allows groups with differing religious views each to put up some sort of display illustrating what they, in particular, celebrate during this time of year.  It also can be seen as serving, rather than detracting from, the message that we are alike in our dignity and good fortune for our position in the universe — whether by the graces of God or the good sense of our forebears.

The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), by contrast, has placed this message in the Rhode Island State House:

At this Season of the Winter Solstice,
Let Reason Prevail
There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no
heaven or hell. There is only our natural world.
Religion is but a myth & superstition that
hardens hearts & enslaves minds.

That message is different in kind, not just content.  It’s an overt (indeed, hard-hearted) attack on what others believe and a short-circuit of a sense of community and spirit of public discourse.*  It does, in fact, what atheists wrongly insist religious displays do, by inference.  It belongs in the category of the Westboro Baptist Church.

In the spirit of the season, though, we should pray for such folks.  How horrible it must be to construct one’s worldview so thoroughly in terms of negation as to form an organization that travels to other people’s communities for the purpose of insulting them.

* Note that venue is important; seasonal decorations merit a different standard than policy debates.

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