A national atheist group is asking for a sign.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) does its best to put its notorious “Winter Solstice” sign on as many government properties as possible to counter the nativities that adorn local city halls and courthouses each December. The group actively fights against these nativities and puts up its own signs in protest.
The sign reads:
At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail.
There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell.
There is only our natural world.
Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.
The FFRF put up one of these signs at the Franklin County courthouse in Brookville, Ind., Nov. 29 to usher in the holiday season with some religious trash talking. But within a week the sign was missing, apparently taken by vandals with a higher calling.
That courthouse is the center of a dispute with the FFRF after the group sued the county because of a nativity scene that was on public property. In response, the county decided to allow any religious group to put up a display, so that no preference was given to a particular belief. This allowed the FFRF sign, which was promptly stolen. (RELATED: Atheists Are Really Sad Because People Keep Vandalizing Their Adopt-A-Highway Sign, You Guys)
“FFRF is no stranger to vandalism and theft,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sam Grover said in a statement. “We have been dealing with this sort of censorship for decades. Last winter one of our Winter Solstice signs was vandalized in Arlington Heights, Illinois and in March our ‘In Reason We Trust’ sign was stolen from the Wisconsin Capitol rotunda.”
The FFRF offered up a $1,000 reward for more information on the sign. The group already has a “Bill of Rights Nativity” at the courthouse that celebrates the freedoms guaranteed in the document. That nativity remains on public property.
“This theft sends a message to all religious minorities and the nonreligious that they are not welcome to share in the celebration of the season,” FFRF Co-President Dan Barker says in a statement. “It’s ironic that this act of censorship took place directly next to our Bill of Rights display, which protects the free speech rights of everyone, not just those in the majority.”
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