A Georgia school board unanimously voted Tuesday to remove two scriptural verses on a sculpture outside of a high school. The decision, passed by the Madison County School Board, came after the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) and American Humanist Association (AHA) sent letters of complaint to school officials, contending that the sculpture violates the separation between church and state because it exists on public property.
Though the sculpture was on public property, it had been paid for by a private donor whose name was not revealed. The sculpture contains two verses from the New Testament: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” from Romans 8:31 and “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” from Philippians 4:13.
“The Bible verses on this monument violate this basic constitutional prohibition by creating the appearance that the school, and by extension the district, prefer religion to non-religion and Christianity to all other religions,” wrote FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel in his letter to the district.
Monica Miller of AHA requested that the district “cover up the monument” until the scriptures were removed.
The meeting Tuesday drew between 150-200 area residents along with 17 pastors coming out in support of keeping the scriptural verses. Many were outraged and begged the board not to capitulate to FFRF and AHA.
“We are not here as haters; we are here to love all,” said resident Theresa Gordon. “It seems as if these [atheist] groups are here as haters, willing to spend millions to remove God from [our society], which means they are anti-christs by definition. They must have hatred in their hearts to fight so hard to remove Him from this small object that was placed for others to enjoy.”
Despite the opposition, the board voted to remove the scriptures and alter the sculpture. Board member Robert Gordon said he based his decision out of "great consideration and concern for all students."
Poster Comment:
They need to travel to Iraq and tell ISIS to stop. I will but them the plane ticket.
