Atheist Delivers Invocation at Cobb County Board Meeting

Ian David

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Sat Aug-01-09 08:10 AM
Original message

Atheist Delivers Invocation at Cobb County Board Meeting

Edited on Sat Aug-01-09 08:11 AM by Ian David

Atheist Delivers Invocation at Cobb County Board Meeting

When I think of Cobb County in Georgia, the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that, in 2005, school officials put stickers inside the Biology textbooks that read, �evolution is only a theory.�

<snip>

On Tuesday night, American Atheists President Ed Buckner delivered the invocation in front of the Board of Commissioners.

But first, the Board Chairman Sam Olens issued a disclaimer basically saying Buckner was only allowed to speak because the rules allowed anybody who signed up to be able to speak. (Read: Not because anyone wanted him there.)

During the speech, Buckner mentioned that church and state ought to be separate and implored the Cobb County board to do away with invocations altogether.

You can watch a video of the speech by clicking here. http://communications.cobbcountyga.gov/tv23/boc2009/07-28/290.asx

More:
http://friendlyatheist.com/2009/07/30/atheist-delivers-invocation-at-cobb-county-board-meeting/

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ayeshahaqqiqa

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Sat Aug-01-09 08:33 AM
Response to Original message

1. Invocations don't have to be religious

They can set an intent. I see that as important. A simple thing like breathing together and then saying that if we can work together in this basic way, we can work together to solve problems can have a profound effect on the tone of a meeting.

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EvolveOrConvolve

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Sat Aug-01-09 10:30 AM
Response to Reply #1

4. Unfortuantely, fundies like these consider the invocation a religious act

If the invocation was a secular act intended to build a positive tone for a meeting, then they could be something helpful rather than a wasted tradition of injecting jesus into the affairs of the state.

But you know as well as I do that people like this see it as an affirmation of christianity in a public meeting. A subtle but vicious form of control over those in attendance.

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ayeshahaqqiqa

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Sat Aug-01-09 11:42 AM
Response to Reply #4

6. Time to wrest control from them

And when the opportunity occurs, invoke in a secular manner. You may be pleasantly surprised at how an effective secular invocation that helps get things going in the right direction will be received.

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EvolveOrConvolve

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Sat Aug-01-09 02:06 PM
Response to Reply #6

7. As an atheist, I wouldn't at all mind a secular invocation

Even though the word "invocation" has religious connotations, it doesn't have to be that way. And even vague references to religion/higher power are probably okay with me. It's the in-your-face religious nature of many of these government invocations that I don't like. As if Jesus is going to give a shit about the outcome of Podunk Irrigation District's Annual Board Meeting.

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ayeshahaqqiqa

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Sat Aug-01-09 11:11 PM
Response to Reply #7

9. Exactly!

Edited on Sat Aug-01-09 11:11 PM by ayeshahaqqiqa

Time to wrest the concept of invoking away from the fundamentalists! It is an important psychological concept--to set the tone for a meeting or project. Unless someone on the committee has a name like Jesus Gonzales, no need to talk about the J word at all. :)

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trotsky

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Sat Aug-01-09 10:14 AM
Response to Original message

2. "but first, the Board Chairman Sam Olens issued a disclaimer..."

So typical. Even the most supposedly tolerant believer needs to distance themselves from the dirty atheists.

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ensho

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Sat Aug-01-09 10:17 AM
Response to Original message

3. invocations at any govt. event should be banned

US govt.; state govt; county govt; city/town govt

invocations should be banned, period

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asjr

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Sat Aug-01-09 10:37 AM
Response to Original message

5. I lived in Cobb County for several

years in the 60s and 70s. They don't know what separation of church and state means.

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Ian David

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Sat Aug-01-09 02:28 PM
Response to Original message

8. See also: Conservative bigots disrupt first ever Hindu prayer in Senate

Conservative bigots disrupt first ever Hindu prayer in Senate
Topic started by jefferson_dem on Jul-13-07 08:46 AM (31 replies)
Last modified by Perragrande on Jul-17-07 02:59 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=385&topic_id=40634

chrisTian Right Activists Disrupt First Hindu Prayer In Senate: "This Is An Abomination"
Topic started by ariesgem on Jul-12-07 04:29 PM (48 replies)
Last modified by MrPrax on Jul-13-07 11:04 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=385&topic_id=40454

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