The Freedom From Religion Foundation has placed the group's Winter Solstice sign in the Milwaukee County courthouse today for the third year in a row. FFRF, a Madison, Wis.-based state/church watchdog, is the largest association of atheists and agnostics in the nation. FFRF has almost 20,000 members, including 1300 in Wis.
FFRF placed the winter solstice messages alongside devotional tchotchkes to point out that if one religious viewpoint is displayed on public property, nonreligion should also be represented.
Kurt Bocksenbaum delivered the festive display early Dec. 13.
The Winter Solstice sign first went up two years ag˜o to counteract an inappropriate nativity scene that began appearing in the courthouse in 2009.
FFRF's sign reads, “State/Church: Keep Them Separate.”
On the other side it says:
“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 myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”
“Fifteen to twenty percent of Milwaukee County residents are nonreligious. This is our courthouse, too, supported with our tax dollars, and if religion is going to be there, there has to be ‘room at the inn’ for the nonreligious perspective,” commented FFRF Co-President Dan Barker.
FFRF extends warm thanks to Kurt Bocksenbaum for his activism.