I need to preface this with the following disclaimer: I know quite a few atheists. Most of them are beautiful, wonderful people; in fact, there are some of my atheist friends who regularly put Christians to shame in terms of the love, acceptance, and generosity they display. As is always the case, however, it is the vocal minority who earn the media attention which offers them the power to paint their group’s public image. This is highly unfortunate.
In fact, it happened again today. In a symbolic protest, the Lakeland chapter of the Humanists of Florida Association (HFA) held a figurative ceremony to ‘wash away’ the prayers of a local ministry who were openly praying for the safety of the families in Polk County. The Christian movement, named ‘Polk Under Prayer’ (PUP), began by arranging a gathering where various leaders in the local government, including the Lakeland mayor, Polk County sheriff, and Polk County School District Superintendent spoke about the challenges the county was facing in terms of safety, leadership, and education. It should be noted that this act of providing information was the extent of the involvement local leaders had with the movement.
PUP, however, took seriously the Christian admonition to pray for our leaders, and to pray for our community. Thus, after learning what the needs of the community were, they went to the primary road leading into Lakeland and held a prayer service, asking the Lord to watch over and protect the families in Polk County, and to shield us from evildoers by convicting their heart to repentance, empowering the law to catch and incarcerate them, or by simply preventing them from entering. At the heart of this was the cry for the safety of the families living in Lakeland, Florida. As a symbolic gesture, they then poured a thin line of anointing oil across the road, marking a line representing the border over which evil hearts would not enter. The oil ceremony was symbolic, but it marked the heart of the movement’s cry: protect our families, and let evil not enter this land.
At the heart of this was the cry for the safety of the families living in Lakeland, Florida.
Apparently, this is offensive. Thus it was that the HFA, led by Ellen Beth Wachs (who has a notable penchant for consistently earning the starring role in controversial news stories), later went to the same location and had their own ceremony. In tongue-in-cheek fashion, they beheld their own anti-religious ritual whereby they spoke against the prayers offered by PUP and symbolically washed away the line of oil with their own hoses and buckets of water.
This is where their behavior baffles me. According to their spokesperson, the purpose behind this counter-demonstration was to protest a perceived violation of the separation of church and state. However, there was no government involvement in the prayer ceremony for the families of Polk County. The extent of government involvement was the dissemination of information given by a trio of local government leaders with respect to their own areas of expertise. So, unless education is now banned, there was no government involvement whatsoever. Even so, Wachs went on to claim that “we understand that Christians have their way of life, and we’re not trying to take it away from them. But they need to realize that there are many other types of faith, and people of non-faith as well.”
So, in an attempt to promote “unity,” Wachs and her organization went out of their way to be incite offense and division? How does that work, exactly? Furthermore, from a secular perspective, prayer is considered little more than wishful thinking. So how, exactly, does ‘wishing’ for the safety of the families (of all faiths) within a particular community violate the ability for other types of faith (and non-faith) to feel welcome?
…because I can certainly see how anti-faith activism does it.
What do you think?
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They have their own religion but it’s anti-God.
Reality is a fool says in his/her heart there is no God;
undoubtedly a fool will do foolish things.
Why we as Christians continue to argue with fools is
beyond me. Somethings about casting your pearls before
swine:)
I think it has something to do with “love your neighbor” and the Great Commission.
While the acts of this group certainly ARE foolish and offensive, that is not representative of all atheists any more than Westboro is representative of all Christians. We still need to keep perspective and love people as Christ loves us.
Nice thoughts but the Word is clear; A fool says in his/her heart there is no God.” all my arguments won’t change their minds it’s foolishness to them. The best way to reach them I agree is with love, but that does not mean I have to embrace their lifestyle or their way of thought? True God is love but how does He reveal His love? One way we know is Jesus the Perfect Revelation of God’s Divine love, but for those who stray away are who flat refuse Christ; His love is revealed in the fact He disciplines us.
One way of loving people is to simply tell them the truth about their situation if we don’t who will? (But in doing this I will not argue with them because that is what most of them want) If I know a person is a fool in their disbelief do I show them love by not telling them the truth? It’s then up to the Holy Spirit to convict them not by me arguing with them as many do. Interesting to note Paul states in Acts 17:30 “God has declared (one translation says commanded) that all men everywhere should repent.”
Wow, great words…
As a newcome to WordPress, I just found your blog.. looking forward to reading more!
Beccy
As an atheist and a Humanist, I just want to say that I do not support the actions of the Lakeland Chapter of the Florida Humanists as reported in your blog. Especially if there was no government involvement in this ceremony beyond what you have stated.
While we may not agree with your theology and beliefs in God you are still dealing with very human desires and human responses to problems that face us, both the mundane and the overwhelming ones. We should respect the emotions and needs behind such actions and not mock them or tear them down unnecessarily.
I would like to briefly (although brevity is not one of my strengths) address some of the comments above from Christians.
First and foremost would be why atheists can be so hateful towards Christians. I would suggest that those Christians who are wondering this take a look at their fellow believers who treat and act hatefully towards atheists. I am not saying that when an atheist acts hateful towards Christians it is in reaction to Christians doing it first. Instead I am saying that the motives of the atheists who calls Christians names and acts unjustly towards them is the same as the Christian who does such to atheists. Without going into details on this, let me just say – its called being human.
Second, and last thing, is that so many talk as if atheists and Christians(or theists in general) do not have any common ground. However, since both groups are human there is indeed a considerable overlap on what each group believes and on how each group reacts to most moral issues.
I love my family and would do all that I can to protect and nurture them. I do not steal and believe it to be wrong. I do not kill and believe murder wrong. I do not cheat and believe cheating to be wrong. I value human life and human potential. I value the world around me.
I imagine that most of you feel the same. When talking about our differences it is important to remember our commanalities. Differences generate heat – and are not only unavoidable but quite often necessary. But if we wish to avoid unnecessary and destructive violence – both of the verbal and actions – then we should also remember our commonalities.
Thank you for this. I said this at the beginning of this article, but I will say it again here: I have atheist friends are some of the most beautiful people I know. The behavior of the HFA are not representative of the group as a whole.