Does God Run Homeland Security?

Atheist Group Sues Kentucky Over Law Saying Safety Cannot Be Achieved Without God

(AP)  A group of atheists filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to remove part of a state anti-terrorism law that requires Kentucky's Office of Homeland Security to acknowledge it can't keep the state safe without God's help.

American Atheists Inc. sued in state court over a 2002 law that stresses God's role in Kentucky's homeland security alongside the military, police agencies and health departments.

Of particular concern is a 2006 clause requiring the Office of Homeland Security to post a plaque that says the safety and security of the state "cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon almighty God" and to stress that fact through training and educational materials.

The plaque, posted at the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center in Frankfort, includes the Bible verse: "Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."

"It is one of the most egregiously and breathtakingly unconstitutional actions by a state legislature that I've ever seen," said Edwin F. Kagin, national legal director of Parsippany, N.J.-based American Atheists Inc. The group claims the law violates both the state and U.S. constitutions.

But Democratic state Rep. Tom Riner, a Baptist minister from Louisville, said he considers it vitally important to acknowledge God's role in protecting Kentucky and the nation.

"No government by itself can guarantee perfect security," Riner said. "There will always be this opposition to the acknowledgment of divine providence, but this is a foundational understanding of what America is."

Kentucky has been at the center of a series of legal battles involving religious issues in recent years, most involving displays of the Ten Commandments in public buildings. One case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 2005 that such displays inside courthouses in two counties were unconstitutional.

Kentucky isn't the only state dealing with religious issues, but Ed Buckner, president of American Atheists, said it's alone in officially enlisting God in homeland security.

"I'm not aware of any other state or commonwealth that is attempting to dump their clear responsibility for protecting their citizens onto God or any other mythological creature," Buckner said.

State Rep. David Floyd, R-Bardstown, said the preamble to the Kentucky constitution references a people "grateful to almighty God," so he said he sees no constitutional violation in enlisting God in the state's homeland security efforts.

"God help us if we don't," he said.

[ausus-2009]

What religion did Pol Pot of Killing Fields fame follow?
What about those behind the Great Cultural Revolution?
What about the Soviet Pogroms?

If I had CHOSEN to live in a country where Ramadan was a celebration of the predominant religion, WOULD I BE OFFENDED BY RAMDAN????

Posted by txgrouch2007 at 05:41 PM : Dec 03, 2008

I am not offended by people celebrating their religion, but I am offended by their imposing their beliefs on others.
It doesn''t really matter what the majority wants. If it''s right it''s right, if it''s wrong it''s wrong.
Look at all the ways women are abused in the name of religion: forced marriage, child marriage, genital mutilation, honor killings.

[brookie53]

The entire middle east is ruled by their religions. Looks like they got it right! Killing for thousands of years..not to mention the hatred toward each other. If cristianity ruled the state there would be bloodshed also here.

[honestabe8]

actually, it appears that christians are the ones with seared consciousnesses. they always seem to feel they have something for which to repent.

[honestabe8]

slownewsdaze: i agree. the food was pretty crappy. the prize was great. the only marketing schtick i saw that was better was the bakery right next to a coffeeshop in amsterdam.

[honestabe8]

slownewsdaze: i always went right to the prize inside.

[violist47]

If god is great, he is not good; if god is good, he is not great. Actually, I do think that the state of the world shows that if there is a god, he is a man; a woman would have maade a better job of it.

[soni6]

slownewsdaze...Check out Romans 10:9-10

[honestabe8]

"Self proclaimed athiests have a seared conscience..." Soni6

Well, Soni6, I am an atheist, and you appear to be making sweeping generalizations about what people you do not know think.

[soni6]

Honestabe8...you''re right it is absurd that I would think that an athiest would put any credibility in the Bible however God has not given up on anyone who does not believe in Him. Self proclaimed athiests have a seared conscience so the chances that they would see the truth is virtually non-existent. As a Christian I believe God can change the hardest of hearts.