Are you reading this Roy Moore?
From the religion blog for Monday-morning thieves:
Yes, but there is also the issue of history and intent. Does this pass the smell test?The courthouse in Slidell, La., had a portrait of Jesus on the wall, with the words, "To know peace, obey these laws." This put a burr under the saddle of the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed suit to have the portrait removed.
The court responded by adding portraits of Napoleon, Confucius, Hammurabi, Moses, Charlemagne, Octavian, Louis IX, John Marshall and other historical figures -- plus a framed copy of the Constitution. Here's a story from Christine Harvey of The Times-Picayune in New Orleans.
Mike Johnson, a lawyer from a Christian advocacy group representing the court, said the idea was "to erect an artistic display to emphasize the importance of following the law to maintain a peaceful society."
I think Johnson has the ACLU checkmated. It's hard to argue now, it seems to me, that the courthouse display is more religious than historical -- particularly since many public buildings, including he U.S. Supreme Court , contain similar art works depicting "great lawgivers of history." (The Supreme Court friezes do not include Jesus -- but they do include Moses, Solomon, and Muhammad. Yes, Muhammad.)
4 comments:
This atheist approves of the new display.
I'm amazed the Christian group went with that. Usually they balk at including secular alternatives, and get outright wierd when forced to include other religions, like when a Hindu gives a prayer before congress.
If this is the new face of Christianity, I'm all for it! If it took an ACLU threat to get them to recognize that non-Christian imagery should be included, bully for them.
I agree with above.
It definatly does not pass the smell test, but to me that is not what is important.
If we can get all those people who want a copy of the ten commandments in front of their court to add a copy of Hamurabi's code along with the Qur'an I'd be more than pleased.
That change, changes the entirety of the message. I don't care that they get what they want. Rather, I prefer that we all get what we want. They get a feeling that Jesus has blessed their court system and I get a nice display of western legal history.
The sculptor misspelled "adultery."
Good eye, anonymous.
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