Video of Huntsville atheist opening City Council meeting with invocation extolling American virtues

[rug]

North Alabama Freethought Association board member Kelly McCauley opens the Huntsville City Council meeting with an non-religious invocation Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014 in Huntsville, Ala. (Eric Schultz / [e-mail])

By Kay Campbell | [e-mail]
on September 25, 2014 at 7:08 PM, updated September 26, 2014 at 6:41 AM

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Here's what happens when an atheist offered Alabama's first non-theist invocation to open a public meeting: 90 seconds of thoughtful statements that began with "Dearly Beloved" and ended with "Let it be so," and no reaction from a packed City Council chamber. As the invocation ended, everyone swung automatically to face the flag to repeat the Pledge of Allegiance, with the atheists who had come going silent on the "under God" phrase.

Many people at the meeting listened to the invocation, delivered by Kelly McCauley, a member of the board of directors of the North Alabama Freethought Association, with heads bowed. It was not a "prayer," McCauley said earlier this week, but an invocation of the highest values of Americans: wisdom, courage, moderation, with the added values added by the Enlightenment of the importance of diversity, protection of freedoms and constructing a society on egalitarian principles that protect the rights of all, especially minorities.

"Let doubt and skepticism be our lookouts," McCauley said during his invocation, going on to quote Thomas Jefferson, "'Truth is great and will prevail, if left to herself.'"

The idea of an atheist delivering the invocation received mixed reaction, but understanding, from leaders in Huntsville's Christian community when it was announced earlier this week that an atheist would be delivering the invocation. The interest in this invocation comes soon after a reaction to the announcement, in July, that a Wiccan high priest would be delivering his second invocation to open the City Council meeting. In both instances, member of the City Council have remained firm in their determination to continue with spoken invocations – most of which, mirroring the demographics of Huntsville, will be given by Christian minister – that reflect the diversity of Huntsville's population.

http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2014/09/atheist_prayer_huntsville.html

Invoking Americanism is not much better.

[edgineered]

1. Does anyone have a map?

I agree wholly. Invoking Americanism is no different. In considering the activities of the groups
commonly denounced by the atheist community, activity of this nature are no different.

Quite to the contrary, the only boundary, according to the Constitution, is that 'Congress' shall make no 'law' respecting an 'establishment' of religion."

Groups such as the Masons, KofC, etc are often the target of anti-theist scorn. In saying that 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion' the establishment of an anti-theist organization that mirrors the works of the offensive god based groups, building blocks are laid for the anti-theist movement to become identified as a similar group, minus the god.

Each successive step gathers followers. These followers are united by the work and deeds of a functions leader/organizer. The time will come when victories such as this invocation are memorialized; future celebrations of gains can not be reflected on by individuals in the manner that historians understand. Enthusiasm resulting from great effort will with time condense to recognize the leader/organizer, and the story will be told in a fashion similar to Paul Revere's ride. The ride of Revere is well known. Lesser known is that the communities of that time all had riders spreading the word. If a farmer lived on Blue Hill he rode to every house along the hill, someone else living on the Ochopee Prairie covered that ground.

A group can be successful and flourish only with outreach and support for the good of a community, a charitable organization performing in the same manner as the Shriners for example. The more time spent examining where the fruits of these victories lead, the more convinced I am that a religion without a god is being created. A group acting identically to the religiously based organizations. It would seem to be counter-productive to destroy the establishment of faith based entities if the goal is to act like one.

I am overjoyed with this small victory and look forward to many more. But like they say, 'It's astounding - time is fleeting, madness takes it toll. But listen closely - not for very much longer'. All of this is only my opinion, of course, and with time fleeting it won't be seen by me.

[rug]

2. Interesting choice of quote.

Well I was walking down the street just a having a think
When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink
He shook-a me up, he took me by surprise
he had a pick-up truck and the devil's eyes
He stared at me and I felt a change
Time meant nothing, never would again

[edgineered]

3. For some of us its easy

A few of us look at things realistically.
A few have a sense of humor.

I'll stop laughing now and watch the clip from one of my favorite movies. Thanks rug!

eta: some of us, both

[rug]

4. Have a good night, ed.