AJC.com: Atheist group sending books to Georgia state parks

Posted on by Woody Bass III

Love this reaction by American Atheists to the recent decision by Nathan Deal to re-add religious texts to government owned and operated park cabins.

Atheist group sending books to Georgia state parks

By Jim Galloway Monday, May 20, 2013

Everyone understands that this was predestined to happen, right? But you’re forgiven if you can’t bring yourself to believe in the phrase “popular atheist books.” From the press release:

American Atheists announced Friday that it will send the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) enough popular atheist books to place one in every state park cabin in the state. The atheist books will be placed alongside Gideon Bibles already in every state park cabin as directed by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal on Wednesday.

“We appreciate the governor’s invitation to place atheist books in the cabins and look forward to providing visitors with the opportunity to learn more about atheism when they visit Georgia’s beautiful state parks,” said Managing Director Amanda Knief.

The issue of the Bibles in the state park cabins came to light after former American Atheist President Ed Buckner rented one of the lodges last month and filed a complaint on April 28 after finding nine Bibles in his cabin.

The Bibles were removed by GADNR officials but Governor Deal ordered the Bibles back by executive order, saying he does “not believe that a Bible in a bedside table drawer constitutes a state establishment of religion.”

“American Atheists does not believe the State of Georgia should be placing Bibles or atheist books in state park cabins; however, if the state is going to allow such distribution, we will happily provide our materials,” said President David Silverman.

Books to be donated include “Why I Am Not A Muslim,” by Ibn Warraq, “Why I Am An Atheist” by Madalyn Murray O’Hair, “god is not Great,” by Christopher Hitchens, and “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins.

Brian Robinson, a spokesman for Gov. Nathan Deal, said the governor’s office this week is working on regulations for distribution of religious (and non-religious) works with the Department of Natural Resources and the attorney general’s office.

2 thoughts on “AJC.com: Atheist group sending books to Georgia state parks”

  1. Good on you, Woody Bass (short for Woody Bad Ass, I’m guessing). –Ed Buckner (the guy whose complaint lit this media circus up to start with).

    Reply

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Published by Woody Bass III

Woody is an amateur photographer whose main subjects include an interesting mix of nature (landscape and wildlife) and sports (all things Florida Gators, Hockey) and anything else that may jump in front of his camera. Woody was born in Orlando, Florida and moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1986. He is a ‘rabid Gator fan’ and loves nothing more than to annoy as many fans of “that team from Athens, Ga” as possible.