Another stupid lawsuit

Forums: No Lawsuit Involved, Religion, Space, Politics, Atheism
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http://www.examiner.com/x-2044-Atheism-Examiner~y2009m9d2-Atheists-say-NASA-is-violating-separation-of-church-and-state

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An Atheist-First Amendment public policy group charged [last week] that NASA is violating the separation of church and state by permitting a "space missionary" memento on the latest Discovery Space Shuttle Mission.

On board the shuttle is a piece of an airplane that crashed in Ecuador in 1956 that carried members of the Missionary Aviation Fellowship. One of the shuttle astronaut contacted the Idaho-based group proposing that the item be taken into space as part of a government-funded exploration project.
"This is an inappropriate and unconstitutional use of resources, "charged Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists. NASA is a scientific and exploratory agency that is funded by taxpayers. Its
mission should not include religious grandstanding, or efforts to use outer space as a pulpit for religion."

Dont these people have anything better to do then to look for reasons to be insulted and sue people?

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Type: Discussion • Score: 8 • Views: 1,532 • Replies: 11

@mysteryman,

I'm on the fence about this one. I understand why you'd find it to be frivolous, but separation of church and state matters-- a lot. On the surface, the angered Aetheist seems like a major jerk, making a big deal out of a little thing. Then again, this development appears to be a trend of the post-Bush presidency, a backlash agains the Christians, which seems to me, anyway, to be predictable, and on a small scale, somewhat satisfying after the previous 8 years of holy-roller smugness.

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@mysteryman,

Keeping government out of the religion business is as important as First and Second Amendment rights.

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The story doesn't mention anything about a lawsuit. Apparently the group is merely expressing their opinion.

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@wandeljw,

Quit ruining threads by injecting facts into them!

1 Reply

@joefromchicago,

Sorry, joefromchicago. I was all eager to discuss constitutional law with mysteryman. But apparently there is no lawsuit involved.

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No one says "Merry Christmas" on the international space station on December 25?

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@Foofie,

I don't believe freedom of speech was threatened in the lawsuit, foof. but I can't seem to find it either...

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One wonders if the "idiots" tag is to apply to the atheists, NASA, or the author of the thread.

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@DrewDad,

I think that MM wants to discuss the idea of whether or not a space missionary is a violation of religious freedoms. Even if he was wrong about there being a suit, the question is still valid.

Having said that, I think I'd disagree with MM. I think that giving such an honor solely on the basis of religion to a specific religion is a poor decision. Especially poor if you are not planning to provide the same opportunities for other religious officials.

The word "elevation" comes to mind.
K
O

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what bugs is that it's not a 2 way street.

the religious zealots of the country, which represent a small portion of the entire religious community, insist that creationism and i.d. be taught in science classes. but when it comes time to discuss scientific realities in the religious setting, it's "no sale" every time.

and besides, any extraterrestrial beings we eventually encounter will have either their own religions, or none, and be not too interested in converting. we don't even have to leave the planet to see that proposition in action.

so what's the point of sending up a piece of religious wreckage?

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I am wondering what a piece of an airplane has to do with space and why it would be important enough to use tax dollars to honor the tragedy by leaving a peice of it up in outer space? Is there a connection I am missing here?

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