Atheists erect their own holiday display

BY PAUL SLOTH
Journal Times

Thursday, December 20, 2007 11:52 PM CST

RACINE — A group of local atheists aren’t happy with the nativity scene on Monument Square. The manger scene, which was first erected on the square last year, is sponsored by a group of local churches.

The atheists have been unhappy ever since.

On Wednesday, they placed a large white pyramid right next to the nativity scene, on the north side of the square.

It’s called the Pyramid of Freedom, said Al Sorenson of Caledonia. Sorenson and a loosely formed group of “free thinkers,” came up with the idea in response to the nativity scene.

Gregory Shaver Journal Times The Pyramid of Freedom has been erected by the atheists of Racine next to the Nativity scene on Monument Square. It will stay up through Jan. 7.

“Putting up that religious thing is a violation of the very founding of this country,” Sorenson said. “Our pyramid would not be there if that manger scene was not there.”

About this time last year, a group of individuals — including Sorenson, who is a member of the Madison-based Freedom from Religion Foundation — started thinking about how they’d respond to the religious symbol, which they believe has no right being displayed on public property.

“It infers that this is a Christian nation,” Sorenson said. “The country has no religion. That is our objection.”

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