Unless he’s having a picnic, keep Jesus out of city parks

I saw a giant group of Christians swinging big Jesus flags and singing Jesus songs in front of the courthouse and city hall in Pack Square Park [recently]. This is inappropriate and should be stopped, unless other religious groups are also allowed — or encouraged — to worship in front of our symbols of governance. If that is not going to happen, then that church has no business planting Jesus at the feet of our supposedly secular government buildings.

— Chris Burgher
Asheville

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Webmaster
Mountain Xpress Webmaster Follow me @MXWebTeam

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

11 thoughts on “Unless he’s having a picnic, keep Jesus out of city parks

  1. indy499

    You mean citizens were using a public park to express their views? What in the world makes you think other groups can’t do the same?

  2. Big Al

    “…that church has no business planting Jesus at the feet of our supposedly secular government buildings.”

    Then don’t buid public parks adjacent to government buildings.

    Or, maybe we should ban ALL right of public [removed]religious or otherwise) from zones around these buildings. Christians can stop preaching and the Hippies/BoBos stop protesting every social cause in the book. We can all be muzzled into blessed silence together and leave BIG BROTHER to run our world free of the bleating of the serfs.

  3. slycos

    “This is inappropriate and should be stopped, unless other religious groups are also allowed — or encouraged — to worship in front of our symbols of governance.”

    Well, that’s the thing. City Council has not banned any religious group from doing this, nor has it discouraged them to. Therefore, ANY group has a right to do this on the park. So be quiet. You’re just mad because you don’t like people of faith, and deep down you don’t want them to exist or have the same rights you do. You just won’t admit it.

  4. Dionysis

    Unless they are “swinging big Jesus signs and singing Jesus songs” in the Courthouse and City Hall with official approval, then I don’t see a problem. It is public property, no?

    Just get a “giant group” of atheists to wave big Satan signs and sing Satan songs and they’ll neutralize each other.

  5. Betty Cloer Wallace

    Slycos says: “You’re just mad because you don’t like people of faith, and deep down you don’t want them to exist or have the same rights you do”.

    In light of your statement, I agree with you that any group (or individual) has a right to free speech on public property, but I have two questions about which I always wonder when I hear the phrase “people of faith.”

    (1) Who exactly do you consider “people of faith”?

    (2) Who exactly do you consider “people not of faith”?

  6. Bill Miller

    I’m sure the letter writer is fine with loud protests where the American flag is desecrated. Where Marxists whine that “the middleclass” is being assailed when government unions are asked to tighten their belts like everyone else.

    This is a free country. Christians are welcome to peacefully demonstrate like everyone else. You may even want to try church some Sunday.

  7. Dionysis

    “I’d just like to point out that Atheists don’t believe in Satan either.”

    That’s right, but they wouldn’t have to if the intent was to quiet the thumpers. Of course, the result could be some kind of melee instead.

  8. Ashevegasjoe

    I think if Jesus had a picnic he’d have Tofu Pups and a peanut-butter and lentil sandwich, maybe on rye.

  9. dpewen

    Being a non-believer I could care less who is using the park to protest anything … I do believe this letter is a joke though!

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.