Jessica Ahlquist, Atheist Student In Prayer Banner Fight, Gets $40,000 Scholarship Fund

CRANSTON, R.I. -- A national association that says there's no proof for the existence of God is managing a scholarship fund set up for a teenage atheist at the center of a dispute over a prayer banner at a Rhode Island school.

The American Humanist Association says 16-year-old Jessica Ahlquist was targeted with online threats after she challenged the constitutionality of the display at Cranston High School West. It says she stood up against her critics "with class and style."

A federal judge last month ordered the banner removed. A school committee on Thursday decided not to appeal.

Blogger Hemant Mehta started a campaign at the Friendly Atheist website to raise money for Ahlquist.

The Friendly Atheist says the fund has brought in more than $40,000. The fundraiser runs through the end of February.

Comments

[Juli3]

09:13 AM on 05/20/2013

Just a suggestion to those of you who want the 10 Commandments be taught at school; I took *my* child to church. My husband & I believed his spiritual/religious upbringing was *our* responsibility & didn't expect the government to handle it via public schools. I have to wonder how many of you who are demanding that the government teach your children religion (your own, of course) are also against "big government", sex education (violates a parent's personal rights & responsibilities) and the government's intrusion into your personal lives?
If you want to teach your child the 10 Commandments, no one is stopping you, but please don't try to force your beliefs on my child.

"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."
~Sinclair Lewis.

[truckmojo]

05:06 PM on 03/14/2012

Why don't they just hang a banner that says "This is a religion-free zone. Thank you for leaving your expression of faith at home. " I am all in favor of no religious expression in schools - be it atheist or full tilt fundamental - and believe that any symbol or nod towards one particular faith should be avoided and where possible, called out. Religion has a way of bending the facts to suit its own whims and agendas.

[rodndc]

12:06 AM on 03/12/2012

It's funny (sad) since this story ran there have been two incidents where guns were brought into schools, one where a student was killed.

[NHGUY2]

05:48 PM on 03/09/2012

I understand that atheism is a belief in the non-existence of God. As such, it should be accorded only as much school time as any other religion. The removal of this religious prayer in favor of a blank space supports the belief system known as atheism. I realize that politcally, such thoughts are nonsense to the masses. However, I understand that this is an issue of constitutional rights, not popular opinion. Instead of pulling out all religious opinion from schools, why not make proportionate representation of religious beliefs a reality? If 80% of the students are atheist and 20% are Christians, why not divide the religious space proportionately? After all, not talking about God gives students the message that God does not exist. All speech is religious speech, one way or another.

[bajesa]

11:58 AM on 03/13/2012

Atheism is the *lack* of belief in a deity, not the positive statement that such a deity does not exist.

Even if you could make the claim that atheism is a "religion" as some try to do, the way to promote that "religion" would be to place banners saying "God doesn't exist", or words to that effect. The blank space on the wall does not promote *any* religion and does not promote atheism. Your statement "not talking about God gives students the message that God does not exist" is simply untrue. Blank walls promote nothing. Feel free to talk about your God in your churches, homes, among yourselves, on billboards, etc. But do not expect that the government has a role in promoting your "God talk".

[bendygirl]

03:15 PM on 05/11/2012

Atheism is not a religion - it is, by definition, the opposite. It is a system of belief about the world, for sure - but there is no diety, no holy book, no temples/churches/gathering places specific to the belief and no days of observance etc.

[Michele Belin Beulah]

11:40 PM on 03/08/2012

The faces of those that choose to be ignorant when the time comes. Hell is still enlarging itself!!!

[practiceempathy]

05:21 PM on 03/09/2012

Michele, you've been most judgmental of gay people, in particular, here at HP.

Tell me.

What makes you think the prospect of spending an eternity in your couple would be at all appealing?

I'll pass, thanks.

[AZLibDem]

12:46 AM on 03/01/2012

Looks like we'll finish off at about $48,350.

Best of luck Jessica; put it to good use.

[rodndc]

03:22 PM on 02/25/2012

How many of you atheists are married? ..........It was created by God, so why do you do it?

[MisterAtheist]

06:57 PM on 02/25/2012

We don't believe in God.

[rodndc]

12:06 AM on 02/27/2012

let me put it to you simple enough that even you can understand. It is not going to cost you nothing if you are right about God, but what if I'm right? That's an eternity of torment. Are you willing to take that chance?

[tirebiter3]

12:38 AM on 02/26/2012

There is no proof that any god created marriage.

I was married in a civil ceremony. No deity was mentioned.

As long as there is a separate legal status for married and single people, marriage will remain a secular classification. This covers a large number of things, such as taxes, survivorship, inheritance, medical insurance coverage, etc.

There are 4 things that must be confirmed before two people can marry:
1. Both people must freely consent.
2. There cannot be any legal obstacles to the marriage.
3. The person performing the marriage must be licensed by the state where the marriage occurs.
4. The couple must get a marriage license FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT. Certain medical tests and waiting periods may apply.

All of these items must be confirmed for the wedding to be legal.

Clergy are not automatically permitted to perform marriages. They have to apply for a license to do it. Notice that even in a religious ceremony, the person performing it MUST say that the "power" to do so comes from the state. Any mention of a god in that remark is unnecessary.

Notice that clergy do not perform divorces. The government does that. Why is that?

My wife and I are celebrating our 24th anniversary next month. There hasn't been a problem we've faced that ever made me consider a divorce. A lot of our christian friends haven't done so well. If their god created their marriage then why did they break up?

[rodndc]

11:32 PM on 02/26/2012

in this country you forget God is in control of the whole world, how is what I mean by limited minds. In the bible it's says render unto God what is Gods and render unto man what is man. So if it takes a marriage license to proceed in getting married in the USA then God does not mind that, but if a christian minister refuses to marry a same sex or non christian couple you have to go look around until you find some minister to compromise what before you can get married. Understand this God does not recognize your marriage no matter how long you've been together, but the state recognizes mine

[rodndc]

11:35 PM on 02/26/2012

what you have is a man made civil union not a marriage.

[EmmaDarian]

09:45 PM on 02/23/2012

I now this thread is slowing down, but for those still checking in, the scholarship fund hit $45,000!

Nice going.

[CabinAgue]

09:40 AM on 02/24/2012

Yay, that's great!

[Beccs]

02:07 PM on 02/27/2012

I hope it really helps this brave young lady out.

[Jerry Wally]

03:18 AM on 02/23/2012

Anonymity allows people to show their true colors. They would threaten a girl who is brave enough to show her face.

[Varys]

04:11 AM on 02/23/2012

Oh don't worry, there were plenty of non-anonymous jerks who threatened her also.

[Bob Wood]

11:59 AM on 02/23/2012

With emphasis on the word "JERKS"...(sigh)

[BurtonDesque]

04:10 PM on 02/23/2012

And NONE of them have been arrested yet.

[blizzard man robot voice]

09:46 PM on 02/22/2012

"Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind." —Albert Einstein'

That quote is logical. I like it.

[CabinAgue]

10:11 PM on 02/22/2012

Does it have any relevance to this article?

[blizzard man robot voice]

10:48 PM on 02/22/2012

No, but it does have relevance to many of the comments here.

[dnsbubba]

10:17 PM on 02/22/2012

It's not logical. For a statement to be logical, it must be true or false. Neither statement in that quote can be proven true or false.

Logic does have rules.

[blizzard man robot voice]

10:53 PM on 02/22/2012

No, a logical statement is a clear and concise statement with reason backing it up.

[BurtonDesque]

07:29 PM on 02/22/2012

Another day and STILL no arrests of anyone who threatened this brave young woman.

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

08:32 PM on 02/22/2012

Another 17,000 comments and still no preacher, priest, rabbi or iman with guts enough to come on the HP and stand up for this decision.

[BurtonDesque]

09:09 PM on 02/22/2012

I'm a priest and I'll stand up for this decision.

There. How's that?

[mistervee]

12:51 AM on 02/23/2012

And are you able to tell anyone's professions by their posts? You don't know who anyone here is. Get real.

[almostlyniceguy]

05:15 PM on 02/22/2012

I may believe in god. I do not believe in religion.

[bbriani3842]

06:18 PM on 02/22/2012

... but there's more evidence that religion exists ...

[almostlyniceguy]

06:39 AM on 02/23/2012

That's good. That's very good.

[sarahmysterious]

05:10 PM on 02/22/2012

This reminds me of my high school experience, minus the scholarship.

[myzelf]

06:59 PM on 02/22/2012

Did you put your own life at risk to fight for everyone's First Amendment rights, too? Do tell!

[Nick Rowley]

08:23 PM on 02/22/2012

I think Sarah's merely saying she experienced nasty pieces of work bullying her for her atheism while hiding behind Jesus' skirts.

[aristippe]

04:28 PM on 02/22/2012

There seems to be some confusion among self proclaimed atheist. A number have given a weak definition; that an atheist is one who lacks belief in deities. My problem is with the phrase "lacks belief." That's a poorly fashion phrase that upon closer inspection reveals itself to be unintelligible.

Once you are introduced to an idea, you cannot stay neutral about it. You invariably make a judgment about the idea once it has been introduced. The idea can be accepted or rejected but you cannot return to a lack of belief position. This is just illogical.

Clearly Atheists want to claim something more than " the absence of a belief in God makes one an atheist." If that were the case then my dog would fulfill the criteria as an atheist, but that doesn't really make sense.

[Andrew Bacque]

04:56 PM on 02/22/2012

let me put it this way, your dog and i have the same religious beliefs

[aretoo]

02:51 PM on 02/23/2012

Actually, your dog probably believes you are God.

Someone who not committed to believing in either the existence or the non-existence of God or Gods is agnostic.

[sarahmysterious]

05:09 PM on 02/22/2012

Well your semantics only seem to illicit further confusion. How about I make this simple for you? An atheist is USUALLY someone who denies the existence of god because the idea lacks evidentiary support. Better?

[aristippe]

07:43 PM on 02/22/2012

This reminds me of my high school experience, minus the scholarship
"illicit further confusion" Really?!

[BurtonDesque]

02:57 PM on 02/22/2012

It's a pitty the moderators have deleted so many comments from God-fearing Christians. They should all be posted as an object lesson in what religion does to your mind.

[Varys]

03:22 PM on 02/22/2012

Yes, it does seem the moderators were doing Christianity a favor by deleting them.

[MarconiDarwin]

03:23 PM on 02/22/2012

Second that.