State Rep Says Atheism is Dangerous

By Margaret Lyons in News on Apr 9, 2008 6:34PM

State Rep Monique Davis (D-27) went on an outrageously intolerant tirade against atheism activist Rob Sherman in the Illinois house last week.

I don’t know what you have against God, but some of us don’t have much against him. We look forward to him and his blessings. And it’s really a tragedy -- it’s tragic-- when a person who is engaged in anything related to God, they want to fight. They want to fight prayer in school. I don’t see you fighting guns in school. You know?...

I’m trying to understand the philosophy that you want to spread in the state of Illinois. This is the Land of Lincoln...where people believe in God, where people believe in protecting their children.… What you have to spew and spread is extremely dangerous to the progression of this state. It's dangerous that our children even know that your philosophy exists.

Sherman was testifying in a hearing about the $1 million in state money that's supposed to go to Pilgrim Baptist, so while both Davis and Sherman have strong stances on prayer in schools, that's not even what this hearing was about.

Eric Zorn's all over it, but why hasn't this made a bigger splash?