Surprisingly, not a statue of Chicago Jesus.
(Fox News) – A North Florida county courthouse will soon be home to what’s believed to be the first public monument dedicated to atheism in the nation.
Bradford County has reached a deal to allow American Atheists to install a 1,500-pound granite bench near the county courthouse. The bench will feature quotes from Thomas Jefferson and Madalyn Murray O’Hair.
It will also include a list of punishments for violating the Ten Commandments, including stoning, and will include a quote from the Treaty of Tripoli, a late 18th century peace agreement that declares the U.S. was not founded on Christianity, The Gainesville Sun reported.
The placement of the monument in late June ends a lawsuit between American Atheists and the county. The national organization filed its lawsuit after Bradford County allowed a local group to install a monument that lists the Ten Commandments.
Dave Muscato, public relations director for American Atheists, told The Gainesville Sun that if religious groups are allowed to have monuments “it’s only appropriate that we have matching monuments.”