Religious Symbols Ought to be Removed From Public Places

You're welcome, and thank you for accepting. I will accept your definition. I found most of the definitions to be synonymous with each other, and did not think it necessary to clarify, though I see that assumption was wrong. So if public is the opposite of private, we must define private, which we will use the first definition, being: Intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class (http://www.merriam-webster.com...) Therefore, public must mean not intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class. If this is the case, then churches are not public but private. They are very much intended, and occasionally restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class. A Christian church is not made for just any person to walk in and do whatever, even if that does happen. Rather, it is made specifically for the use of Christians, not the public. Places like parks, shopping centers, and public offices are public because they are made to appeal to everyone, regardless of race or religion. Churches are in existence for 1 in particular religion (group), meaning that they are private, almost like a club. They will accept members with the proper admission: your faith. So, while people might be able to join, churches are not public, but private. Now that this is clarified, I will proceed. 1a) Not merely insulted my friend, but personally attacked and publicly belittled. It's not just offensive, it is a direct offense. Rudeness may not be a crime, but segregation and outright bigotry. The KKK can go out and have public showings where they can shout out all their racist thoughts to their hearts content, of course with a proper permit, but you don't see flaming crosses and lynched black people publicly because it's directly offensive and wrong. Yet, there are religious symbols, mostly Christian ones, displayed everywhere, which is belittling to other religions by stating that it is above of them, that it alone is right and accepted when it's not. We can't prove it's right, and not everyone believes in it. So it is only a belief (more in 2), and because it's just that is no better than the other plethora of other beliefs. But by having it displayed it sends the message that it is better, it is right, and that you are neither if you disagree. 1b) Religions do disagree, and this is only more reason to get rid of the public symbols. It is intentionally aggravating negative feelings towards each other. Because they will surely never get along, there is no reason to add more kindling to the fire. They are perfectly welcome to share any of their own beliefs in their designated places of worship, but in the public their opinions are only ever opinions. The symbols make the statement that that belief is fact, meaning that your religion, and not theirs, is wrong. So, they can feel what they want, but cannot be allowed to publicly state through their symbols those feelings, as it is degrading and directly hateful. 2) Well, yes! Because it we can't know its right means we cannot state it as fact, which is what religions are doing. Mister King knows that his work is fiction, and you'll clearly see that somewhere in the binding or inside of the cover. But if there was a church of Stephen King, and statues of The Dark Tower in public spaces they would have to be removed. There are many who do not agree with the teachings of King, and may have devoted their life to the followings of Michael Crichton. But because Stephen King has more followers and is more accepted means he's right? How can you prove he is? Have to seen the Gunslinger? Can you prove that phycic Spider exists? No, you can't. If you could, then you would be right. But you can't. Likewise, Christians, Buddhists and Satanists can't prove their selected deities exist, meaning that their beliefs can only ever be beliefs. They are not fact, but the symbols make it out that they are, sending the message that you are wrong. But they can't prove they are right either. Until it is certain that any one religion is THE right religion they have to be held in equal regard, despite individual membership, as no one can prove they are either right or wrong. Until they can, they are equal, and having a public symbol implies something that they clearly are not. 3) Probably not much to make a cross. Then their are the jade Buda's, the many Gold Greek Gods, marble Egyptian ones, brass Jewish Menorahs, etc. You can see that a major problem is not only money, but also space. Hindus alone have 27 Gods, all of which would need to be equally displayed next to the 50 Norse Gods, Jesus and all the Saints, the 24 Aboriginal gods, and the over 100 Aztec Gods, among the countless others. Every public place would need an entire building set aside just for this. That is the problem there. Meanwhile, each of those religions has their own buildings to house their selected statues and symbols. The entire problem should be avoided altogether by removing the symbols that are up now and just having the individual churches for those religions keep their symbols to themselves within themselves.