Kentucky Court Rules That Security is Unattainable Without Reliance on ‘Almighty God’

In 2006, the Kentucky legislature introduced a law that would force the state’s Department of Homeland Security to declare in its training materials that security is unattainable without reliance on “Almighty God.”

This will protect us from the terrorists

American Atheists sued, saying this went against the state and federal Constitutions. A judge agreed with them… but an Appeals Court reversed the ruling on a 2-1 decision. Back in November, AA asked the state Supreme Court to step in and fix the problem.

Now, the state Supreme Court has made their decision. It’s a definitive “Meh.” They don’t even want to look at the case.

The top court issued a brief order dated last week denying a petition to review the case…

…

Edwin Kagin, national legal director for American Atheists, said he was disappointed with the Supreme Court decision not to review the case. He said he would discuss options with his clients, which include letting the matter drop or bringing a challenge in the federal court system.

“What’s really frightening about this is it’s increasingly clear that these people (proponents of such legislation) want to establish the Christian religion, and they’re getting more and more blatant about it all the time,” he said.

So the Godly language stays. Apparently, the men and women who keep the state safe aren’t worth a damn thing because God’s the one doing all the hard work. And the atheists and Muslims and Hindus and Jews who work in Homeland Security? They’ll have to give deference to the Christian God from the moment they begin their training.

Sami Hawkins

security is unattainable without reliance on “Almighty God.”

If you presented that without context I’d assume it was a quote from a religious terrorist group, not from the people who are supposed to protect us from them.
C Peterson

I expect that the great majority of Kentuckians believe that the protection provided by Homeland Security is primarily against Islamic terrorists… and the last I checked, Muslims worship the same “Almighty God” that Kentucky Christians do. Just whose side is this god on when the terrorist attacks succeed, and is that really who you want to rely on for security?
Sue Blue

Well, what can you expect from a state that welcomed Ken Ham and his asinine “Creation Museum”?
Let’s just see what happens when they abolish all secular state agencies like police, fire, and EMS services and just go with god. Let’s see them put their Miracle Man to the test. I’m taking bets on how long it would be before a mass exodus to the north occurs.
Izzy

So are they going to appeal it into the federal court system?
Raavynn

I’m sad to report that I am not surprised, having grown up in Kentucky. I am, however, very disappointed.
James Buchy

I would love to be in that training class. “Excuse me, but which ‘god’ should I rely on? There has been over 2500 gods worshiped thru human history so which one is the right one?” or “The terrorists also rely on ‘god’ to bless their suicide mission. Isn’t that a conflict of interest?” Living in Canada aside, I suspect that my Homeland Security career would be rather short.
Scott

Muslim DHS employess? That’s rich! 😛
Andrew Hall

Kentucky’s new state motto — God Protex Uz All
writzer

So, to take this logic further … if “Almighty God” is what keeps us secure, why do I have to take my shoes off in the airport screening line? Why, for that matter, are there airport screening lines? Indeed, why is there a Department of Homeland Security that sucks up millions in tax dollars? God is always the least expensive alternative. Security? Rely on God. Natural or man-made disasters? Pray to God to help the afflicted. Loved one stricken by a devastating disease? Prayer is the answer. And if the loved one dies, then God’s ways are beyond our ken. If the loved one recovers, then it’s a miracle from God (it certainly would have nothing to do with the trained medical personnel and the science they employ).
cipher

What do you expect? These are the same people who are trying to push creationism into public school science classes, gave tax incentives to the Creation Museum and may yet do the same for its sibling, the Ark Encounter. It’s the result of generations of moonshine drinking and cousins marrying.

Yee haw.
Rich Wilson

I know I’m being pedantic, but they’re not saying “security can be attained with a reliance on almighty God”. They’re saying God is necessary, but not saying it’s sufficient alone.

Since absolute security is unattainable, the point is completely moot. What I’d like to put on a billboard is “Security is unattainable with a reliance in almighty God”, because both statements are equally true.
GloomCookie613

Because we have so many non-muslim translators, right?
Rich Wilson

I think the real question is, “does a reliance on God affect your risk profile?” And I think you could make a very good argument that it increases it, as Sami Hawkins points out.
northierthanthou

I think what these guys must mean is something like since there is no God, there is no-one to protect us from the arbitrary and capricious rulings of that very court!
Baby_Raptor

So how do I sue their god? I don’t feel like he’s doing a very good job…All he seems to really care about is peoples’ sex lives, and last I checked, the terrorists didn’t have penis bombs.

I want to file a complaint that he’s not doing his job.
Margaret Whitestone

God seems to be doing a pretty bad job if he’s our security guard. FRC relies heavily on “Almighty God” and look what happened. Then we have the 1993 WTC bombing, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Little Rock shooting, the crotch bomber, the car bomb in Times Square and the pipe bomb in Spokane. Where was God all of those times?
Coyotenose

Anyone else want to move to Kentucky, change their name legally to “Almighty God” and demand in court to be the state’s new security czar as per the law?
NakedAnthropologist

So if there’s a security threat, we’re completely fucked because apparently “god” is doing a pretty shitty job if keeping people safe is a priority. Thanks for the heads-up, Kentucky!
Joseph

Wow, that’s two for Kentucky this week! Texas better shake a leg before they pass us up on the Dumbass Redneck scale. With all of those Southern States to compete with, we have our work cut out for us.
pagansister

On vacation—apparently!
pagansister

Which “god” was my first thought when I read the article. Just whose Almighty God would that be that we as human beings are supposed to rely on for homeland security?
pagansister

The religious right has NO business putting any statement of that kind in the training of anyone—-much less the homeland security folks. It is bad enough there are those that feel prayers should start public meetings or swearing in of folks (with the “so help me God bit) etc. If one wants prayers, and attribute stuff to a god of some sort—try church, mosques, temples etc., not training those who serve the public in public arenas—-airports, city streets, etc. Sure hope some court strikes it down—but so far that doesn’t seem to be happening according to the article. And the question, which has been brought up below—just whose god would that be anyhow?
Philovaihinger

What is it with Kentucky?

Why is it always Kentucky?
moother

security is unattainable without reliance on “Almighty God.”

Did 9/11 happen because the USA was not reliant enough on “Almighty God” or did it happen because he slept in late that fine September morning?
Keulan

I would be very disappointed with American Atheists if they didn’t appeal this to the federal court level. It’s blatantly unconstitutional.
Antinomian

The smart ones in Eastern Kaintuckee study readin’ “ritin” and Route 23 North to Columbus Ohio.
amycas

penis bombs. awesome.
Jet

And yet, despite God being on their side and protecting the great USA, they’ll still keep funneling billions into Homeland Security and the NSA etc when they could just give it up since God has their back. Makes sense.