eagle scout ordered to take god out of park project

http://www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=83141

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[Jonathan] Griesinger designed and installed a series of 10 stones along the trail through the Stenger Athletic Complex. The first represents the sun and the rest are engraved with the names of the nine planets.

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Griesinger also placed an 11th stone that he has been ordered to remove. The stone is engraved with a Bible verse that says, "The heavens declare the glory of God."

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Arvada owns the park, but city officials said the proposal they were given does not mention of the "God stone."

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Arvada officials asked the Griesingers to remove the stone with the reference to God, and the family complied.

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OK? So it sounds like he added something after his proposal was approved and the city requested that he remove the addition. According to the brief article, he complied.

Yah, too bad da city council isn't up-to-date in its science, eh?

There's only eight planets now, eh?

Beavah

I can see why you'd bring it up. It does seem a bit thin for an Eagle project. But then again, wiht out the details, who know might have been a lot more work than it sounds.

Beav, ya beat me to it, heh, heh!

Only 8 planets!? Why, by gum, the next thing you know those pesky scientists will tell us that Trans-fats are bad for us, or that the moon isn't made of cheese!

I walked a "planet trail" at a state park in Wisconsin (Pike Lake State Park)similar to the one described for this project. At points along the trail were interpretive signs that talked about each individual planet. The signs were spaced to give an earth based scale of the distances between the planets - and it even included the asteroid belt as a stop. I wish the article gave more detail about the trail the scout put together - did it just have carved rocks representing the planets or is there some interpretation materials (signs, a trail guide) involved as well.

Calico

If the original project did in fact include the God stone, the city should have never signed off if they had a problem with it.

Ed Mori

1 Peter 4:10

A blessed Christmas to all (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Griesinger's father George has an Eagle Scout project proposal that describes the stone in detail. The proposal was signed by Scout leaders and by an employee of the Recreation District.

Probably shouldn't have been approved that way if they weren't going to allow it later. I'm guessing they just didn't notice, and then later assumed they didn't know (or didn't want to admit they knew).

There are lots of monuments out there from the past that make similar declarations. But it's tough to get any such new items approved in today's climate. I would have been doubtful on this one from the start. I'll bet it would be hard to get a stone that says "In God we trust", even though it's printed on all our money.

I provided the link so anyone could read it. (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

The mighty pen has spoken!

Seems like whoever approved the project didn't actually read it instead of it never being included! Typical!

Ed Mori

1 Peter 4:10

A blessed Christmas to all

The news story doesn't have many details. I suspect that the candidates' project plan was approved by some mid-level city employee who either did not read it thoroughly or else did not understand the potential endorsement of religion issue. (Much less understand the science of 8 rather than 9 planets.) The city lawyers probably had a fit when they learned about it after the fact! I'm more surprised that the fellow's Eagle advisor - who should have known better - approved it.

I'm more surprised that the fellow's Eagle advisor - who should have known better - approved it.

What do you mean by this? What should he have known better?

Ed Mori

1 Peter 4:10

A blessed Christmas to all

I'm surprised that the Eagle advisor did not anticipate the potential issue of installing a religious inscription on municipal property. Of course, maybe he/she did and the scout did mention it to the city sponsor who signed the project plan anyway. We just don't know from the sketchy information in the news report.

Merry Christmas!

No laws were violated. From the info given, the city signed off on the project. It's not the Scouts fault if it wasn't read! By allowing the Scout to place a stone that mentions God does not endorse religion! And if you think it does, what religion does it endorse?

Oh and Merlyn, it should be God not god in the title of the thread.

Ed Mori

1 Peter 4:10

A blessed Christmas to all(This message has been edited by evmori)

I think all of the stones should be removed because their representation of pagan gods offends me.

Mercury - The Roman god of commerce, travel, and thievery.

Venus - The Roman goddess of gardens and spring.

Mars - The Roman god of war and agriculture.

Jupiter - The Roman god of the heavens and of weather.

Saturn - The Roman god of agriculture (I suppose the non-garden type).

Uranus - The Greek god of the heavens.

Neptune - The Roman god of the sea.

Pluto - The Roman god of the dead and the ruler of the underworld.

I suppose Merlyn will let us keep the Sun and Earth stones...