Posted on 10/30/2006 6:17:23 AM PST by DogBarkTree
SAN DIEGO - Philip Paulson, an atheist who waged a 17-year legal battle to have a giant cross removed from public land on Mount Soledad, has died. He was 59.
Paulson died Wednesday of liver cancer. He was diagnosed in July and was hospitalized on Oct. 20 after complaining of abdominal pain, remaining in critical condition until his death, said Lorelei Lindsey, his companion of 17 years.
Born in Clayton, Wis., Paulson was the grandson of a Lutheran minister but said he lost his faith during two bloody tours of duty in Vietnam.
The City Heights resident sued the city in 1989, claiming that the 29-foot cross on city property violated the constitutional separation of church and state.
Paulson won the original case but appeals continue, with the city arguing
(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...
He believes now.
The cross just became part of his after life.
He bet his life that G-D wasn't real.
sniffle...
God: "Can you hear me now?"
A tour of duty in Vietnam would possible be a reason to question the meaning of life, but ultimately it does not excuse one for living the rest of one's entire life as an atheist. And, a bitter one at that.
Somebody asked Mencken what he would do if he died and found himself suddenly in the presence of Christ and the Apostles. Mencken replied, "I would say, 'Gentlemen, I was wrong.'"
I hope he puts in a a few good words for me... (see tagline) ;)
I always heard there are no atheists in a foxhole.
I'm an atheist, too, but can think of few more meaningless, pathetic ways of spending 17 years than waging a legal battle to remove something that means so much to so many people, and doesn't interfere with my life one bit.
What a jerk.
Ah, now I see why he ended up a lousy leftist. It is sad that he died and that they will just ad another like him to the case to pick up where he left off.
This is what messin' with God will do to ya!!
I told my wife that when I get to the Pearly Gates and start listing my transgressions, the line behind me's gonna be like a post-accident traffic snarl on I-95.
Me too Beast. While I have done about as good as I can with what the Good Lord gave me to work with, I know that I have a huge list of "rut rows" on that list that is going to have St. Peter shaking his head, rolling his eyes, and saying: "this ain't gonna be easy boy!" :)
Atheists amaze me. If they don't believe in God, then why the big fuss about a big cross on a hillside?
Although, I think Mr. Paulson may have changed his mind by now. If he has, well, good for him.
Nope...he bet his afterlife. Sucks to be him.
I love your tagline, Savage. It is sad when people use trauma to explain how they lost their faith. Some people of faith actually do believe that since they are believers that they are supposed to be shielded from the horrors of life. I am not a Church goer, but I do believe that this life is just a beginning. Even if I didn't believe in GOD, I wouldn't interfer with what other people believe, that is just mean.
Savage Beast, your post cracked me up.
Tell you what, you can save your fellow newly arrived entrants at the Pearly Gates a whole lot of time--just read John 3:16.
The cross this atheist tried to remove in San Diego is the symbol of why you need not fear holding up the line up there.
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