Did you hear about the “Miracle Cross”?  It’s a 17-foot-tall piece of rubble found in the aftermath of the 9/11 attack.  Out of all that wreckage, it’s not too surprising that the intersection of two beams had broken to make a cross-shaped piece of steel.  It wasn’t even found at the Twin Towers site but rather at 6 World Center, but it has become a religious relic.
The shape could just be a coincidence, or it could be a sign from God.  If the latter, I’m not sure what to make of the fact that the only evidence of God participating was his business card.  In the rubble.  And this evidence of God-not-doing-anything is now highlighted as a holy relic.
Hmm—that it’s just a coincidence is starting to sound a lot better from the standpoint of the Christian.  (But if you want a commemorative two-inch-high statuette of the Miracle Cross, it’s available in handsome pewter for the low, low price of only $12.95.)
Anyway, this cross is now a controversial addition to New York City’s soon-to-be-completed National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
American Atheists and New York City Atheists are suing to have the cross removed.  Their remedy is to return it to St. Peter’s Church, two blocks from Ground Zero, where it had been for the past five years.  Since half of the museum’s financing has been provided by the government, that sounds a lot easier than giving equal time to all the religions that don’t have a cross as their symbol.
There’s another controversy Continue reading →