There is freedom of religion and freedom from religion. Some believe the original intent of the First Amendment was to guarantee religious tolerance. Now, the First Amendment is interpreted as a right for people to be offended by and entitled to shut down the free exercise of any religion but atheism. Following a lawsuit in Forsyth County, Buncombe County Attorney Michael Frue advised the commissioners in a closed session to do away with invocations prior to their public meetings. It evidently did not enter the minds of the commissioners that their mountain-valued constituents might try to sue them for ceasing to pray.
At the commissioners’ last meeting, it was somewhat amusing that Reverend Dennis Thurmon from Pole Creek Baptist Church prayed for wisdom as expounded in James 1:5, and then quickly left the chambers.
