Atheist group claims Bible promotes violence and racism in letter to Kentucky governor

A Wisconsin-based atheist group has claimed in a letter written to Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin that the Bible is a "hate-filled" book that promotes violence and racism.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), which boasts of 29,000 members across the U.S., sent a letter to Bevin on Monday to denounce his suggestion to organize prayer walks and community outreach to help reduce violence in Louisville.

"It should be no surprise that this hate-filled book has spawned hateful ideologies and groups to perpetuate those ideologies. The Ku Klux Klan is and has always been, a Christian group. Klansmen began burning crosses 'to spread the light of Jesus into the countryside.' Hitler was a Roman Catholic and his soldiers wore a religious slogan on their buckle belts (Gott mit uns [God with us])," the letter stated.

The letter, signed by FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Barker and his wife, Annie Laurie Gaylor, also criticized Bevin for suggesting during an Aug. 15 radio show that proper teaching of Biblical virtues in schools would reduce instances of white supremacist violence.

In June, Bevin signed the Bible Literacy bill into law, which allows Kentucky public schools to develop and offer courses that teach about the Bible's role in American history, The Daily Caller reported.

In the Aug. 15 radio interview, the Kentucky governor argued that the Bible should be taught in public schools because it creates a sense of "absolute right and wrong" among students. He suggested that the violent incident in Charlottesville, Virginia stems from the removal of the scriptures from the classrooms.

The FFRF, however, claimed that teaching religion in schools would lead to "increased levels of all manner of societal ills, including: violent crime and homicide, poverty, obesity, teen pregnancy, and infant mortality."

The organization also claimed in the letter that the actions of the Nazis and the KKK were consistent with the teachings of Jesus in the Bible and that the Scriptures endorsed slavery and beatings.

"In terms of violence, no white supremacist thugs could one-up the god of the bible, who regularly commits and orders genocides," the atheist group wrote.

The organization suggested to Bevin that "less religion is a good place to start" if he wants less violence. The group urged the governor to stop using his public office to promote his religion.

Bevin's suggestion to have faith-based volunteers participate in community outreach has been backed by some community leaders, but it drew criticism from some faith leaders, such as Pastor Joe Phelps of Highland Baptist Church, who called it a "political ploy."