Bulloch County's courthouse square has become a forum for debate over religion.

A nativity scene displayed on the courthouse lawn apparently met with the disapproval of a national anti-religion group, which placed a banner denouncing religion on the courthouse square last week. Tuesday, a third display appeared - a Christmas sign set up near the others, placed by a group of "Bulloch County Christians," said Romaine Bradford, spokesman for the group.

Bulloch County staff attorney Jeff Akins said the county received a letter last year from the Freedom From Religion Foundation protesting the nativity scene that appeared on the courthouse square in December 2013.

The county explained to the group that the courthouse square is a place for public forum and that the coalition of local churches that placed the crèche applied for a permit to do so, he said.

This year, the FFRF applied to display its own sign as well, he said. The sign, placed near the nativity scene, reads: "Let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

Local FFRF member Donald Armel, whose name was listed on the permit application to erect the sign, declined to elaborate on the reason for the sign Tuesday, except to say the sign should be self-explanatory.

"We've decided not to comment" on the matter, he said.

The FFRF sign elicited a response from other local citizens, however. Bradford said a group of area Christians and church members joined forces to put up the third sign, which reads, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..."

The third sign was "a rebuttal to" the FFRF sign, Bradford said.

"Christians have stood by for too long and been passive on this," he said.

He blames society's moral decline on "taking God out of schools and government."

According to a statement released by the FFRF, "The prominent state/church watchdog, the nation's largest association of freethinkers (atheists and agnostics), is placing the banner on behalf of its more than 400 Georgia members and a chapter in the Atlanta area."

The banner displays the words of FFRF founder Anne Nicol Gaylor, promoting the winter solstice, which occurred Sunday and is the "shortest, darkest day of the year," the statement reads. The winter solstice "signals the rebirth of the sun and the natural new year. It's been celebrated for millennia with festivals of light, feasts, gift exchanges and the display of evergreens, which symbolize enduring life."

FFRF staff attorney Andrew Seidel protested the nativity scene last February, claiming in his letter to Bulloch County commissioners that "it is unlawful for Bulloch County to maintain, erect, or host a holiday display that consists mainly of a nativity scene, thus singling out, showing preference for, and endorsing one religion."

When the county replied, explaining the courthouse lawn is a public forum, FFRF "called the county's bluff" and applied for its own display, which Akins said is legally allowed, just as the nativity scene is permitted.

"We nonbelievers are quite willing to celebrate the fun parts of anybody's holidays. Just spare us the schmaltz, the superstition - and the state/church entanglements," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-director.

Edward Neubert, pastor of Statesboro's Cornerstone Church, said his group joined other area churches last year to erect the nativity scene to promote the true reason for Christmas, which he said is a religious holiday - "Christ mass."

The manger scene was displayed to "give blessings to the community and keep the focus on the true meaning of Christmas," he said.

Neubert said he understands that other groups have the same rights of freedom of expression as his does, but he doesn't understand the reason FFRF opposes the expression of religious beliefs by others.

People who see all three displays will "have to make a choice" as to what to believe, he said.

"Christmas is a Christian holiday, a national holiday. What does (the FFRF sign) have to do with Christmas? It's someone's opinion."

Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.