"COLUMBIA, S.C. - A group that advocates separation of church and state filed a federal lawsuit Thursday to prevent South Carolina from becoming the first state to create "I Believe" license plates.

"The group contends that South Carolina's government is endorsing Christianity by allowing the plates, which would include a cross superimposed on a stained glass window.

"Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed the lawsuit on behalf of two Christian pastors, a humanist pastor and a rabbi in South Carolina, along with the Hindu American Foundation...

"The bill sailed through the Legislature with little discussion earlier this year. Gov. Mark Sanford let it become law without his signature because the state already allows private groups to create license plates for any cause.

"Republican House Speaker Bobby Harrell said residents asked for a way to express their beliefs, and legislators responded.

"He disputed Lynn's accusation that they were pandering to constituents in an election year.

"'That's what critics always say when they see something they don't like,' Harrell said. "I think this has less to do with the First Amendment and more to do with their disdain for religion generally.'"

Either Bobby Harrell will say anything in order to energize his base, or he's assuming that the lawsuit is being brought by people who "disdain religion" (despite the fact that Christian pastors were among the plaintiffs) because he cannot imagine any reason why anyone would want to oppose a way for people to label themselves based on religion, unless they "disdain religion". I also note that he said "disdain" rather than "dislike", so that he could insinuate that, in addition to opposing the plates because they don't like religion, these people must be elitists who look down on the religious, as well.

"Lynn said his group would not have opposed the "I Believe" plates had they been advocated by private groups. State law allows private groups to create specialty plates as long as they first collect either a $4,000 deposit or 400 prepaid orders.

"Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said last week that he is willing to put up the money, then get reimbursed, though the Department of Motor Vehicles spokeswoman said that isn't necessary. Bauer said the idea came from Florida, where a proposal for an "I Believe" tag failed.

"He called it a freedom-of-speech issue.

"But a Methodist pastor who joined the lawsuit, the retired Rev. Thomas Summers of Columbia, said the plate provokes discrimination.

"'I think this license plate really is divisive and creates the type of religious discord I've devoted my life to healing,' he said.

"Another of the ministers, the Rev. Robert Knight of Charleston, said the plates cheapen the Christian message.

"'As an evangelical Christian, I don't think civil religion enhances the Christian religion. It compromises it,' Knight said. 'That's the fundamental irony. It's very shallow from a Christian standpoint.'"

Unfortunately, a lot of people seem to be very shallow about religion. And they seem to believe that if they display their religion enough, they can intimidate everyone else into believing that they don't have the right to be just as annoying about their beliefs. (I think that Richard Dawkins is trying to prove that this is not the case.)