"Why is the Cross such a strong sign?"

...was a question from the Editorial of Helsingin Sanomat, a major newspaper in Finland today.
The power of the Cross has been largely discussed in Finnish media in past couple of days, after The European Court of Human Rights has ruled against the use of crucifixes in classrooms in Italy. It was said the practice violated the right of parents to educate their children as they saw fit, and ran counter to the child's right to freedom of religion.

The case was brought by a Finnish-born Italian mother, Soile Lautsi, who wants to give her children a secular (atheist) education.

Another quote from same Editorial: "Why does a crucifix on the wall of a class room rise such great passion? Lautsi who was complaining about crucifixes justified her perseverance for the matter for her being a confessional atheist. Atheists strong reaction against the image of crucified, stirs and raises respect in the researchers circles : the Cross has still power, a lot more than many believers dare to even think it does.." "Miksi ristiinnaulitun kuva luokan seinällä herättää niin suuria intohimoja? Krusifiksista valituksen tehnyt Lautsi perustelee omaa sitkeyttään asiassa sillä, että hän on tunnustuksellinen ateisti. Uskonnontutkijoiden piirissä ateistin voimakas reaktio ristiinnaulitun kuvaa vastaan herättää kunnioituksensekaista hämmennystä: ristissä on yhä voimaa, paljon enemmän kuin moni uskovainen rohkenee uskoakaan. "

So, what means our freedom to religion? What is the Cross so powerful that it's mere excistance offends people who don't believe in it? In an interview mrs. Lautsi also said that her family believed that you either think or believe. Luckily in my head both intelligent brain and intelligent faith are accepted. :)
But it is good that there are parents who care about their children and what their children are taught.
Oh, and I'm not really bothered if the crucifix is or is not in the class room, I hope that our actions and attitudes speak even louder.

Read the whole Editorial article in Finnish: Uskonnollinen lukutaito on tärkeä tässäkin ajassa