| The Roane County courthouse had a religious gathering Tuesday with hundreds of local Christians coming out to fight for their freedom of religion on public property.
A national group called the Freedom From Religion Foundation wrote a letter to Roane County officials in December asking them to take down a nativity scene on the courthouse lawn.
The nativity scene was not removed, and the Roane County Commission has approved its erection for 2015.
"Something just welled up in me that we need to do something to stand up against that," said David Bowen, member of the Spencer Tabernacle Church, after reports said the group was coming to Spencer.
"It is the extreme most important thing in our lives." said Maureen Donato, a member of the Word of Faith Fellowship.
"We are going to follow the law, but we are not going to be bullied. I can promise you that and your three commissioners feel the same way on that." said Joshua Downey, the Roane County Prosecuting Attorney.
Downey said the Freedom From Religion Foundation appears to have motivation other than the separation of church and state issues.
Now, a school in Jackson County is facing religious scrutiny over a memorial honoring a teacher who passed away.
Ravenswood Middle School received a letter from the Freedom of Religion Foundation, saying it violates the First Amendment.
In 2004, Joann Christy, a teacher who taught at the school for more than a quarter of a century, was killed in an accident and a memorial with Christian artifacts was erected.
The FORF also called into question a live nativity scene during a Christmas program at Ravenswood High School.
Freedom From Religion Foundation
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