Separation of Church & State
I do believe there is major confusion in Separation of Church and State. I truly believe a small faction is using it to get what they want, the wiping out of God from our country. What scares me is with our over zealousness to be politically correct or better yet our pluralistic society is allowing small groups to control the majority.
To go back in history the reasoning behind Separation of Church and State was really quite simple. Many settlers came from places of religious persecution and they did not want this to happen again. They just wanted the right to worship as they saw fit.
Now, it seems we are not allowed to worship. We have to be careful about where we pray and how we use God's name.
Here is what cracks me up, no I guess it frustrates me more, why are Atheist so afraid of prayers and using God's name? Other religions(Hindu's, Muslims etc..) don't seem to have a problem, you know why? because they understand faith and belief. In addition, they would not want the persecution against them and they do not feel threatened.
But again, if Atheist do not believe, why are they threatened? or even offended? Really, what is bad about the Ten Commandments in a judges chambers? Are they offensive? Are they promoting harm? I mean really, Atheist love to argue logic. Where is the logic in removing the Ten Commandments? Or a manger? How is it offensive? Or how does if 'force' someone to believe? Faith is personal and just walking by a manger can't possibly be a traumatic experience? Placing, "In God we Trust" on money, how is that offensive if you don't believe? You just don't believe. O.K. W
hy if the majority does have faith do we have to 'wipe' out our signs of belief. We live in a Republic, were we vote and the majority wins. We agree to Tolerate each others opinions, beliefs and so on BUT the majority gets to win, and as long as the majority is not doing anything detrimental or harmful to the minority then, oh well!! And what is sad for years the majority did rotten things that should have been stopped but mangers and ten commandments, and bibles, really, this is getting outrageous. I would dare say, the Atheist are not being Tolerant to the majority!
Once again, still not understanding how they can claim the above stuff is harmful, detrimental, or abusive. Matter of fact, I would argue religion teaches community living and well being, and that is not just Christian religions that teach those values.
Therefore, if Atheist claim they use logic, I don't know, I think the logic is off. C'mon if you don't want to say God in the Anthem then don't, but what hearing it 'offends you'? This is the state cramming a Religion or Church down your throat? Really, stretching a bit thin, aren't you?
Lastly and most important Separation of Church and State really just meant the government was not to enforce A Religion on it's people. I have yet to see the United States do this and the majority better start speaking up or God is going to BLACKED out of all of our historical documents for a small faction of people.
Once again, this is not a new argument for our country. Our framers struggled with the concept of balancing, democratic, republic and even pluralistic ideals. How do we handle small factions and tolerance. Right now, looks like we are bending over and taking it in the a _ _. As a Catholic I am over it. I heard a Reverend from a Methodist Church say it nicely "God does not need America, America needs God and we better start remembering that when we vote." I could not agree more, or as a Christian would say AMEN!
To go back in history the reasoning behind Separation of Church and State was really quite simple. Many settlers came from places of religious persecution and they did not want this to happen again. They just wanted the right to worship as they saw fit.
Now, it seems we are not allowed to worship. We have to be careful about where we pray and how we use God's name.
Here is what cracks me up, no I guess it frustrates me more, why are Atheist so afraid of prayers and using God's name? Other religions(Hindu's, Muslims etc..) don't seem to have a problem, you know why? because they understand faith and belief. In addition, they would not want the persecution against them and they do not feel threatened.
But again, if Atheist do not believe, why are they threatened? or even offended? Really, what is bad about the Ten Commandments in a judges chambers? Are they offensive? Are they promoting harm? I mean really, Atheist love to argue logic. Where is the logic in removing the Ten Commandments? Or a manger? How is it offensive? Or how does if 'force' someone to believe? Faith is personal and just walking by a manger can't possibly be a traumatic experience? Placing, "In God we Trust" on money, how is that offensive if you don't believe? You just don't believe. O.K. W
hy if the majority does have faith do we have to 'wipe' out our signs of belief. We live in a Republic, were we vote and the majority wins. We agree to Tolerate each others opinions, beliefs and so on BUT the majority gets to win, and as long as the majority is not doing anything detrimental or harmful to the minority then, oh well!! And what is sad for years the majority did rotten things that should have been stopped but mangers and ten commandments, and bibles, really, this is getting outrageous. I would dare say, the Atheist are not being Tolerant to the majority!
Once again, still not understanding how they can claim the above stuff is harmful, detrimental, or abusive. Matter of fact, I would argue religion teaches community living and well being, and that is not just Christian religions that teach those values.
Therefore, if Atheist claim they use logic, I don't know, I think the logic is off. C'mon if you don't want to say God in the Anthem then don't, but what hearing it 'offends you'? This is the state cramming a Religion or Church down your throat? Really, stretching a bit thin, aren't you?
Lastly and most important Separation of Church and State really just meant the government was not to enforce A Religion on it's people. I have yet to see the United States do this and the majority better start speaking up or God is going to BLACKED out of all of our historical documents for a small faction of people.
Once again, this is not a new argument for our country. Our framers struggled with the concept of balancing, democratic, republic and even pluralistic ideals. How do we handle small factions and tolerance. Right now, looks like we are bending over and taking it in the a _ _. As a Catholic I am over it. I heard a Reverend from a Methodist Church say it nicely "God does not need America, America needs God and we better start remembering that when we vote." I could not agree more, or as a Christian would say AMEN!
Labels: Christian Values and America
posted by Lucy at
11:19 AM
4 Comments:
Hi Lucy,
I like your emphatic style. A lot of politically-conscious people are so blaise with their 'nuances' they forget something must be done and they neglect to mention the duties which are incumbent upon us.
Question: would you be upset to see a Mormon judge put up quotes from the book of Mormon as long as another judge could put up Bible quotes?
I have a real problem with the government taking upon itself to stop religion -which it does. If someone is giving the task of discussing their personal experiences in a valedictorian speech, they should be allowed to talk about their inspirations -even if they are Reagan, Obama, or Jesus. The original colonists of America wanted religious freedom from the state -not political freedom from religion!
As for the original intent of the framers, I think that is somewhat opaque. Jefferson seemed to have a chip on his shoulder against religion. Washington was a church-goer who had very pious views about bringing our duty to God into the understanding of the State. In someways our founding artifacts are a collision of these Christian/humanist/deist views. Our values as a nation are shifting and so now these things are getting thrown into question.
Anyway, I think the State needs to make changes to accomodate these things, but (as any conservative will note) the true responsibility belongs to the individual, and it is up to the individual to make sure he or she harbors no hostility against true religion and the governance of God.
To answer your question, I would have no problem if a Mormon judge put up quotes in his chambers from the book of Mormon. I am not threatened by other people's religion. I do believe that the the government should not enforce A Religion on a person. I do not think a quote and/ or refering to it is 'enforcing' it on a person. We are being ignorant if we don't acknowledge our leaders are affected by their beliefs. Forcing them to hide what they believe is wrong and personally I rather know what their beliefs are based on. Tolerance is important and wiping it out of people's speeches in public forums is getting ridiculous. That is the opposite of tolerance.
I do agree that we have to look at the constitution as a living document but I just feel we have flipped flopped Separation of Church and State. (sorry that wasn't stated very intelligently but felt it was the best way to explain my feelings.)
I do tend to get a little emphatic at times! I try keep it calm but I got a little carried away. (lol)
I think I would agree with you on separation of Church and State. I cringe to think of teachers imposing their religions on students, but in some ways that is the secularism they are pushing on our young, fertile minds.
Intelligence is not required here. Earnestness is ... however you seem to have your fair share of both.
Oops, I see I have posted under my associate's name, The Burning Bush. A rather daft thing to do ...
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