Recommended Posts
jdhill 0
QuoteCongress shall make NO LAW respecting an establisment of religion.
Bill, you emphasize the NO LAW part, yet do not emphasize the RESPECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION part, which is the operative portion of the "Establishment Clause"... it mean that the government does not recognize religion period... To not treat a religious group like any other is recognition... you said before that taxation is not natural, I disagree... it is a natural part of any government... by telling a church that it does not have to pay real estate taxes it deprives local governments of needed revenues, reduces the tax base, and gives them (the church) a free ride...
The Supreme Court has interpreted what the Establishment Clause means, which I cited in a previous post... it does not mean that the government can't pass laws that affect religious groups, only that they do not affect religious groups any more or any less than any other group...
In reality, our laws are filled with laws that respect the establishment of religion... An example would be the respect shown to holy sites during combat... their status is codified in military regulations (which are laws)... Another example would be Chapels on military bases that are constructed and maintained by tax dollars, of Chaplains in the military who are paid by our tax dollars... Another example would be the confidentiality of the confessional... and a priest not being able to be compelled to testify... if we did not have laws respecting the establishment of religion would would not recognize the individual's status as a priest, or that there is such a thing as confession...
J
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke
QuoteWe have "Christians" in this country that shoot abortion doctors and bomb clinics, a form of terrorism... But we just do not call it that.
When 911 happened, Muslims en-masse cheered like there was no tomorrow. When Oklahoma City happened, no big groups of people cheer. When some nut bombs a clinic, Churches don't all cheer and Praise.
"Religion is the root of all evil" - George Carlin
"Islam is the root of all evil" - Mike Skaggs
Mike
-----
Trent 0
Well said Josh, and I agree with your position here. It's always interesting to hear peoples' interpretation of what others think is fairly simple and straightforward. Want real confusion? Ask a lawyer.

Oh, hello again!
tkhayes 348
QuoteThat's exactely with those extremists do not do. They move to a country and want the original population to adopt to their habits. If you say something about it you are called a racist of worse...
Americans do the same. For that matter Christians as a whole. Christians moved to Africa, run programs all over the continent.
How did South America and Mexico all become such staunch Catholic based? Christian imperialism spread over centuries is how.
And there are many faith-based groups getting a foothold in Iraq. Bringing aid and such, but also as part of the agenda, with the blessing of the US government, they are trying to get a Christian foothold in that country as part of the reconstruction.
It ain't just muslims that do that -
SkyDekker 1,465
QuoteWhen 911 happened, Muslims en-masse cheered like there was no tomorrow. When Oklahoma City happened, no big groups of people cheer. When some nut bombs a clinic, Churches don't all cheer and Praise.
How do you know? I know this is tough to convince a skydiver of, but just because it isn't on video doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Ah well. The supreme court disagrees with you; perhaps you could take it up with them. Specifically, in the court case Lemon vs Kurtzman, the court ruled that the government cannot give money to parochial school teachers, because the government cannot fund religions. It was clear that any 'entanglement' between the government and religion violated the first amendment. In Engle vs Vitale, the court ruled that public schools cannot require students to say prayers - again, because the federal government cannot involve itself with religious devotions.
Share this post
Link to post
Share on other sites