[tacticalogic]

I was talking about the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution not being specific to "mainstream" religion. I am certainly not advocating instituting a theocracy, only protecting the letter of the law? On the other hand, if I were seeking to compel others to my religious beliefs and force their will by my actions then I would be entirely in the realm of a theocracy. This is precisely the present state of affairs with government sanctioned militant puritanism. In fact, it approaches the terrorist techniques of the taliban in its highly selective and publicly displayed attacks on the unbelievers. When everyone knows these busts are a drop in the bucket, then they know it's only purpose is to instill fear and terrorize others to follow their will.

In a context of a discussion of the freedom of religion, you may have valid arguments. Outside of that context, arguing different constitutional interpretations based on different scriptural interpretations attempts to drag the Constitution into a religious argument.

[PaxMacian]

"Outside of that context, arguing different constitutional interpretations based on different scriptural interpretations attempts to drag the Constitution into a religious argument."

Freedom of religion is not checked at the door of debate about Constitutional limits of power upon the federal government. Rights are the God given property of the people and, as are any gifts from God, irrevocable by any government instituted by men. It is not my intention to force the people to adhere to the dietary laws of the old testament. For, God forbid that anyone ever attempt to make sharia law the law of this land. It is with great trepidation that I fight to expose the former religious influence of puritannical nature which has brought us to this state of perpetual war. While you say that what I have posited are 'interpretations', I must say that they are contrasted on the other side of the debate by usurpations and supplantations of remedial language for punitive language. Are we a free nation or a prison nation? How can the commerce clause really trump the freedom of religion?