Separate Church from State ---or from American Culture?

MichNews.com ^ | Dec 13, 2004 | Lee Ellis

[RepCath]

In the debates about the use of the word "GOD" in schools, government and elsewhere as being a violation of "Church and State," I have not heard anyone challenging all those who are trying to say that this is a promotion of the Christian religion.

All religions that I know about pray to a GOD! God belongs to no denomination or specific faith on an exclusive basis.

The Declaration of Independence only states that we should not establish a government religion as the King of England had done; thus, there is no "Church of America" being ruled by our government! So, since the word “GOD" belongs to all people of faith (close to 90% of all Americans) and since this word does NOT represent any one faith or denomination, why is anyone condemning the use of GOD in any public place?

[Edgerunner]

Satan is on the march...the last struggle is now...

[PeterFinn]

Actually, this is just about separating Christianity from our culture and families. Liberal Judaism is welcome. Islam is being taught in the public schools. Wicca (witchcraft) is also commonly found in public schools and is found in 100% of Waldorf schools.

It's a war against Christians and Christianity and, so far, the lions are beating the Christians.

[NeilGus]

I believe that there certain religious beliefs are taught in school and permitted in public places. That religious belief is atheism; the belief that there is no God.

When the government does not allow any mention of God, why is that not like embracing atheism. Think about it. If atheists could force their religious views on public places, what would they do (answer, no mention of God).

My question is why their religious beliefs are favored by the government yet mine is not?

[lillybet]

Prayer is and remains, Always a Native and Deepest impulse of the Soul of Man.

[KC_for_Freedom]

It's a war against Christians and Christianity and, so far, the lions are beating the Christians.

Right, this is what it is all about. But more importantly, it is about the crazy idea that non-Christians deserve to go about their business in a majority Christian country and not be offended by what they see and hear. This is manifestly crazy. Christians should put out their displays and tell those who are offended to GET OVER IT.

[E Rocc]

I believe that there certain religious beliefs are taught in school and permitted in public places. That religious belief is atheism; the belief that there is no God.

When the government does not allow any mention of God, why is that not like embracing atheism. Think about it. If atheists could force their religious views on public places, what would they do (answer, no mention of God).

Atheism is not merely "not mentioning God", it's actively denying that God exists.

While I would agree with you that atheism is a relgious belief and would agree that there have been cases where government actively promotes it, that's not what the Federal Court cases have mandated. They have mandated that government be religiously neutral, give neither positive support nor special restrictions to any particular belief (including atheism).

To claim that religion has been barred from the public arena is ludicrous. Churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples operate quite openly, religious groups of all kinds raise funds and run public programs, and the media is full of privately funded religious messages of all kinds. That's about as "public" as it gets.

To claim that religion needs the support of government grossly overstates the importance of government in our nation and our cultures.

-Eric

[GrandEagle]

The whole point is that there is no Constitutionally called out "separation of Church and State". It is a fictitious entity fabricated by the Supreme Court. However, the Federal government is Constitutionally FORBIDDEN to have an opinion of establishment issues. By default it can not establish a state religion, but it also can no un-establish one.
Several states had official "State" religions while the Constitution was being discussed, and three or four had one well after it's adoption. If I'm not mistaken, I believe that Massachusetts was the last to eliminate their "State" religion sometime in the 1850's. MANY states had requirements that their state officials make a declaration that they believed in Jesus before being eligible for State offices.
Keep in mind that in many cases, the men who wrote these state Constitutions and passed these State laws also WROTE our Federal Constitution. Their credentials for understanding what it means are impeccable.

Cordually,
GE

[StonyBurk]

US S.Ct. Capitol Square Review and Advisory board v.Piretti
(1995 ) "It is no answer to say that the Establishment
Clause tempers religious speech. By its' terms that clause
applies only to words andacts of government.It was never meant and has never been read by this Court to serve as an
impediment to purely private religious speech connected to
the State only through its' occurance in a public forum."
Seems the Court said it right,Seems the Establishment
clause ought be interpreted as the Government mandating
a State church, which our schools cannot do.

[Eastbound]

"I believe that there certain religious beliefs are taught in school and permitted in public places."

Including the phallus religions.