This really is not true. "Establishment" of religion had a clear meaning at the time the Constitution was written, which unfortunately the Supreme Court severely twisted, mainly on account of anti-Catholic bigotry on the part of some of the justices. The constitution merely says that there shall be no official, national religion, like the Church of England or the Catholic Church in pre-revolutionary France. That is why the Church of England is also referred to in England as the Established Church.
Government has a perfect right to do what it thinks is right, subject to the agreement of the voters and legislators. We should be very hesitant to outlaw most religions. Personally I would say that Wicca is foolish and superstitious and leaves room for worse things to enter, but that in most cases it is merely harmless silliness. Probably Satanism has entered here, and I think the government has a perfect right to outlaw Satanism.
But apart from outlawing religions, government has a right to favor some and disfavor others. I don't think we need Wicca chaplains in prisons, for instance, or that Wicca should get any faith-based government money. And obviously when practitioners turn to the dark side like this, they need to be punished and possibly that particular cell or congregation needs to be investigated and dispersed.
I stopped right there. The US government has NO rights whatsoever...only its PEOPLE do.
"I think the government has a perfect right to outlaw Satanism..."
Why, if the Satanists are harming no one?
" government has a right to favor some and disfavor others..."
Once again, the government has NO rights. However, if you feel it has that POWER, please cite that clause in the Constitution granting it. We'll wait.
"And obviously when practitioners turn to the dark side like this, they need to be punished and possibly that particular cell or congregation needs to be investigated and dispersed."
OOOOKay...please leave my country, as it is not the place for one with your views. Here in America, we do not imprison or sanction religions, and our Constitution forbids this.
Why don't you just admit it...you want the government to "bless" Christianity as "America's Religion", and outlaw thoswe with which you disagree. Your post makes this abundantly clear.
"We should be very hesitant to outlaw most religions."
I'll say! Our Constitution names no religion that one has the freedom to worship. None. Anyone may worship any religion they choose. Not only must we be "hesitant," we must NEVER outlaw any religion.
We may outlow, and have outlawed, certain practises that religions may employ. For example, plural marriage was once part of the Mormon religion. It is not any longer, and is illegal. Yet we have not outlawed the LDS church.
But...we may not, under our Constitution, outlaw a religion. The moment we do that, we cease to be a nation with freedom of religion.
No, and for simple reasons. You can't outlaw the belief, only the practice. Try as you may, you can't through force of legislation force your way into a man's conscience. His beliefs are his, and his alone.
I wonder if you'd be singing the same tune if you lived in a town that became majority Muslim and instituted Sharia law?
We should be very hesitant to outlaw most religions
This statement is kind of meaningless since there is no constitutional way to ban a religion in this country.
Probably Satanism has entered here, and I think the government has a perfect right to outlaw Satanism.
Please point out where in the Constitution governmment is given the power to ban religions.