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To: citizenmike

You are attempting to distort the meaning of the Constitution and the intention of this country's founders. According to you, the government-dictated teaching of the theory of evolution thus violates the Constitution as it contradicts the religious beliefs of American citizens.

The presentation of a belief, symbol, or teaching does result in compulsion. A person is not forced to believe in evolution by the teaching of evolution. A person is not forced to believe in God by the presentation of religious symbols. An atheist is no more forced to believe in God by the presence of religious symbols or expressions on public property as a Christian is forced to believe in evolution by the legislated requirement that it be taught in public schools.

The founders intended that the beliefs of the People would continue to be expressed by its government. It was evident in their invocation of God, the placement of Christian symbols, and their usage of Christian beliefs in the formation of our nations' laws. That is the nature of our democratic republic. Remember we have the right to freedom of religious belief and expression, not the right to freedom from religious belief and expression. The expression of religious belief was not to be restricted.

Note the portion of the First Amendment that is at issue: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or *prohibiting the free exercise thereof*...." It was not intended that the Federal government not express the religious beliefs of the People. Rather, the selection's original inspiration indicates precisely what was intended: "That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practise Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other." The Founding Fathers considered the government of the United States to be essentially based upon Christian belief. It was not intended to be atheistic, but to be Christian!

Is a Christian not capable of being a Christian *and* a representative of the People of the United States of America? Is a government founded upon Christian beliefs not capable of governinng non-Christians? The overwhelming majority of the People of the United States are religious, though to varying degrees. Our nation's founders were also men possessing religious beliefs, though they too were diverse and varied in their public expression of it. To prohibit the expression of religious belief is to take another step towards divorcing the Federal government from the People and the Principles upon which this nation was founded.


122 posted on 05/22/2005 7:50:25 PM PDT by ProxyAccount
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To: ProxyAccount


124 posted on 05/22/2005 7:59:56 PM PDT by citizenmike
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To: ProxyAccount

If, as you state, "The founders intended that the beliefs of the People would continue to be expressed by its government" then what would prevent say, agressive Moslems from having the US gov express their beliefs and implement Sharia. I don't see how you can argue that the gov should express Christian beliefs but not other religious beliefs. I don't see any thing in the constitution that would allow one (Christian) but not the other (Moslem).


126 posted on 05/22/2005 8:04:56 PM PDT by citizenmike
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