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Atheists: No prayer for disaster victims (Barf Alert?)
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | September 5, 2005 | WorldNetDaily.com

Posted on 09/05/2005 7:32:04 PM PDT by Jacob Kell

The American Atheists organization says President Bush should stop urging prayer for Hurricane Katrina victims because it violates the Constitution.

Ellen Johnson, president of the group said Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and Bush "should not be violating the Constitution by telling people to pray for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. It's unconstitutional for government officials to be promoting religion; and besides, judging from the speed of some relief efforts, officials should be busy working instead of preaching."

(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: americanatheists; atheism; atheists; blanco; bush; davesilverman; ellenjohnson; freethinkers; freethought; governerblanco; humanism; humanists; hurricanekatrina; katrina; prayer; presidentbush
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To: PresbyRev
I do not think the Constitution calls for the role of the President to be that of official State Muezzin.

You're correct, that is not among the delineated responsibilities of the President. However, maybe he's asking this of other Americans as a human being who is saddened and concerned for his other fellow human beings in NOLA.

You'd like to pretend that he's signed an Executive Order requiring all Americans to pray or else.

41 posted on 09/05/2005 7:48:52 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater (The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.)
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To: PresbyRev

Reread the Bill of Rights...it is not freedom FROM religion, it is freedom OF religion. President Bush did not give up his right when he became President.

We could spend countless days arguing the point, but the REAL point is this...with thousands in need, what does the head of American Atheists have to say????? Is it...give generously? Donate time? No.

Her focus at this time says it ALL about her priorities.


42 posted on 09/05/2005 7:49:17 PM PDT by t2buckeye
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To: pkp1184

Why should he command or request any religious activity in his role as President?

I don't want a Buddhist or Muslim president telling me to pray or meditate or go on jihad. Do you need the most visible official of the state giving you religious instructions? I don't.


43 posted on 09/05/2005 7:49:20 PM PDT by PresbyRev
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To: Jacob Kell

Prayers are offered by faith. Any faith. It isn't a "religion". IMHO ....Atheism takes much more faith than any sect that believes in a Supreme being. I wonder what entity he worships? The Hildebeast?


44 posted on 09/05/2005 7:50:48 PM PDT by LaineyDee (Don't mess with Texas wimmen!)
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To: PresbyRev

Bush is not trying to be some Grand Ayatollah. He just said pray. You have the right to close your ears and hum just as much as he has a right to say what he said.


45 posted on 09/05/2005 7:50:53 PM PDT by pkp1184
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To: PresbyRev

Rev. Barry Lynn, of Americans United, is that you?


46 posted on 09/05/2005 7:51:06 PM PDT by GeorgiaYankee (ABCNNBCBS: News for people who can't do a Google Search!)
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To: PresbyRev

"America doesn't belong to you. Thank goodness for the protections of our secular Constitution. It is what protects folks from fanatics."

You are sad, sad little person. You haven't read the federalist papers or the writings of the framers, have you?


47 posted on 09/05/2005 7:51:20 PM PDT by righttackle44 (The most dangerous weapon in the world is a Marine with his rifle and the American people behind him)
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To: Future Snake Eater

I am not pretending that Bush has signed an E.O. requiring prayer. I am merely pointing out that his role as President is not to call for religious activity of any kind from the Citizens of the Republic - be it generic prayer, Christian eucharist, Islamic hajj, etc.


48 posted on 09/05/2005 7:51:51 PM PDT by PresbyRev
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To: Jacob Kell
Dear Ms. Johnson,

LIGHTEN UP FRANCIS!!!

49 posted on 09/05/2005 7:52:20 PM PDT by Reaganesque
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To: smith288

The day any president can compel me to attend a specific "state" church, I'll worry. Til then... the atheists can STHU.


50 posted on 09/05/2005 7:52:22 PM PDT by Fudd Fan (Cindy, yoo lied ta usss)
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To: Jacob Kell

An atheist's most embarrassing moment is when he feels profoundly thankful for something, but can't think of anybody to thank for it. - Mary Ann Vincent.

The real heretic is not the atheist or agnostic (who are often decent people) but those who murmur "it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as it makes you feel good." This turns religion into a subjective matter, like taste in furnishings, and robs theology of its claim to ultimate truth. - Sydney J. Harris


51 posted on 09/05/2005 7:52:30 PM PDT by april15Bendovr
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To: PresbyRev
"Actually - if you hit the atheist/freethinker sites many of them are coordinating relief efforts for Katrina survivors."

From an atheist's viewpoint, is that good? If so, why?

52 posted on 09/05/2005 7:53:50 PM PDT by cookcounty (Army Vet, Army Dad.)
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To: nwrep
Only Congress is forbidden from creating a law endorsing a religion.

Wrong. Better go read your Constitution again. That's not the prohibition.

53 posted on 09/05/2005 7:53:52 PM PDT by savedbygrace ("No Monday morning quarterback has ever led a team to victory" GW Bush)
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To: PresbyRev

It is a longstanding tradition in this country for presidents to call for prayer that dates back to the beginning of this country. It's never been done as a requirement, but as a request for those so inclined.

One of the things causing grief in this country is the demand that the feelings of large segments of society be ignored. One can only do this so often before the keg catches sparks...


54 posted on 09/05/2005 7:53:54 PM PDT by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: righttackle44

Yes - I have read, I think much or most, of the corpus of writings from the founding era and the founders. It is definitely a mixed bag. Thank goodness for the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

You so quickly resort to name calling, ostensibly in defense of prayer - that is what strikes me as sad and illustrative.


55 posted on 09/05/2005 7:54:39 PM PDT by PresbyRev
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To: Jacob Kell

Have you ever heard of any atheist relief organizations?


56 posted on 09/05/2005 7:54:55 PM PDT by hope (lead, follow or get the heck outta the way....we know where the left stands.)
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To: Jacob Kell
When one of them is trapped in the attic of a house with the water rising toward their chin, what do they think about?
57 posted on 09/05/2005 7:55:07 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Mesocons for Rice '08)
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To: Mike Darancette

"Oh well, there goes some more evolution."


58 posted on 09/05/2005 7:56:04 PM PDT by The Red Zone (Florida, the sun-shame state, and Illinois the chicken injun.)
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To: Jacob Kell

IMO, if the President or any other official claims to be a Christian, Christ's direct teaching is to pray for one another - irrespective of all the Ellen Johnsons of the world.


59 posted on 09/05/2005 7:56:04 PM PDT by azhenfud (He who always is looking up seldom finds others' lost change.)
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To: hope
Have you ever heard of any atheist relief organizations?

It is called the IRS ;)

60 posted on 09/05/2005 7:57:06 PM PDT by Shazbot29 (muhammed was the most evil person ever to live. May he burn in hell forever)
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