Posted on 03/22/2008 3:51:29 AM PDT by JeepInMazar
100% incorrect. Their commonality is to use the state to advance their faith (or to enforce the lack of one, in the case of the Talibatheists).
No, we should not provide a forum to those who attack the traditions and foundations of these United States.
100% incorrect. Their commonality is to use the state to advance their faith (or to enforce the lack of one, in the case of the Talibatheists).
Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between church and State. ---Thomas Jefferson
A secular government does not equate with the advancement of atheism. The promotion of any religion (or the lack thereof) is none of government's business. That's not to say that there isn't a bit of "wriggle room"...a serviceman's grave, paid for by the government, can certainly have any religious symbol on it that he or she wishes, be it a cross, pentagram, or whatever. Likewise, having a cross on a 150 year old city seal is no more a violation of the 1st amendment than is putting a church on an historic registry. The ACLU certainly goes overboard on these sorts of things.
No, we should not provide a forum to those who attack the traditions and foundations of these United States.
All atheists do not attack the traditions and foundations of the United States, any more than all Christians support them. Atheism is not incompatible with patriotism.
See my previous posts for examples of those who attempt to use a secular government for exactly those ends.
Doing so is no different from the goals of the Taliban (so far as the targeted groups are concerned).
See my previous posts for examples of those who attempt to use a secular government for exactly those ends.
Are there atheists who promote atheism? Sure. However, advocating that government be secular does not require the promotion of atheism.
Doing so is no different from the goals of the Taliban (so far as the targeted groups are concerned).
To say that Christians would be treated the same under ACLU or Taliban rule is absurd.
Unfortunately, the promotion of secularism can become so virulent as to demand the promotion of atheism, as in the points noted in my previous post.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.