Posted on 04/16/2003 11:19:30 AM PDT by Remedy
If you have anything to say, write it yourself in your own words.
Unless you're a 'bot incapable of writing a simple 3-paragragh essay.
Please cite to me where or how religious freedom gives him the right to preach at a givernmental employee event.
He has no "right" to be invited. But once invited, it would be a violation of his religious rights to be uninvited on the sole basis of his religious expressions (unless they were criminal).
I'm going to have to catch up with you later. Take care.
So you would advocate not having any type of Easter observance at all, since that might 'offend' someone. I would presume you'd also advocate doing away with the President's prayer breakfast, having a Congressional chaplain and all of that kind of thing. After all, it might offend someone.
So is that really what you are advocating?
If someone is offended by the normal celebration of Easter then I say pound sand. However, if it is by a government entity then I say why is the government supporting these particular religious beliefs.
And yes, I'm opposed to paying for Chaplains for the Congress. And I suppose you support it?
Calling Islam an evil religion isn't calling Muslims themselves evil so there is no lumping everyone together. The one thing common to most religions is the belief that others are wrong. Remove religion for a second and lets sub-out politics. I believe liberal politics are appalling and wrong. Liberals think I'm wrong. It's part of the definition of our different views. I can't be a conservative AND a liberal at the same time. I still recognize their right to exist, but I'm going to discredit their beliefs every chance I get. That doesn't make me a bigot. It just makes me a person with strong beliefs. And vice versa.
Crummy example but I'm in a hurry. Sorry.
I would agree that one cannot, on behalf of the government, make such comments. But since when does having a certain opinion disqualify someone from participating in a government-sponsored event? And where is that in the constitution?
I'm for keeping the tradition that has be in place for a very long time, yes.
No one is forcing them to attend a Good Friday Service.
If the Congress members who go home at night and on weekends can't find a place to worship, I don't want them spending my money so they can do it at work.
writing a simple 3-paragragh essay
I understand that you need simplicity and probably sympathy. You need small paragraphs for your A.D.D.
I meant exactly what I typed.
And "crazy talk"? I like how C. S. Lewis put it (my thanks to aruanan for the quote--it seems fitting here):
"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either he was and is the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."While we obviously disagree, I support your right to call whomever you wish "stupid" or "bigot." Thank God we still have the freedom to think and speak as we wish.
Unless we want to eliminate the right of gov't employees to freely express their religion (and Graham is not an employee, just an invited guest) and/or put restrictions on what they can say on their own time regarding religion, or outlaw religious criticism altogether, I don't see how it is fair to single out Graham for his beliefs and expressions by deeming him "unqualified" to lead a service for a Christian holiday just because he thinks Islam is wrong and Muslims are mad about it.
Religion, by its very nature, is not an "all of the above" practice (nor is any deeply held conviction on any issue). You can't claim freedom of religion exists while not allowing people to disbelieve other religions (and freely say so).
Let me point out that Bush also held a Ramadan service (I think it was) and Christians didn't get to pick the attendees.
Matt.10
[34] Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
[35] For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
[36] And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
O ye of little faith:
Matt.21
[21] Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
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