Federal Judge Makes It Official -- America Now an Atheist Nation

American Family Association ^ | Sep 5, 203 | Don Wildmon

[xzins]

Federal Judge Makes It Official -- America Now an Atheist Nation

The issue isn't a granite stone with the Ten Commandments inscribed on it. Never has been. The issue is much more diverse and important than a piece of stone.

The issue was best stated by none other than Federal Judge Myron Thompson, who said that the display of the stone containing the Ten Commandments (which also contains a host of other historical documents) is illegal. Thompson said the central, most important issue was this: "Can the state acknowledge God?"

After asking the question, he went on to answer it. "No."

That is the issue. Lest we fail to understand what has occurred here, let me explain. A single, lower-court federal judge has bluntly told every American that America is now officially an atheist nation.

In one swift stroke of the pen, Judge Thompson tossed out over 225 years of American history and law. In one swift stroke of the pen, he has instituted a new form of law based on what he wants it to be. Rex has become lex. He wears a black robe and he says he is the law.

Go back and read the First Amendment, the one Judge Thompson destroyed in the name of preserving it. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion," the First Amendment says. Congress has passed no law establishing religion. But what Congress refused to do, indeed because Congress refused to do it, Judge Thompson did. He instituted as the law of the land the religion of atheism, which says there is no God.

Not only did Judge Thompson usurp the power of Congress, he also took away the rights of every individual and state. The second half of the establishment clause of the First Amendment reads: "... or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

This is precisely what one lower federal judge has done. He told Americans who disagree with his official state religion of atheism that he can and will prohibit the free exercise of their religion -- unless, of course, that religion is atheism. He stripped both Congress and the people of their rights. He set himself above the law because he considers himself to be the law.

From this day forward, our entire judicial system must be based on the religion of atheism. Follow that to its logical conclusion. In the future there will be no frame of reference from which to decide law. Law will become what any person wearing a black robe and sitting in court desires it to be. The First Amendment has been ripped apart in the name of upholding it. Orwell's 1984 has arrived.

No, you will not notice any drastic changes immediately. There is still a remnant left in the hearts and minds of the current citizenry. But when that remnant dies out, those who come after us will see a big difference.

The state will become intolerant of any religion other than atheism. That, of course, will come into conflict with people of conscience whose religion differs from that of the state. That is when the persecution, quite legal I might add, will start. It was the atheist Santayana who said: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, wrote: "The Constitution is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please."

Indeed, Santayana and Jefferson were right.

[xzins]

ping

[ImphClinton]

Well stated.

God will not stand idle as America falls.

He established his nation and blessed it. Now he will withhold all blessings till this wrong is righted.

[Matchett-PI]

"Now he [God] will withhold all blessings till this wrong is righted"

Kind of reminds me of the intemperate language used by the TBN /CBN "preachers".

Let's see..... what was it that Pat Robertson prophesied would happen to Disney World in Florida a few years back if they allowed "gay days' to take place as planned?

Oh yeah! He said that God would bring that hurricane straight up the west coast, across the middle of the state, and wipe out Disney World if they allowed the gays to hold their annual "gay days" celebration in the park.

Instead, the hurricane went up the east coast eventually making land-fall in New Jersey.

This prompted Rush Limbaugh to say wryly, "God must have been madder at New Jersey than he was at Disney". Hahahaha

[Happy2BMe]

"Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, wrote: "The Constitution is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please."

=============================================================================================

"The question is or at least ought to be, how can such a small, godless, minority have such influence over our courts and legislative processes?"

Answer:

U.S. Supreme Court, 2003 - The Oligarchy*

Back Row (left to right): Ginsburg, Souter, Thomas, Breyer
Front Row (left to right): Scalia, Stevens, Rehnquist, O'Connor, Kennedy

ol·i·gar·chy
Pronunciation: 'ä-l&-"gär-kE, 'O-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -chies
Date: 1542
1 : government by the few
2 : a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes; also : a group exercising such control
3 : an organization under oligarchic control

[xzins]

Robertson was a bit overboard.

However, we're told that God establishes nations to include their exact times and locations. One would think He could be more or less pleased with any one of them.

And cause some to rise and fall, or stand by and watch as some take directions that 'cause them to rise or fall all by themselves .

[ArGee]

That is the issue. Lest we fail to understand what has occurred here, let me explain. A single, lower-court federal judge has bluntly told every American that America is now officially an atheist nation.

I'm sorry to disagree, but what I think Judge Thompson has done is make it an officially agnostic nation. That said, I think it was still a step too far.

There is a lot of complexity in this situation, starting from the point of Judge Moore arranging to have the monument paid for and installed without going through any legislative channels. After all, it's not as if the rotunda is his private property. This action removes any "states rights" issues and brings up the appropriate treatment of public property problems.

Additional complexity is added by the fact that the memorial is to the foundation of our laws, with the Ten Commandments having a prominant place in the monument. That's different than a monument to the Ten Commandments itself. The issue is clearly not one of religion but of the source of law.

Unfortunately, the complexities make the situation too ambiguous to draw any lasting culture war conclusions - although it should create a lot of valuable culture war discussions.

Now, if the Alabama State Legislature were to adopt a resolution to return the monument to the rotunda, that would remove an important ambiguity. If Judge Thompson then ordered its removal, I would say a clear violation of the Constitution had occurred, both in the abrogation of states rights and in the establishment of a religious position that G-d may not be mentioned even within a valid historical context.

Shalom.

[R. Scott]

Federal Judge Makes It Official -- America Now an Atheist Nation

This should read, “America is now a Nation that does not discriminate in favor of one religion.”

[ArGee]

However, we're told that God establishes nations to include their exact times and locations. One would think He could be more or less pleased with any one of them.

We are also told that He will bless whom He will, and curse whom He will. He may bless a nation with which He is not pleased (such as Babylon) so that nation will be used as a weapon against a nation which He wishes to discipline (such as Israel). The situation is far too complex to make up magic formulae over (i.e. "We will continue to be strong as long as we bless Israel.").

IMHO: If G-d were going to judge anybody for the U.S. descent into the pit of moral relativism (read "immorality") it would be the Church, every single last denomination, not the government. With some magnificent exceptions, the Church has consistently failed to:

• Shine the light into the darkness.
• Study to show itself approved.
• Engage the culture where the culture stands from a moral high ground.
• Take up her cross daily for the sake of the unsaved.

Instead, she has preferred intra-denominational squabbling and modifying the Gospel to suit social norms in an attempt to gain market-share in the pews.

If you want G-d to save America (with apologies to FReeper John O.), pray that He will restore the Church. Shalom.

[LiteKeeper]

INTSUM

[Matchett-PI]

Other issues aside, stick with the subject. Do you agree with this statement:

"Now he [God] will withhold all blessings till this wrong is righted"

[First Amendment]

As usual, you have a way of putting it clearly and succintly. I would be a bit harder though - I think that Judge Thompson is really giving every person of faith a slap in the face with this decision. People may or may not personally "like" Judge Moore, or trust his motives. Until hearing him and perhaps talking with him, it's hard to know his motives. Some here claim he is sectarian, and he may well be.
My viewpoint is that this decision is a strong attack on the public expression of religion, as well as an attack on states' rights, and that hurts everyone. If the federal government has an official bias against God, (which we all know it does) and presses that bias more and more into that which ought to be under the jurisdiciton of the states, (this just furthers the reach of that bias) this bodes very ill for the future.

[xzins]

officially agnostic

Atheist = No God
Theist= God
Agnostic= No Knowledge (on the theist question)

An atheist would advocate an empty room.
A theist would advocate a room decorated with God
An agnostic room would demonstrate open discussion

We are told that the room must be EMPTY.

That is the "atheist" position.

[xzins]

I disagree with the "ALL." Therefore, I disagree with the statement.

I would agree with the statement, "God will withhold SOME blessings."

[xzins]

There is little about your admonition to the church that I would disagree with.

However, it is nonetheless true that God views some nations more positively than others, and that He causes nations to rise and fall.

[xzins]

It discriminates in favor of atheism, a belief system that posits the non-existence of God.

To permit zero religious discussion is to support those who believe in zero religious discussion.

[lugsoul]

Surely you don't believe Wildmon's alarmist lies, do you? Have you even been to Alabama? The presence or absence of the Rock does not matter in the least as to whether Alabamians are, or are not, people of faith. It only matters as to whether Roy Moore can use religious fervor to advance his own political ambition. Moore lost his case on purpose.

[lugsoul]

"To permit zero religious discussion is to support those who believe in zero religious discussion."

Come on, xzins - at least discuss the issue honestly. There is no ruling from any court that has the effect of disallowing "religious discussion." You know that, and your hyperbole blurs the issue.

[ArGee]

That is the "atheist" position.

I think we are being told that the purpose of the room is not a theological discussion. I have no quarrel with that decision per-se. However, if the legislature (not Judge Moore acting solo) wants the monument returned as a statement about our legal origins, then I would agree with you.

Shalom.

[xzins]

Why, yes, I've been to Alabama. (Retired Army: I've seen lots of America.)

The absence of the Rock is a lessening of expression.

If the next guy in charge of the building didn't like that expression, then he could replace it with an expression of his own choice.

Free expression is one of my major reasons for supporting Moore's monument.

Another, of course, is that no religion was established.

Finally, the rock included statements from other documents of our history. This made it a display on the historical development of our law.