Posted on 09/14/2001 8:31:13 AM PDT by careyb
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P.O. Box 750, MADISON, WI 53701 Contact: Annie Laurie Gaylor Statement on September 11 TerrorismActs of Terrorism the Ultimate "Faith-Based Initiative"?September 13, 2001 This statement was released by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Madison, Wis.-based national association of freethinkers (atheists and agnostics) working to protect the constitutional separation of church and state since 1978. Representing our national membership of freethinkers, as well as the 18.5% of U.S. citizens who are not religious, we join in the national mourning over the events on September 11, a horrible and senseless human tragedy. However, Bush's proclamation of Friday, September 14 as a "National Day of Prayer and Remembrance" shows the pitfalls of the "God is on our side" mentality, and the dangers of religious patriotism. While it may be natural for religious persons to turn to religion or prayer for solace, it is not the role of the President of the United States, or his spokespersons, to urge citizens to pray, to go to church, to turn to faith, or to observe a National Day of Prayer with worship. In fact, it appears that the terrorist disasters of September 11 may well have been the ultimate "faith-based initiative." These terrorists apparently expected to find a reward "in heaven" and were bent on starting a "holy war" with our nation. Our country should not fall into the trap of religious terrorists: Holy wars don't have solutions, they just have body counts. Religion is not the answer, it is probably the problem. As Pascal put it: "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." Prayer had its chance on September 11, and it failed. Imagine the unanswered prayers of hundreds or thousands of the victims of these terrorists. Official prayer will not solve any problems. We believe it is appropriate for President Bush to call for a Day of Remembrance, but leave prayer up to individuals. Civil War Col. Robert G. Ingersoll reminds us: "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." The nonreligious are among the victims and their families, and are represented in the ranks of the heroes, the firefighters and police officers risking or giving their lives to save others. It is offensive that the President of all Americans disregards the convictions, even the existence, of the more than 10% of the population that is not religious. The "God is on our side" mentality was responsible for these tragic acts of terrorism. We must not compound the dangers by a "One Nation Under God" response. # # For media members:
For others:
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I am trying to fix this font but no luck. Drives me nutz</font face=times new roman> people think their comment is so damned important they won't take time to preview their message.
Me, too, Sally. I've been watching and listening every minute of my waking hours to broadcasts ever since the attack. I've gotten a little teary eyed now and then, but began crying hard while listening to hymns being sung at the service and looking at photo stills on this website.
<http://www.dfuse.net/wtc/> I understand, fully, how you feel today.
at 5:40 est, foxnews showed the changing of the guard in england.
their band played the star spangled banner. i rose and removed
my hat, placed my hand over my heart. my 8 year old daughter
came down the stairs, looked at me, and quietly took my left hand
and stood beside me. um, daddies arent supposed to cry, huh?
anyway, The rest of us need to shun him/her. Turn our backs to him/her and keep praying. They cannot be a part of society now if they refuse to let humans be what they are: Spirit filled.
I think you are absolutely correct. Because they are doing exactly what you that.
I would suggest that these people symbolize what is wrong in America today.
Nothing says those who do not want pray have to pray. By the same token, nothing says President Bush can't ask people to pray. Mr. Bush didn't give up his right to free speech when he got elected.
You can ask me to give you a million dollars and I can say no. President Bush can ask people to stand on their heads. People are free to do it or not.
The constitution bars the president from ordering anyone to pray. It does not bar him from asking, any more than it bars me or you from asking.
I wonder if Sir Thomas Gates (the author of that obscure writing) realized that 390 years after his failure, that his law (not Biblically based BTW) would become a rallying point for atheists/agnostics. Well, he's answered for that.
Nonetheless, review The Virginia Records Timeline and give me a break. The Salem Witch hunts (also wrong) resulted in the deaths of 13 people before it was stopped (as it should have been). The pagans today would make you think it was the first holocaust.
These things happened long before the Revolution, I imagine there were many people trying to do the right things the wrong way. The mindset had changed much in the 165 years between 1611 to 1776; not unlike what has transpired since 1836 to present.
I must say society in the last 165 years is a curious paradox of progress and philistinism; thank you for expanding my knowledge of the minutia of historical facts. The next 165 years will be interesting.
Why do you care what our President says?
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