Amenment XXVII: A Modest Proposal

Self/Constitution ^ | 2002.06.26 | B-chan

[B-Chan]

A Modest Proposal For A New Constitutional Amendment:

Amendment XXVII

I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

II. The right of the several States to make laws regarding an establishment of religion shall not be abridged.

[B-Chan]

Thanks! The reason I posted this "modest proposal" was not as a serious call to legislative action (as we've seen here, there is little popular support for such an amendment) but rather to stir up the kind of discussion we're having here on the topic of church-state relations.

For what it's worth: I'd support legislation that acknowledged Christianity as the "fundamental basis for the laws and culture of the state of Texas" or somesuch, but the odds of such a proposal coming before the voters is nearly nil.

To the atheists: relax. No one is going to force you into a church at gunpoint. I no more intend to actually propose such an amendment than Swift intended to see folks chowing down on Irish infants. I have neither the training nor brains (nor desire) to actually create a real constitutional amendment, or any other sort of law.

Thanks to all for participating in this little thought experiment.

B-chan

[Sloth]

No one could be forced to practice it, since such coercion would violate the first section of the amendment itself, as well as other Constitutiional protections

Like the first amendment, Section I of yours specifiies Congress, not state legislatures.

[boris]

A few more suggestions:

- The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. No state shall make any law regarding the keeping and bearing of arms by the people.

- The Fourteenth Amendment is repealed.

- U.S. citizenship shall be determined as follows: if either biological parent is a citizen, the child is a citizen. If neither parent is a citizen, the child is not a citizen but can become one by the process of naturalization.

- The Seventeenth Amendment is repealed.

- The word "person"--wherever it appears in this Constitution--shall be replaced by the word "citizen".

--Boris

[dheretic]

I would laugh my ass off if Atheism became the established religion of CA, Oregon and Washington State.

[dheretic]

Sweden

You mean the Socialist hellhole which has not experienced the creation of one job since the 1950s?

Canada

The number one importer of Islamists in the Americas?

Holland

The most libertine country in the Western world?

(The People's Republic Of) Massachusetts?

South Carolina

Ah SC, the paragon of culture and industry in the South.....

[TightSqueeze]

No one could be forced to practice it, since such coercion would violate the first section of the amendment itself, as well as other Constitutiional protections.

Yeah right, that is what they said about seat belt laws, think we should trust them not to enforce this?

[TightSqueeze]

All the Moslems, Jews, Pagans, Atheists, etc who don't like it can go elsewhere.

I hope you are prepared to kill promoting this plan, because there are fine American citizens who are willing to die in defense of their liberty.

[weikel]

I don't agree could the state then decide to send all Jews to the gas chambers. I just want an amendment banning Islam everywhere.

[weikel]

Besides Im in Massachussetts the official church would be Catholic and I would rather die then give the Catholic Church any recognition or allegiance. The state( ie goverment at all levels) already take more of our property then medevil serf( we pay a slightly higher percentage on average) but I will not let them force me back into the dark ages when everything was subject to the will of the Catholic Church.

[weikel]

Your insane (except for the Muslims anyway I'd kick them out too because they are a subversive death cult). By trying to force a religious state your acting just like a Muslim btw.

[TightSqueeze]

No one is going to be thrown out or forced into a church at gunpoint.

I don't konw about anyone else, but you can make book on the fact that you, or anybody who looks like you, will never force me by gunpoint into any church, you will have to kill me, or die trying. As far as your christian nation goes I suggest the friggin' moon, take plenty of doughnuts.

[steve-b]

A state church would not necessarily entail religious persecution.

Geez, this guy could give Clinton weasel lessons.

[steve-b]

Personally, I think a few horsewhippings and banishments would be a boon to society

Yes -- starting with theocrats, especially since there are so many obvious places to which they could be banished and fit right in (e.g. Saudi Arabia).

[steve-b]

No one is proposing anything like Iran.

Really, you shouldn't let your self-image suffer so badly that you refer to yourself as "no one".

As for the Spanish Inquisition: it was well-intentioned in creation

[steve-b]

but you'd shoot somebody for trying make you go to church?

It's called "having a backbone".

[Pyro7480]

In my humble opinion, I think the Church of Scientology has a better chance of becoming a "state church" in Taxachusetts than the Catholic Church. It is true that most people identify with Catholicism there, but I doubt their leftism would allow them to let the Church run things. I'm with you, state religions are a really bad idea. Besides, Jews have been here in North America practically since European colonization, and many participated in our War for Independence on the side of the patriots. This country was established acknowledging that there is one God, so I think all Jews and Christians (and technically Muslims) are compatible with this. But we KNOW how you feel concerning Muslims... ;-)

As long as people don't try to subvert the ideas our nation was founded upon, I have no problem with them being here.

[steve-b]

It's a good thing that no one would be forced to practice any particular religion should my proposed amendment pass, isn't it?

Well, then, you are proposing an "establishment" of religion in the form of a symbolic declaration that carries no more legal weight than the designation of an official state flower, insect, fossil, etc.

It hardly seems to rise to the level of a good wrestling match.