Alabama SC justices cave, order Ten Commandments removed

AP on Fox News ^ | 8-21-03 | AP on Fox News website

[rwfromkansas]

MONTGOMERY, Ala.

[lugsoul]

Excellent.

[MineralMan]

"And who would decifer that?"

Decipher what? What part of doing what you want as long as it harms nobody don't you understand? But, I'll expand a little.

Suppose you feel like doing something...say, going to the mall to buy a new pair of shoes. For a Wiccan, that would mean analyzing the effects on others of buying those shoes. Most likely, it would be just fine. However, suppose you had a sick child at home who needed a refill of a prescription. Maybe the money you spent on shoes would be the money you might have used for the prescription. So, in that case, it would be wrong to buy the shoes, since spending that money would hurt your child.

It's pretty simple, really. If you examined every action you took, and thought about the consequences of that action, then did not take the action if anyone would be harmed by your action, you'd be living a pretty good life.

That's the Wiccan's commandment. It's the only one they need. Sadly, as with the Ten Commandments, not everyone follows even that one all the time. Just as Christians steal, lie, commit adultery, and do all that other stuff they're not supposed to do, Wiccans sometimes forget to check for harm from their actions.

So there it is. Does that make it any clearer for you?

[inquest]

And he is pushing the view that they are not protected by the Constitution.

I'm just not seeing that from what you posted.

Now, since you seem to think that "religion" means something different when modified by the word "establishment" than otherwise, please explain how - why are these faiths not "religions" when modified by the word "establishment?"

"Religion" was defined by Madison (and I'm paraphrasing) as a mode of worship. Modes of worship are associated with religious sects. Hence, when the Constitution speaks of an "establishment of religion", it's referring to an establishment (that is, investment with governmental office) of an organization oriented around a particular mode of worship. Buddhism is not an organization. Hinduism is not an organization. But they are faiths whose followers exercise various modes of worship, and so these followers are protected by the free-exercise clause in their worship.

[HurkinMcGurkin]

Very well written. Couldn't agree more.

[MineralMan]

Very well said! #600

[wardaddy]

bump..

[Da Mav]

Perhaps you were not aware that the Alabama Supreme Court was made up of jihadist athiests who worship Marx?

Like someone said, who needs the Onion when conservatives act like this? Is following the law of the land as interpreted by the courts now considered passe? Not in this conservative's mind.

[lugsoul]

So, does that mean the answer to my question is "yes, 'religion' means different things in the Establishment Clause and in the Free Exercise Clause"?

[whattajoke]

are you allowed to write "Go-?" or even, "-od?" "doG?" What happens to me when I write, "God?" or, God forbid, "god?" All these semantic rules, I swear to god!

[wardaddy]

I know...one of them is my friend. I cannot allow politics to eclipse that.

But, he knows I disagree with his (at times) sorry ass...lol

[missyme]

If the actions for the Wiccans did not come from the G-D of Man and Israel's inspirations it has no validity

[Happy2BMe]

Check to see if you can post some Wiccan stuff at your local county's courtroom and get back with us.

[BearCub]

I love how you support this kind of thing when it's your religion (and mine) that is being promoted by the government. I doubt you would show the same support for a section of the Koran or another religion's scripture on display at a public building.

Before you go on about how "this country was founded on Christian this-or-that" remember that the founding fathers didn't once mention God in the Constitution. They did this for a reason.

Government should be religion NEUTRAL. This is not an un-Christian idea. Think about the consequences of allowing otherwise - what happens when Muslims or Hindus are in power one day? Is that statue of Mohommed gonna be okay just because the majority wants it there? If you're not Catholic, how 'bout a statue of Mary? Is that okay? With the precedent you want to set today, it would be perfectly possible for this to happen in the future.

The judge is more than welcome to hang the Commandments in his chambers or on his desk or anywhere else within his sole control. But they do not belong on display at a public building.

Your position is typical liberal crap.

[Happy2BMe]

"So, does that mean the answer to my question is "yes, 'religion' means different things in the Establishment Clause and in the Free Exercise Clause?"

Islam is a religion. It teaches infidels who do not convert to it shall be killed.

Does that mean anything to you?

[missyme]

G-D written like that is respectful to his divine and his authority.

Like respect when you address Mr Smith and Mrs Smith.

[missyme]

Thanks fr writing that lugosol has been picking on me

[commonerX]

I would think that no organized religious statue could be place at a courthouse. But to just say "Harm No-one" may not be seen as belonging to any single religion.

[MineralMan]

"If the actions for the Wiccans did not come from the G-D of Man and Israel's inspirations it has no validity"

I see. So the nice Wiccan lady can't buy any shoes at all, then?

By the way, you didn't get back to me on that question about why you chose 1970 as the cutoff date for "good" immigration. Was that when your father immigrated?

Well, my newest ancestors immigrated in 1887, from Scotland. So, I feel like nobody should be allowed in who immigrated after that. That means you and your dad have to leave now. How silly, right? Well, your statement is just as silly.

[inquest]

I have no wish to see the Constitution perverted by giving someone else the precedent to declare that Sharia is the moral foundation of the law, or Ba'al, or whatever.

My, my, my, you wouldn't be indulging in hypotheticals, now would you? And rather fantastic* hypotheticals at that.

*And I don't mean in the sense of "awesome".

[Happy2BMe]

"Your (Missyme's) position is typical liberal crap."

What liberals do you know of who want to see the Ten Commandments remain posted in public places?

What planet are you from?