Tuesday, May 27, 2008

seperation of church and state

This post is a response to...

Ida said...
I just stopped by to ask you to check amendment 1 in the US Constitution. Thomas Jefferson's "Wall of Separation" letter inspired the "separation of church and state" mentioned in that clause. Because of that amendement, the government is no longer allowed to push one religion on America--freedom of religion, I am sure you have heard of it? Why then do you think other religions and those who don't practice religion, get such a hard time in the US? Everyone assumes we were built on a Christian nation, when in fact we were not--this is just something that has happened over the years.

Cheerio!


"Article the third [Amendment 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."

The modern definition of "seperation of church and state" is not what the framers of the constitution had in mind when they wrote the first ammendment. They were expressly stating that there would be no state religion and further that the state has no right to prohibit the free exercise of any religion. modern examples of what this ammendment is writing against are Iran(shia islam), Saudi Arabia(Sunni Islam), pre-civil war lebanon(mariaonite christian), and U.S.S.R.(athiesm). these governments sponsored thier own brand of religion and prohibited any other form. This move to make all religions private affairs of the individuals and to prohibit any public display of religion is unconstitutional since most religions, with the exception of athiesm, demand an application into all areas of life, both public and private.

Furthermore, the level of religious intolerance in this country is incomprehensible. Most of the people who are advocating removal of religious symbols and practices from all public spheres are athiests. Why so intolerant of other peoples beliefs? If you athiests are correct than there is no point in quibbling over petty things like this. Eat, drink, and be merry for soon you shall be dead and the memory of you shall pass from this earth like a breath of wind. From ashes you came and to ash you will return. Find what happiness you can in the short time you have on this earth. Stop trying to force everyone else conform to your views regarding privatization of religion. It is unconstitutional and intollerant.

2 comments:

Rob R said...

Eat, drink, and be merry for soon you shall be dead and the memory of you shall pass from this earth like a breath of wind. From ashes you came and to ash you will return.

ha Ha! zing!

Barb said...

Ida --are you coming back?

I think you make a good point, CA --that an awful lot of energy is spent in the USA by atheists trying to expunge the evidence of Christian influence on our history. E.G. the war memorial crosses for the majority who died who were probably Christian (at least nominally so.) --and the hostility toward The Ten Commandments --in order to make sure the gov't isn't entangled with the Judeo-Christian religion today by removing all reminders of the entanglement or influence of Chrsitianity in our heritage.

the crosses were a comfort --a symbol of eternal life to come because of Jesus.

You are so right that life for the atheist is so temporary in his mind --that he should just enjoy life. The vestiges of our faith aren't hurting anyone --and it's just a shame that we aren't as Christian as we once were as a nation--or maybe we never were --but those who made the monuments, etc., knew we should be.