Sometimes it's just not worth the effort
As I occasionally skim blogs and articles across the web, I come across things that really annoy me. Most of them are when people say things that are just plain wrong. With it being the Christmas season, there is always a small number of very vocal people screaming SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE! Unfortunately the issue while somewhat complex is not understood by most people. Instead of ranting on each site and wasting the effort, I'll just say my peace here.
That means the FEDERAL government cannot establish or prohibit a religion/religious exercise/speech.
Thomas Jefferson's Wall of separation letter (the basis of the terminology separation of Church and State).
The Wall was to protect the Church, not the State. Don't believe me read the letter!
What Jefferson and many today still struggle with, is what constitutes the Federal establishing a religion?
While I feel it would be inappropriate, an individual state in the USA could establish a state Church and it would not be unconstitutional (many states may prohibit it themselves, but the federal constitution does not prohibit states from doing so).
Does a public official reciting a prayer in public establish a religion? Probably not, perhaps if the President came on TV and led the nation in prayer that would--some literlists might even argue that would not be (the Legislature is the branch that is limited afterall).
If a mayor or state governor wants to say Merry Christmas, lead the public in prayer, or even conduct a Church service, there is nothing unconstitutional about it. You may not like it, that is your right, but that doesn't give you the right to squash the rights of others.
Did you know that there used to be Sunday worship services in the US Capitol building? And Jefferson was an attendee! So even Jefferson didn't feel such things established religion, so stop your jammering and have a Merry Christmas.
Amendment 1 -
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.
That means the FEDERAL government cannot establish or prohibit a religion/religious exercise/speech.
Thomas Jefferson's Wall of separation letter (the basis of the terminology separation of Church and State).
The Wall was to protect the Church, not the State. Don't believe me read the letter!
What Jefferson and many today still struggle with, is what constitutes the Federal establishing a religion?
While I feel it would be inappropriate, an individual state in the USA could establish a state Church and it would not be unconstitutional (many states may prohibit it themselves, but the federal constitution does not prohibit states from doing so).
Does a public official reciting a prayer in public establish a religion? Probably not, perhaps if the President came on TV and led the nation in prayer that would--some literlists might even argue that would not be (the Legislature is the branch that is limited afterall).
If a mayor or state governor wants to say Merry Christmas, lead the public in prayer, or even conduct a Church service, there is nothing unconstitutional about it. You may not like it, that is your right, but that doesn't give you the right to squash the rights of others.
Did you know that there used to be Sunday worship services in the US Capitol building? And Jefferson was an attendee! So even Jefferson didn't feel such things established religion, so stop your jammering and have a Merry Christmas.
The law was made to protect my children from christianizers and christofascists...the kind that are over in Iraq, raping and killing.
Posted by
catnapping |
7:19 PM
Asleep-
Read the post before commenting. If you did, then you either ignored it or did not understand it. Don't agree with me? Fine read what the founding fathers had to say and figure it out for yourself! And what does this have to do with Iraq? Are you saying the US military is evil?
Do you even understand REAL Christianity? I truly doubt it.
Posted by
Chris |
4:38 PM