"Out of many, one." This country stands for many things but the most spectacular truth about this country is the fact that the founding fathers has the foresight and wisdom to establish certain 'rules of the road' for how a free nation would evolve. The separation of church and state allow for freedom of religion and our individual faiths should be allowed that freedom. Otherwise, we become our own sanctimonious version of a theocracy where our God is better than your God, which isn't what God is about at all.
Most major religions of the world and many minor pre-monotheism spiritual systems support the notion of a beneficent power {although Yahweh was excessively pissed off all the time at us--that was our adolescence, perhaps it was justified], of compassion, forgiveness, of broader considerations that pushing our church on society as the way to redeem her awful, misbehaving ways.
There is another agenda, always. Unfortunately, but true: and that has to do with the dirty side of life--namely, politics--and the potentially more uplifting, for the greater good concept that is behind a belief in a creator who loves us, forgives us, wants us to love one another.
The argument that marrying the Bible to our political will can save the nation from its sins has more to do with Republicans and the Evangelical influence [which was duly noted under GWB's reign] on their sheep, who vote with their judgement in tact [never mind the line, "judge not lest you be judged." It's okay to judge the bad people as long as you give to this campaign fund that is making America safe again...]
--Pierre Omidyar
Separation of Mosque and State
Huffington Post, October 17, 2010
And so I am not sure why we need to change the constitution. I am not sure why these kinds of things are our priorities when the country is in a very insecure place right now. The other 'headline' that got my eye had to do with rising poverty rates among the majority of Americans, except the wealthiest top %.
Shouldn't we be putting our energy into rebuilding our country so people have jobs and can support their families rather than pushing for our religious views into government. Spend more time praying, or as Stevie Wonder sings, "Have a talk with God" rather than officially attaching his logo to the United States' seal.
Faith is personal. Despite our American-centric view of the world, there are other faiths and religions elsewhere on the planet. How would we feel there, those who are Christians, if our beliefs, in the one country that came up with freedom as a guiding principle -- that is highly evolved for a bunch of guys in powdered wigs and the people who invented the Kentucky rifle. The fact that they even thought about the freedom of religion should be honored and upheld.
Most major religions of the world and many minor pre-monotheism spiritual systems support the notion of a beneficent power {although Yahweh was excessively pissed off all the time at us--that was our adolescence, perhaps it was justified], of compassion, forgiveness, of broader considerations that pushing our church on society as the way to redeem her awful, misbehaving ways.
There is another agenda, always. Unfortunately, but true: and that has to do with the dirty side of life--namely, politics--and the potentially more uplifting, for the greater good concept that is behind a belief in a creator who loves us, forgives us, wants us to love one another.
The argument that marrying the Bible to our political will can save the nation from its sins has more to do with Republicans and the Evangelical influence [which was duly noted under GWB's reign] on their sheep, who vote with their judgement in tact [never mind the line, "judge not lest you be judged." It's okay to judge the bad people as long as you give to this campaign fund that is making America safe again...]
This important principle derives from the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, which reads, in its striking simplicity and brevity:
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 United States Constitution and its Bill of Rights is in many ways an extraordinary document, and a reading of its First Amendment brings that to life.
--Pierre Omidyar
Separation of Mosque and State
Huffington Post, October 17, 2010
And so I am not sure why we need to change the constitution. I am not sure why these kinds of things are our priorities when the country is in a very insecure place right now. The other 'headline' that got my eye had to do with rising poverty rates among the majority of Americans, except the wealthiest top %.
Shouldn't we be putting our energy into rebuilding our country so people have jobs and can support their families rather than pushing for our religious views into government. Spend more time praying, or as Stevie Wonder sings, "Have a talk with God" rather than officially attaching his logo to the United States' seal.
Faith is personal. Despite our American-centric view of the world, there are other faiths and religions elsewhere on the planet. How would we feel there, those who are Christians, if our beliefs, in the one country that came up with freedom as a guiding principle -- that is highly evolved for a bunch of guys in powdered wigs and the people who invented the Kentucky rifle. The fact that they even thought about the freedom of religion should be honored and upheld.
The phrase "shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" is referred to as the Establishment Clause, and is the basis for the principle of separation of church/temple/mosque and state. Combined with the phrase "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," known as the Free Exercise Clause, this short sentence is what guarantees Americans of all faiths (or no faith) the freedom to worship (or not) as they like, and freedom from the oppression of a state-sponsored religion.
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