That said, I also believe that our forefathers founded this country as "One Nation, UNDER God" It is written into our "Pledge of Allegiance"
Bodhi
Confusing the Pledge of Allegiance with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights (let me guess, you haven’t read either?) is a great way to start the discussion. In the next environmental debate I think I’ll pull out “America the Beautiful” as a source.
Where are these same lawyers when I see that imbecile with 60 piercings hanging out of his/her face, and Tee Shirt blaring to the world "I hate God", or "***** the World"... those things offend me, how come they aren't removed from my sight? Why, because I am able to turn a blind eye to those actions, behaviors, and opinions.
When another American burns a flag, it turns my stomach, but I am not allowed to stop it... why, because it is their right to expression. SO I am forced to turn a blind eye.
Bodhi
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems like if you weren’t “forced” to turn a blind eye you would be more than happy to see their freedom of expression eradicated. It’s a good thing we live in America with its many freedoms. And be thankful that you live in a country where others are forced to respect your rights, since we too have to turn a blind eye to disagreeable expression.
It shows the children that not only will we turn a blind eye to God, and not defend him, but it shows we will back the denial of his existence.
Bodhi
As opposed to showing children that the Christian god is the one true god, and you had better get used to it?
As for the 20% that do not acknowledge the Old Testament, learn to look away, and leave it that. Because I for one, am tired of having to conform to a minorities petty antics aimed at governing how I live my life. Enough is Enough. It is time for those that believe in what I have said to stand up for what they believe in and take this country back from those that are ripping it apart.
Bodhi
Did you write this yourself Bodhi, or did you pull it from one of Herr Goebbels speeches? The tone, and even the language sound the same. You keep some good company with the majority rules arguments found in the Former Soviet Union, Communist China, Nazi Germany, Iran, the Taliban... Not to suggest that you would support some kind of Final Solution for these undesirable elements, but would marginalization, scorn and discrimination be too far off?
strange how these same ppl categorize anyone who believes in God a "religious, right wing nutcase, Pat Robertson clone"…
I would want the judge removed if he did not believe in a Higher Power than himself
Eagler
No comment needed
Why is it that the people in the gay thread preaching about tolerance and acceptance are the same people in this thread preaching about intolerance for somethign else? Are you only tolerant of behavior that you dont see a problem with? Being tolerant of something suggests that whatever you are tolerant of is something you disagree with. I disagree with homosexuality, but Im tolerant of it. I dont go knocking down doors of the local gay population and try and catch them pushing their **** in. I let them do what they like - Im tolerant.
Saurdaukar
I have worked with a homosexual, for a Jehovah’s Witness and had an evangelical working for me. The only one of the three that didn’t try to “convert” me was the homosexual. For a true believer, in the old school evangelical sense,
prostelizing is a key tenant of the faith. Those who support the Judge are being, at the very least, dishonest in not acknowledging this basic fact. His comments make it clear that his intention is along those lines. So why not come out in the open and say, “Is there anything wrong with helping people find the one true path?” instead of trying to dance around the issue. As for my personal tolerance, I had no problem allowing the evangelical keep her “is this a choice” photo of a fetus on her cubical. However, I did have a problem with her leaving
Bible Tracts on my chair.
our laws are a by product of the ten commandments - sorry - that is history
Eagler
As I believe MT pointed out in the other thread, only about two of them are – stealing and murder. I don’t think it took the 10 Commandments to determine that those are not acceptable behaviors. Perhaps he should put a stature with Liviticus in the courtroom?
For Apache and Ra, some counter positions from our founding fathers. Many were in fact masons, which believe in good deeds and spirituality, but not really in organized religion. In fact, evangelicals have a problem with Masons "Is Masonry a religion? Former Mason, William Schnoebelen, author of Masonry, Beyond the Light, quotes from two high-level masons, Albert Pike and Albert Mackey. Pike states: "Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion and its teachings are instructions in religion." Mackey removes all doubt for the Bible believer: "The religion of Masonry is not Christianity."
In a sermon of October 1831, Episcopalian minister Bird Wilson said, "Among all of our Presidents, from Washington downward, not one was a professor of religion, at least not of more than Unitarianism."
Thomas Jefferson:
"I have examined all the known superstitions of the word, and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology. Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the earth."
John Adams:
"The doctrine of the divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity."
Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli. Article 11 states:
"The Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion."
Thomas Paine:
"I would not dare to so dishonor my Creator God by attaching His name to that book (the Bible)."
"Among the most detestable villains in history, you could not find one worse than Moses. Here is an order, attributed to 'God' to butcher the boys, to massacre the mothers and to debauch and rape the daughters. I would not dare so dishonor my Creator's name by (attaching) it to this filthy book (the Bible)."
James Madison:
"What influence in fact have Christian ecclesiastical establishments had on civil society? In many instances they have been upholding the thrones of political tyranny. In no instance have they been seen as the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty have found in the clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate liberty, does not need the clergy."
Madison objected to state-supported chaplains in Congress and to the exemption of churches from taxation. He wrote:
"Religion and government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together."
Charon
