Separation of Church and State

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: shield772 America while not a pure democracy is a democratic government, that means the government is what the majority of the people want, and I am sorry to tell you that 90% is a bigger number than 10%. "Democracy is 2 wolves and a sheep discussing whats for dinner, you will never see wolf on the menu" Benjamin Franklin (before anyone has a kanipshin this a paraphrase I may not be using his exact words)

lol, dear. Read the constitution before you embarrass yourself again! Here, I'll make it easy for you. I really do want to help.

The First Amendment of the Constitution states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...

[shield772]

So we should teach it in History?

[shield772]

Quote by: Lullaby Chainer lol, dear. Read the constitution before you embarrass yourself again! Here, I'll make it easy for you. I really do want to help. The First Amendment of the Constitution states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...

Exactly, meaning that the only restriction on religion in government is congress. it says what it means

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: TehNinja so, that how the world came into existance shouldn't be taught in science?

Nope.

Quote by: TehNinja That creation isn't a theory?

Nope. Theories aren't infalliable.

Quote by: TehNinja That the ONLY thing that should be taught is what you belive to be true?

Haha, cute.

[shield772]

Quote by: Lullaby Chainer lol, dear. Read the constitution before you embarrass yourself again! Here, I'll make it easy for you. I really do want to help. The First Amendment of the Constitution states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...

And i would appreciate it if you would not call me dear, you don't know me and it's condecending and offends me, ty

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: shield772 Exactly, meaning that the only restriction on religion in government is congress. it says what it means

A class in US Government will help you understand.

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: shield772 So we should teach it in History?

Nope. Mythology or philosophy.

[shield772]

well I don't accept evolution as a science so I don't think it should be taught and neither does 90% of the american adult population so why is it taught?

[Aeris]

Quote by: Lullaby Chainer Nope. Mythology or philosophy.

You know, that's a good idea. Never thought about it, but it fits.

Nice.

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: shield772 well I don't accept evolution as a science so I don't think it should be taught and neither does 90% of the american adult population so why is it taught?

This isn't about what you or I believe. It's about WHAT science is and WHAT science isn't.

[Right of Center]

90% of Americans are christian okay. 10% are not fine. Does God offend? Is saying that the US is somehow close to God is offensive? Why does something that atheists do not believe offend them so much. I don't believe in Santa Claus but seeing pictures of him on everything during the winter season doesn't offend me. Personally I don't care if they take it off dollars and our pledge or not. I think it represents us accurately as a culture and reflects the ideals and beliefs that our government was founded on. I don't find it offensive but quite interesting and insightful to the roots of American culture.

[Jack]

Why does something that atheists do not believe offend them so much.

In spite of such generalizations, many of us are not militant about it. We would like to see America respect its Constitution by maintaining a seperation of church and state, and we'd like to see our money and other national emblems free of religious platitudes, but we're not marching in the streets to change things. I figure this extreme religious nationalism will run its course shortly and then we may be able to think clearer and respect the ideals of our nation.

[shield772]

Quote by: Lullaby Chainer This isn't about what you or I believe. It's about WHAT science is and WHAT science isn't.

who makes these decisions, who defines science, is a unprovable theory science?

[Right of Center]

Quote by: Isherwood I figure this extreme religious nationalism will run its course shortly and then we may be able to think clearer and respect the ideals of our nation.

I'm sorry. I didn't realize you didn't know about the specific ideals America was set upon. You see look at anyone of the original 13 colonies constitution. You will find references to God and christian ideals. Many of our laws come from Christian ideals. We live in a country vested in and surrounded by Judeo-Christian tradition. It is the Judeo-Christian tradition that basically created your current sense of right and/or wrong. Whether you like it or not America was founded Christian and still is Christian. I also believe that placing God on our currency and official declarations represents our culture and beliefs and that while removing them might not make a difference, cheapens the values that America was founded on and shakes the unshakeable foundation from which it stands.

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: shield772 who makes these decisions, who defines science, is a unprovable theory science?

These decisions were probably founded a very long time ago.. Regardless, they are universally accepted by the scientific and educated community and it shows no sympathy for those who feel the need to break rules just to inject their beliefs past the clearly written words of the US Constitution.

If you want to change the definition of science, then go ahead. I can't stop you.. though I may laugh a bit.

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: Right of Center I'm sorry. I didn't realize you didn't know about the specific ideals America was set upon. You see look at anyone of the original 13 colonies constitution. You will find references to God and christian ideals. Many of our laws come from Christian ideals. We live in a country vested in and surrounded by Judeo-Christian tradition. It is the Judeo-Christian tradition that basically created your current sense of right and/or wrong. Whether you like it or not America was founded Christian and still is Christian. I also believe that placing God on our currency and official declarations represents our culture and beliefs and that while removing them might not make a difference, cheapens the values that America was founded on and shakes the unshakeable foundation from which it stands.

I'm sorry, dear. You are deeply wrong.

According to the popular argument, if the document, which founded the United States, is Christian in nature, the government itself must also be Christian in nature. Therefor, Christians have the right to inject their doctrine in the United States government. This argument seems reasonable, logical, and sound, but it is highly doubtful that the Constitution embodies Christian doctrine for a number of reasons. Firstly, there is no statement in the Constitution that singles out Christianity over any other religion. The laws described in the Constitution fit the description of many religious doctrines. There is no reason to assume Christian doctrine is more suitable to match the descriptions of the Constitution than other religions. If one were to examine Christian doctrine from the present to as far back as the Old Testament, one may conclude that Christianity is actually an inferior candidate in matching the description of the Constitution in comparison to other belief systems such as Buddhism. The Ten Commandments is also not embodied in the Constitution in any meaningful way. In fact, the first two commandments are in contradiction to the Constitution’s protection of religious freedom. At the time the document was written, many writers criticized the Constitution for showing a disregard and indifference towards religion. It may seem odd that the Constitution is so secular, given the time it was written, unless you uncover the facts about the founding fathers that wrote the document. Many may have you to believe that the founding fathers of the United States were Christians and therefor the United States is a Christian nation. This is deeply flawed, perhaps even a lie depending on the will of those who spread this pseudo-historical nonsense. Most of the United States’ founding fathers were deists or Unitarians, meaning, they believed in some form of impersonal god but rejected Christianity’s personal god and the divinity of Jesus Christ. To state that the founding fathers of the United States were Christians is both untrue and pointless. The religious or non-religious background of the United States’ founding fathers should not effect what they intended the United States to be; a religiously blind nation. James Madison, in his 1785 document “A Memorial and Remonstrance”, spoke these words:

What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate it, needs them not.

John Adams, in a letter to Thomas Jefferson, states: “I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved -- the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!” In 1813, Thomas Jefferson states: “History I believe furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance, of which their political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purpose.” These quotations of a few important founding fathers of the United States show their evident intentions. This clearly contradicts the misconception that the United States was intended to be a Christian nation. Perhaps a leading contributor to this misconception is the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. In the original pledge, God was never mentioned:

Pledge allegiance to my Flag,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.

An openly Christian group called the Knights of Columbus later added the phrase “under God” to the pledge. Due to the nature and time of this addition, it has no place in an argument claiming the United States is a Christian nation.

[Lullaby Chainer]

The First Amendment of the Constitution states:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

[Chris]

I passed a sign the other day saying "Hey ACLU! We are one nation UNDER GOD!"

And those ignorant asshats who made the sign probably didnt consider that the part "under god" was inserted into the "pledge" in the 1950's - and the "pledge" isn't really indicative of our status asbeing either secular or theocratic. Read the constitution you numbnutz! -what I want to tell them.

To answer the questions:

Is the USA a Christian nation?
No, but the religious right want it to be.

Was it intended to be?
absolutely not

Should it be?
no

Should “God” be mentioned in the pledge of allegiance?
doesn't really matter but no

Should “God” be printed on US currency?
no

Is separation of church and state being practiced to an acceptable degree?
Somewhat, you get people like Katherine Harris saying stuff like "God chooses our leaders"

Do you agree with separation of church and state?
Yes

Should the “Intelligent Design” theory be taught in public schools along side evolution?
No, cause there is a seperation of church and state, Evolution is not a religion. Intelligent design is not a science. If you want your kids to learn ID send them to a christian school.

[Jack]

Whether you like it or not America was founded Christian and still is Christian.

If you consider America a theocracy, what differentiates it from Iran?
Are you in favor of doing away with religious freedom in this country?

[TehNinja]

Quote by: Isherwood Are you in favor of doing away with religious freedom in this country?

he didn't say that! it was founded based on the principles of Christianity.