Church vs. State - Where do you draw the line?

Sperrit · Chosen of Earth Gender: Joined: 16 Oct 2002

I know I'm coming in at the middle of things here, but I thought I'd put my two cents in, just because I'm me.
Now, the idea behind the seperation of church and state isn't that it's seperate. It's that the government does not promote one religion over another, nor does it keep anyone from practicing any religion or exercizing any religious beliefs. This means that it's not the Church VS the State, it's a matter of them not having much to do with one another. It's this mentality that allows the Senate to have a Christian minister open all their meetings with a prayer. It's their consitutional right to practice their religion. This also means that any other senator could bring in a minister of another religion to start with a prayer as well. This right is extended to all people. This of course, applies to the Pledge of Alegence. The idea is that no one has to take the Pledge if they don't want to because of the religious implications. However, all public schools are required to give their students the opprotunity to say the Pledge at pleast once a week as a way of preserving that right. I think that the best way to keep the constitution and the rights of citizens in the right mind is to remember that ever right is based on the idea of CHOICE. You have the freedom to choose what you do and what you are. But you must also remember that every action has a reaction and that by taking an action you must be prepared to accept the consequences. You can say whatever you want to say, do whatever you want to do, but there are consequences. That's my speil. Thank you.

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Saleb Duvat · Senior Otaku Joined: 03 Dec 2002

I find it ironic that two words can create such major issues in our country. But did you know that UNDER GOD was not originally in the Pledge of Allegiance? It was added later! How's that for ironic...

Reverend · I kin Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 21 Oct 2002

Added in 1954, during the conservative backlash of post world war II and McCarthyism. Not that I blame them, it was a product of the times, but there is case for it not to be there

Sperrit · Chosen of Earth Gender: Joined: 16 Oct 2002

There could also be a case for it TO be there. You could view it democratically and say that since most people (a large majority) practice or believe in Monotheism its the will of the people for its country's pledge to have the word God in it.

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Righty The Wonder Ghoul · Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2003 5:21 pm Post subject:

you could also say it is there because one major reason that this country is even here today is because of God or, the fact that people came here because of religion. Granted not all people did, but the east wouldn't have been settled if it were not for religion. I think there is no problem with Under God being in the pledge. If your child is "TRAUMATIZED" by the word god then you suck as a parent, cus they are going to hear it sooner or later.

I think I'm gonna start a new thread on parents... you'll see

Chomp

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Reverend · I kin Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 21 Oct 2002

It's a stretch to say that the east wouldn't have been settled if not for religion. This was fertile land and the first colony set up was one of trading. True, it sped up settlement, but it wasn't the driving force.

Sperrit · Chosen of Earth Gender: Joined: 16 Oct 2002

Very true. Our country was founded on the values of capitalism and commerce. The Revolutionary War was started for profit and gain. Kinda scary.

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Righty The Wonder Ghoul · Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2003 5:56 pm Post subject:

Yeah and the civil war, the "war to end slavery" started cus some drunk guys in the south started bombarding fort sumter. meh. Spam

Reverend · I kin Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 21 Oct 2002

Not quite, it was more the north was industrializing, finding it easier to get cotton from imports than domestic, Southern states wanted more control than the federal gov't wanted to give up.

Slavery only became a really big issue when Lincoln put spin on it. Not to say that it was a bad thing to do

Sperrit · Chosen of Earth Gender: Joined: 16 Oct 2002

Too true Rev. I think that illustrates a good common theme in policitcal history: Good things can happen from people pursuing selfserving goals. During the period of history between the Industrial Revolution and the first world war many monarchs were afraid of the rise of socialism among their states. They wanted to keep their power so they gave the citizens more rights to keep them satisfied. Pursuing a selfserving goal, yet good things happen. Kinda funny.

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