cybersinner:I have spent the entire day watching the inauguration and quite frankly find myself deeply disturbed at how many time I have heard the name of God invoked and prayer initiated in a land that supposedly has separation of Church and State. As a non-religious individual I am deeply offended by the Christian majority's audacity at insinuating their religious proscriptions and practices into the most important State function in our country.
The constitution does not say that this is allowed and those in the Congress who assume that the Framers of the Constitution meant that it is are unethically promoting their own religion. If the Framers intended allowances for certain religious practices in State ceremonies and practices, they would have stated so in the constitution. Since they did not, it is wrong to assume that they would look fondly on this practice of allowing religious influence in every aspect of our government.
Our Constitution guaratees the freedom OF religion. It says nothing about freedom FROM being exposed to religion.
cybersinner:
Remember this small fact, The last time that politics and religion mixed, people were burned at the stake simply because another person held a grudge against them. Remember the Spanish Inquisition? The Crusades? Or perhaps I need to remind them of the Kings and Emporers who once ruled the majority of the "Civilized" world. They were constantly at war (usually over a single city or a few miles of farmland) and nobody could challenge their orders because they were "ordained" by God to rule. Or when the Anglo-Catholic Church assumed pseudo-control over the majority of Europe and a sin was considered a crime.
I believe you are making an exaggerated comparison. The Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition don't even fall in the same ballpark as mentioning God in ceremonies swearing in a President.
cybersinner:
Just imagine getting imprisoned or executed for having sex with your girlfriend without first going before a priest and being married. (Goodbye nightclubs) Or being publicly flogged for not attending church on a Sunday. Look at the Middle East. Their religious beliefs have been ingrained for so long in their leadership that they are almost always at war somewhere in the region. (And remember that they STILL aloow public execution by stoning for adultery)
Again, you are exaggerating here. No one gets executed for having sex with their girlfriend w/o being married, but you can go to jail and be charged with various crimes if you have sex with your girlfriend if she is under age. This is the law of the land, currently, and is not tied to any religion at all. There are consequences for behavior that goes beyond what the law says is legal.
cybersinner:
The religious majority in this country preach constatly about Freedom of Religion, but they only mean it as long as it is Christianity. Athiests are shunned, Wiccans are called pagans or witches, we treat native-born muslims like enemies of the state, Mormons are slandered for their belief in miltiple marraiges, Satanists are automatically suspect because of the symbols they wear. The children of these religious parents are picked on, insulted and sometimes even physically harmed in public schools when they don't "Meet at the Pole" for prayer or when they won't attend Teens for Christ.
Freedom of Religion includes the ability for each religion to believe what their faith teaches. Christians may believe Wiccans are called pagans or witches. Some Wiccans do call themselves witches, others may not. Freedom of speech is another right that we have in America, and that includes the right to express personal thoughts, beliefs, and opinions that might be offensive to others. For that matter, television and movie makers use that freedom of expression, regardless of who they may offend, to produce films that 20 yrs ago would have been considered to be filth, but by todays standards don't even cause the average viewer to blink twice.
cybersinner:
People have been irresponsible with their money, spending what they didn't have to spend on things they could have lived without. It has led to the worst economic situation in my generation. How many of them did it believing that God would help them through their hard time. (God is appearantly broke since he doesn't provide anything to keep his churches open, hence the need for tithes and offerings)
Yes, people are and have been irresponsible with their money, but they cannot blame their own actions on God. It seems in the times we currently live in that the notion of taking responsibility for one's own behavior and actions is no longer in vogue because blaming someone else is easier to do. If Joey spends his money unwisely, then Joey will suffer the consequences. Unfortunately, often times when we make unwise decisions, there will be other people who are tied to our lives who will also be dragged into such consequences.
cybersinner:
It is time for our so-called "Enlightened" species to grow up and quit depending on the Holy Father to solve our problems. All children must quit depending on their parents at some time or another.
If you are going to believe in something, believe in Humankind (at least there is proof that we exist.)
Sorry to blow so long, but those of us who don't follow any religion have absolutely NO representation anywhere. At least ONE of us had to stand up and say our peice.
One last fact. The Pilgrims came here trying to get away from the theocracy in England (Think about it)
Many people do depend on God, and many people don't depending on what the individual believes. Those who do depend on God often times find comfort in their belief. I do agree with what you said about children eventually will have to stop being dependent on their parents.
As far as believing in humankind... what's not to believe in in that respect? Yes, we exist, but beyond that many people find that it just isn't enough to only believe in humankind.
Also, the Pilgrims came here not only to get away from the church of England, but they came here in order to be able to freely practice their own belief system. Again.. freedom of religion...
btw... do feel free to post and REPRESENT who you are. Happy to have you in the groups. :)
jd4fox23
