tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16811369.post8732478529482161452..comments2023-10-24T01:23:36.470-07:00Comments on Thin Places: the size of governmentroyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00508828835908673347noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16811369.post-78119248101977755522013-01-01T20:49:01.056-08:002013-01-01T20:49:01.056-08:00I don't know if you realize it, but you answer...I don't know if you realize it, but you answered your own argument, and in doing so exposed the common logical flaw oft-quoted by liberals... that the First Amendment prohibition from establishment of a state-religion by the federal government somehow translates to the banning of all religion anywhere any type of governmental money is in play. <br /><br /><i>...assuring them that he would work for a complete separation of Church and State, restricting the government from any interference in religious practice.</i><br /><br />We can only hope. Unfortunately, government interferes all the time. <br /><br />The First Amendment limits the federal government, and <b>only the federal government.</b> It does not effect prayer in a public school, nor a picture of the Decalogue on the state courthouse wall, nor a Christmas creche on the town green. But activist judges and leftist courts have (and only quite recently) limited the rights of ordinary citizens to worship. In fact, the phrase "Separation of church and state" appears absolutely nowhere in the Constitution. <br /><br /><i>Maybe someone from the Westboro Baptist Church could pray for the damnation of all of the children present... or a Santaria priest could sacrifice a chicken. Maybe an Imam could read in Arabic from the Koran or a gay Episcopalian priest from the Book of Common Prayer. Maybe a Mennonite could pray for the abolition of the military or a fundamentalist Mormon could prayer for the re-establishment of polygamy. </i><br /><br />Of course not. But then, I wouldn't even be comfortable with my own pastor praying for everyone's salvation at a high school graduation. But if an imam or rabbi or Episcopalian priest (I don't know what his sexual orientation has to do with it)or Mormon bishop wanted to pray for the success and safety of the students, I say go for it. <br /><br />Freedom "of" religion is not the same thing as freedom "from" religion. In fact, one would be intellectually dishonest to disagree with the fact that the United States was founded with a Judeo-Christian worldview. It's all over the two great documents - the Declaration of Independence (written by Jefferson) and the Constitution. Patrick Henry said <i>"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ." </i> And the great Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay said <i>"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." </i> Note the statement "Christian nation." <br /><br />So yes, Roy, government is way too big. It should not establish religion; not even the religion of secularism. <br /><br /><br /><br />Michael J Mahoneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06239057043899114566noreply@blogger.com