Freedom OF Religion not FROM it.
A “holiday tree” and a Christian Nativity Scene have been erected at the Capitol Building in Olympia, WA… a gesture some would say crosses the line between religion and government. The government issued permits for a public display to private organizations, and since we’re being snooty about the tree by labeling it a “holiday tree” I’m willing to let that line be crossed. The third addition to the group is what has my attention.
An Atheist organization has erected a third display, in the form of a placard that reads;
“There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”
Now, our Constitution provides any and all citizens with the freedom of religion… allowing for coexistence between Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Shintoists and yes, even Atheists. If you want to erect a shrine celebrating your holiday, so be it. Where I draw the line is when you cross the line between celebration into the realm of attack. The aforementioned placard crossed that line.
I have the freedom in this country to believe or NOT believe in anything I wish… that’s what makes us great. What I don’t get is why those who don’t, feel it is their mission to make sure others can’t. (same could be said for the aggressively religious folks too)
If I want to petition the Olympia government to erect a display to the holy flying spaghetti monster, I have the freedom to do so… but I wouldn’t be doing it in a way that would degrade other religious displays or trash them for their beliefs.
I wish everyone I talk to a Merry Christmas this time of year… I don’t stop and ponder what their beliefs may be and shockingly to some, I get the greeting sent right back by my Jewish friends and the Atheist ones alike. There’s simply no reason to be an ass because someone doesn’t share your view of the world.
“It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god.” – Thomas Jefferson
Phil
5 Jan, 2009
i don’t think you understand the purpose of the sign. It is meant to keep religion away from our government and schools. It is for all of the red necks in this country to know that we aren’t a christian nation, we need to be secular when it comes to government. We need to take “in god we trust” off of money and “under god” out of the pledge. They have no place there, and if they are going to be there, we might as well add in all the other gods too, because then, at least the government wouldn’t be showing favoritism towards the christian mythology.
nick
6 Jan, 2009
Phil,
If that was the purpose behind the sign shouldn’t it say something along the lines of “This sign is meant to keep religion away from our government and schools”?
But I will give you the benefit of the doubt and say this is the reason behind the sign, ok he has every right to post his views…. just like everyone else. We do have the FREEDOM OF RELIGION, this means we can worship and speak of our faith anywhere anytime and the government CANNOT tell us to stop, this is true freedom. The Constitution says
So this is saying two things,
1. there can be no laws respecting an establishment of religion (they can’t have an official religion and they can’t outlaw religions),
2.it also says that the government CANNOT prohibit the free exercise of ANY religion.
Now, if there was only a Christmas tree up there and they weren’t allowing other faiths to display things, that would be wrong, but this is not the case. You guys take the first amendment to mean that no one can even mention their faith, this is not the case. You have every right to speak about your own beliefs as well us.
As far as the under God in the pledge and in god we trust on or money, I can almost see your point. But then I start to think about it, does it say “in Jesus we trust”, or “in the Christian God we trust”? Yes I will admit that when I look at it I think of the my God, but I can’t help but think that when other religions look at it, they see their own God. But to be honest, I would not be upset if it was taken off.
James
6 Jan, 2009
As Nick put it very well, the establishment clause does not and is not intended to BAN religion outright nor does it establish a secular break in society between government and religion.
Nowhere in the entire body of the US Constitution do the words “separation of church and state” exist. Search for it… it’s not there.
The ONLY thing the establishment clause in the 1st Amendment does is bar the federal government (i.e. Congress) from passing laws that bar the free exercise of ANY religion or the establishment of a “state religion”. That’s IT.
Taken at it’s simplest for “God” as it pertains to our money, pledge, oaths and regalia is used in generic form. Our money does NOT bear the phrase “In a Christian God We Trust” it simply says “In God We Trust”.
The Pledge of Allegiance is not, and should never be a compulsory statement and as such, one CAN abstain from uttering the “God part” if they so desire without fear of retribution.
Atheists tend to be constantly on the defense against any form of religion and honestly, I’m not all that religious myself but it offends me that someone would think so highly of their own NON-belief that they would seek to silence those who DO believe in a false attempt to make things “fair” for all.