Let's Discuss the Separation of Church and State

All I can say is WOW!", what a great response! You addressed some of the things I've been thinking for such a long time and you put it perfectly. Thank you! Annie

I am, as usual, so impressed with your response. You are so clear cut, and concise. Why can't everybody be so reasonable. :)

I was told recently that I am mean and cold. I was also told that I am at times emotionaless. I don't think either are true. I think I am pragmatic. So to answer your question I think it is a lifetime of consideration of some of these issues that causes me to be clear on what I think.

That's what I always thought too but there are those who disagree with us and don't think there should be any separation. When religion and politics get together there certainly is always trouble and that "trouble" usually is WAR! Annie

Thank you for an obviously well-thought-out response. It's difficult to disagree with much of what you wrote here but I'll sum it up by saying it's hard to achieve what you wrote in your last two sentences without a total separation because there are always some who think the government indeed does have rights to govern when it comes to these personal issues. I also understand what you mean about the religious organizations giving back, however with Bush's "Faith Based Initiatives" it turned into something I don't think was intended with people being turned down for jobs if they weren't of a certain faith. I don't think if an organization is receiving tax dollars that any kind of discrimination should be allowed not to mention the fact that if a religious organization is give government funds who's going to be sure they don't discriminate when they're handing out the services to those in need? As for prayer in schools I think anyone should be allowed to pray whenever they want to but I don't think there should be a prayer led in the classroom by a teacher or other school official. "Under God" wasn't included in the Pledge of Allegiance until 1954 so I don't think that should be that huge of an issue. In my opinion, if someone wants to say those two words, that's fine, if they choose not too, that's fine as well. Sadly, this whole question shouldn't be the big issue it is to some! Like with so many issues there are extremists on both sides that cause all of the problems that exist with it. People speak out about "taking God out of our schools" and I'll agree some of the things that have been made into major issues are ridiculous such as saying "Merry Christmas" or even actually acknowledging the existence of religious holidays in public schools although we know the vast majority of the students (in most schools) celebrate these holidays. However, with no limits you'll have a teacher like the one I'd mentioned in another post who told a class of small children that if their parents used birth control it was the same as murdering babies and that the parents would go to hell! There's always that proverbial "slippery slope" that someone will be waiting to push us down, isn't there? Annie

The only true statement that starts all Christians ends with are Christians. There are so many that you can't assume they are all the same.

You paint a very scary picture there but probably more realistic than many would choose to believe. The fact is, it is the very conservative religious groups who aren't accepting of the whole premise of the separation of church and state and if they had their way, God only knows what they'd try to do. Before anyone gets offended, I'm not saying all Christians, all religious people or all conservatives are like this but there certainly are some who are and I think we all know it. Annie

A lot of the things that you mentioned are not considered sins in my religion. People do not realize that things changed in the New Testament, as we are no longer under the law, but under grace. For instance, the New Testament states that all meats are good, as long as you give thanks.

"A lot of the things that you mentioned are not considered sins in my religion." I realize that but my point is that they are according to some religions which is a good reason not to base our laws on any religion. There are some things that various people may consider to be sinful that aren't actually illegal because everyone doesn't feel the same way about them. I don't think anything good has even come from a nation being governed according to one particular religious belief. Annie

I agree 100% with both of those quotes. thanks so much for posting them. I'm also uncomfortable with Obama's ideas about "faith based" organizations and I also wonder what he's thinking. It's that famous, or infamous, slippery slope in my opinion. You're right, there is no middle ground when it comes to these things. Annie

Amen!! (Sorry!) Annie

Our country was founded on principles from the bible but not of one particular religion or denomination. I mean, people certainly should know it's wrong to kill or steal, among other things, whether they're religious or not. Annie

Welcome to myLot and thanks so much for a super response! I couldn't agree more with everything you wrote, especially your comments about Huckabee. That really scared me when he said that about reworking the Constitution to fit the Bible and the thought that some people agreed with that scared me even more. Annie