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Get real. That's a HUGE jump from requiring our elected representative follow the constitution, to states hanging people...
It's what happened. It's history. New Jersey as a colony did have laws against Catholicism. Massachusetts did hang Quakers. Is that REAL enough for you?
The Court has nothing to do with this limitation, but rather the 14th Amendment.
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Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge
Of course the First Amendment doesn't prevent church leaders from lobbying Congress or from trying to have an influence. No one ever said that.
The states cannot establish a state religion of their own. Because of the Fourteenth Amendment. Because by establishing a primary religion, the state makes all other religions secondary, and promotes one religious doctrine. When it does so, it inhibits the practice of other religions. Something strictly forbidden by our Constitution. The individual states' actions do not happen in a vacuum. We are all Americans.
you guys are right, as i admitted in another thread.
Then you are a rarity around here, myself included. Maybe more of us need to look to you as an example.
one of the people i admired when i was young was hubert humphrey. even though i was a nixon fan in 68, humphrey impressed me because he was always willing to not only listen to his opponents, but acknowledge that they had good points. i never forgot that lesson.
the first amendment only prevents congress from making laws regarding religion, it does NOT prevent church leaders from lobbying congress, or involving themselves in government in other ways.
Yeah - I know. That's covered by the 2nd part: "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". The government cannot limit religious speech or practice (for the most part).
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Originally Posted by rbohm
going from one extreme to the other are we? while the states cannot outlaw religions, they can establish a state religion of their own.
no, not at all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rbohm
for instance if new york wanted the jewish religion to be the primary religion of the state, they technically would be allowed to do so under the first amendment. however due to supreme court rulings, the limitations of the first amendment have been pushed on state legislatures as well.
Again no - New York could not establish the Jewish religion as the primary religion of the state. The 14th Amendment incorporated the Bill of Rights to the states.
edit: just saw your response above. Sorry for being repetitive.
I don't see anything wrong with teaching creationism so long as it is posed as a theory just as the Big Bang theory is taught. What are you afraid of here? It doesn't have to be taught from a relious pov. Just like one can teach the Muslim religion within its historical context, one can teach Christianity in the same way.
The only people that wish to ban ideas are the ones who are afraid they may take root and differ with what they see as the almighty truth.
Um, The Big Bang theory is science. Creationism is a fable. They do not belong in the same class. Creationism belongs in social studies class along with other religions and fables, not science class.
congress shall make no law regarding the establishment of religion, nor the free exercise there of.
so what part of that indicates a separation of church and state? the answer is there is NONE. the separation of church and state came from the jefferson papers, and they are NOT part of the constitution.
That sentence MEANS to separate church and state. What's with the straw grasping?
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