News, Atheist's daughter fights moment-of-silence law.

[HsvMike]

Originally Posted by FlashTheCash

No one's religion should be influenced by government.

I agree.

No you don't, dude. You see prayer as a matter over which the government may exercise advisory authority.

Ok, so I guess you know my thought process and feelings better than I do.

But you have no problem with government giving you advice regarding prayer.

The government cannot and will not ever dictate when and where I say a prayer. Like I said, I decide when and where I do. Just because there is time set aside for it, does not mean I would do it every time.

You believe prayer is between you, God and the government, dude. That's why you have no problem with the civil authorities issuing religious advice.

Again, you must know me better than I know myself.

Why not, dude? You believe the government gives sound religious advice. If the advice is good, why not give the government the power to enforce what you believe is good advice?

Well dude, the government has enough power, we don't need to give them anymore. I think this is making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Where did the state get the power to give us religious advice?

I honestly don't know who gave them that power, do you?

[FlashTheCash]

What’s right, or wrong, about the methodology used to arrive at the following interpretation of the Constitution?

The kind of separation that was intended [by the U. S. Constitution] is suggested by Pierre L'Enfant's plan for a national cathedral. In 1791, Congress selected the site to be the capital of the United States. George Washington, previously President of the Constitutional Convention and then President of the United States, then commissioned L'Enfant to design an overall plan for the future seat of government. That plan included a church "intended for national purposes, such as public prayer, thanksgiving, funeral orations, etc., and assigned to the special use of no particular Sect of denomination, but equally open to all." The Founders and Framers favored governmental neutrality among denominations, but they never expected government to be barred from supporting religion generally to please a tiny Godless minority.

--Michael J. Gaynor