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After all...our government officials SAID SO, and WROTE IT INTO LAW!
It's not a law, it's a non-binding resolution.
And Congress has no business violating their own laws by enacting such a stupid resolution. The Constitution expressly forbids this kind of overt sactioning of a specific religion - but as I've said before, that thin wall between freedom and theocratic fascism continues to get thinner every time the clock ticks.
As a believing Christian, I'm afraid to ask, but OTOH, I have a feeling it would be interesting to see your reaction to this quote:
"The Bible is a RELIABLE COLLECTION of HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS written by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. Their REPORT is of SUPERNATURAL EVENTS which took place as FULFILLMENT of SPECIFIC PROPHECIES and declare that their record is divine in nature and not human in origin.”
Not sure what "reaction" you were hoping for?
My first reaction was to note that you did not cite the source of the quote. Common decorum would dictate that when quoting someone, you give the source.
My second reaction is that while I think using caps to emphasis a word in a sentence.... and I do it a LOT..... it can be overused like any linguistic tool. Normally when I see capitals abused in the fashion it has been above I know I am dealing with the opinion of a fantastically pious and fanatical theist. The kind of person who thinks shouting something at you makes it more true.
As to my reaction to the content of the quote? I see it simply as an opinion, expressed badly, written worse, and coming to us as an entirely unsubstantiated set of assertions.
Well my pastor posted it on FB and I just don't want to be a sheep and believe everythign he says. I do want to have faith in God and believe what I'm supposed to believe about Him to please Him. So if it makes Him happy for me to believe His word is true, then I guess I believe it's true. I know that sounds like a lame answer.
And Congress has no business violating their own laws by enacting such a stupid resolution. The Constitution expressly forbids this kind of overt sactioning of a specific religion - but as I've said before, that thin wall between freedom and theocratic fascism continues to get thinner every time the clock ticks.
No Shirina...it really is a Law. I know it would seem like it could not be...but it is.
As you can see...I originally put that up early this year.
To show how using "Laws" can't ever be a basis to argue from.
"Legality" can never determine what is "right", or "fair", or "just". Lots of horrible, evil things have been given legal sanction in this world in general, and the U.S. specifically.
That is why I can't stand people trotting out The Constitution...and using the laws it created as some kind of arbiter as to what is "the right and just thing to do".
So...according to U.S. Law...The Bible goes way beyond a "reliable collection of historical documents" as the OP presents and asks.
In fact, it has been designated by U.S.Public Law 97-280 to be "the Word of God" and "the rock on which our Republic rests". That law even provides for a legal recognition of "our national need to study and apply the teachings of the Holy Scriptures".
Goldenrule, you contradict yourself again and again. You began by claiming that laws can be changed, the Constitution can be changed (you had in mind the bit about separation of church and state). But you then wave laws about enacted by presidents who misused the law to push their personal religious beliefs, or were used themselves to do so.
Arguably those laws themselves are unconstitutional. maybe they found a way around it. That is not the point. They were put into law and thus became laws. They had legal force, not because they were right or even constitutional, but because they had been passed into law.
Thus, to use your own original argument, if they are bad laws, or unconstitutional, or if we just get to feel that we don't like them, they can be changed and thrown out.
Last edited by TRANSPONDER; 12-19-2013 at 05:51 AM..
Why am I not surprised that Reagan and his Republican congress were the ones to dream up something so ridiculously illegal. Reagan essentially set up a state religion with that claptrap. That's even worse than when congress reaffirmed our national motto as "In God we trust."
I took an intro religion course just to get a humanities credit. It wasn't my first choice but it fit into my schedule. Being an atheist I did not have high hopes of enjoying the class.
First day, our professor, who was also a minister, stood in front of the class holding a bible and said something like this (not exact words- this was 20 years ago!):
"This is the bible. It is the religious texts of the Christian faith. It was written by men. It did not fall out of the sky as is. This class is not bible study - you can get that on Sunday at your church. This class is about examining the bible as a historical document that had a major impact on the world."
Right then I knew it would be a good class.
I ended up with a B as I recall.
I also recall several students dropped the class after that day.
boy when atheists come out of the closet they sure have a time looking around for the light switch!
They don't need to because atheists see there is bright daylight streaming in through the windows. Which religious zealots might realise if they stopped keeping their eyes squeezed tightly shut.
I do want to have faith in God and believe what I'm supposed to believe about Him to please Him.
You have made your goal very clear.
Unfortunately, there is no one in the world who can help you achieve it. You will have to do it for yourself.
Sure, there are a lot of well-meaning and sincere people who believe in gods and a lot of them think they know what their gods want them to do. You might be able to learn from them, but your decisions will have to be yours and yours alone.
Go to Youtube and find some old Billy Graham sermons. That might be a good place to start.
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