Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The supreme law of the land, written in the summer of 1787, includes no references to religion -- including in the presidential oath of office -- until the conclusion of Article VI, after all that dull stuff about debts and treaties: "No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." (There is a pro forma "Year of the Lord" reference in the date at the Constitution's conclusion.)
Original intent? "No religious Test" seems pretty clear cut.
The primacy of a secular state was solidified when the First Amendment was included in the Bill of Rights. According to Purdue history professor Frank Lambert, that "introduced the radical notion that the state had no voice concerning matters of conscience."
Beyond that, the first House of Representatives, while debating the First Amendment, specifically rejected a Senate proposal calling for the establishment of Christianity as an official religion. As Lambert concludes, "There would be no Church of the United States. Nor would America represent itself as a Christian Republic."
I especially liked this:
Quote:
And those contentious monuments to the Ten Commandments found around the country and occasionally challenged in court? Many of them were installed as a publicity stunt for Cecile B. DeMille's 1956 Hollywood spectacle, "The Ten Commandments."
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwith-standing.
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
That is true only if it is actually is "A whole other Country" as its publicity ads proclaim. And if it actually is:
(1) None of the United States Constitution applies to Texas
(2) Texas may, in fact, still be a part of Mexico.
(3) Commerce between Texas and the United States is subject to the same duties, tariffs and restrictions as any other foreign country.
(4) Texas cannot have representation in either the Senate or the House of Representatives
(5) No Texas citizen (including LBJ and GWB) can legitimately hold the office of President of the United States. Therefore, any and every thing such an illegitimate office-holder did is (and always was) null and invalid.
Whew! What a relief! Thank you for providing that insight!!!!
That is true only if it is actually is "A whole other Country" as its publicity ads proclaim. And if it actually is:
(1) None of the United States Constitution applies to Texas
(2) Texas may, in fact, still be a part of Mexico.
(3) Commerce between Texas and the United States is subject to the same duties, tariffs and restrictions as any other foreign country.
(4) Texas cannot have representation in either the Senate or the House of Representatives
(5) No Texas citizen (including LBJ and GWB) can legitimately hold the office of President of the United States. Therefore, any and every thing such an illegitimate office-holder did is (and always was) null and invalid.
Whew! What a relief! Thank you for providing that insight!!!!
Oooh, That is an interesting idea. Perry wanted to secede, but if Texas is already a whole other country, there is nothing to secede from.
Also, Texas would have to forgo all the federal money they get (and they do get a lot of it).
That is true only if it is actually is "A whole other Country" as its publicity ads proclaim. And if it actually is:
(1) None of the United States Constitution applies to Texas
(2) Texas may, in fact, still be a part of Mexico.
(3) Commerce between Texas and the United States is subject to the same duties, tariffs and restrictions as any other foreign country.
(4) Texas cannot have representation in either the Senate or the House of Representatives
(5) No Texas citizen (including LBJ and GWB) can legitimately hold the office of President of the United States. Therefore, any and every thing such an illegitimate office-holder did is (and always was) null and invalid.
Whew! What a relief! Thank you for providing that insight!!!!
Great post Nighteyes (I should not have deleted. Sorry). Texas is a whole nuther country, you know when TPOTUS went there a few months Governor Perry did/would not acknowledge him.
Because of the oil, Texas has a lot of pull in Washington however that doesn't explain for me as to why Texas writes the textbooks. Texas is very religious of course. It would seem to me Texas would be one of the last states the american public would want doiling out information.
"No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
This is not a true statement.
Politicians are routinely religiously vetted before taking office.
No, it is true.
The Constitution is a restriction on the powers of the state, not on the whims of individuals. People are quite free to vote based on the religion of a candidate, just as people are free to refuse to allow campaign signs for certain candidates to be placed in their yards (hint -- this isn't a free speecjh violation because the First Amendment inhibits the power of the state, not individuals).
The Constitution is a restriction on the powers of the state, not on the whims of individuals. People are quite free to vote based on the religion of a candidate, just as people are free to refuse to allow campaign signs for certain candidates to be placed in their yards (hint -- this isn't a free speecjh violation because the First Amendment inhibits the power of the state, not individuals).
That's just it. The candidates must have some type of religion and not just any of the religions will do. Religion is a prerequisite to politics. It's not coincidental.
That's just it. The candidates must have some type of religion and not just any of the religions will do. Religion is a prerequisite to politics. It's not coincidental.
Right -- that's just it -- there is no requirement of religion to be elected to an office.
You said this:
Quote:
"No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
This is not a true statement.
The religious-test text is a bar on government requirements; it does not speak to the myriad whims of voters. So claiming it is wrong based on what certain voters do is nonsensical. And wrong.
Your claim is thus false. Period.
PS - you're hardly the first to make this mistake. I've seen many do it. However, most usually get a clue once it is pointed out that the Constitution speaks to state action, not personal preferences.
People can spout whatever they want.
What is written about what we don't HAVE to be...and what IS...are two very different things.
Over 3/4s of the U.S.A. is Christian...that makes it a "Christian Nation". The same we are a "fast food eating nation"...a "television watching nation"...an "internet surfing nation"...a "caucasian nation"...etc, etc, etc, etc.
By law, we don't HAVE to be any of those things...but we ARE...sooooooo, we ARE. People that don't like it, notwithstanding.
I will reserve my opinion as to whether I think what we are is "good".
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
