http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH5u48kjOWM
So, again we face the battle between religion and politics. In this video clip, we see that a statue has been privately donated and placed in front of a court house. Since the statue has "a religious connotation" to it, we should rally and protest to get it removed (well, that is what the far left sided liberals are saying). I say that we embrace this statue as what it is: history. When Moses came down the mountain with these two pieces of stone, history was made. These ten laws were the first to be recorded on a physical object.
I feel like the gentlemen that is against having the statue has no backing to his argument. He states that we should take the statue down, but we should keep "In God we Trust" on our currency and the many references to a Supreme Deity in our Constitution. What is the difference between these three things? There is none! Let us remember and reflect on what the principles are that this nation was founded on. If it were not for the belief in God, there would be no equality for man. If it would not be for the 10 Commandments, where would we be now?
How do these commandments make you feel? Do you feel like they are forcing Christianity upon you?
Do you think "under God" should be taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance?
How does the 10 commandments make society worst off?
I believe that the idea of “separation of church and state” technically means that including any reference to religion goes against the open-door policy our nation was founded on. I, being a Christian myself, think that the reason there is so much opposition now (versus in 1776) is because the United States has become more of a melting pot. Would Christians get offended/annoyed if a big statue of Rama (a Hindu god) were built in front of a courthouse? At the time “In God We Trust” was plastered everywhere, the United States was still almost entirely composed of Christians. Now, it shows a bias. Our nation has welcomed a multitude of citizens, each with different backgrounds, heritage, and religious beliefs. I believe that to truly separate church and state, the only choice is to create a completely level playing field, for all faiths. No one, of any religion, should need to have a phrase on their money or statue on the street to be able to worship.
ReplyDeleteThe issue over religion in schools and other public places has been a controversial debate. One side, Atheism, wishes to take out God and religion in everything; and the other side, Christians strive to keep things the way they are. Christians wish to keep religious statues in government buildings and references to God on national currency. I would like to address a side of the argument that I have never heard before but I think it should be brought up in these cases. Atheists believe in no higher power, God, and wish to root all belief of one out. So in essence, atheists are trying to push their religious beliefs on everyone else by rooting out all other religions. When courts rule in their favor of atheists, the ruling is exactly what their religion calls for, nothing. Like the video said they actively try to seek of potential court cases in order to do this precise thing. When you get down to it, they are the ones that are being un-tolerable to all other religions and wish to impose their beliefs on all issues, so they can live their lives in nothing but their belief. Think again who is being un-tolerable.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, The Ten Commandments are the greatest set of laws ever written! The Ten Commandments set the foundation for many societies, ethnicities, and cultures. They are apart of history! Although some history is forgotten, these set of laws are what many people till this day still live their lives by. They are not forcing Christianity upon anyone. God gave EVERYONE free will. Therefore, every individual is free to do what he/she desires to do. I also believe that the Ten Commandments make society better. The Ten Commandments enforces structure and guidance within society. Throughout my life, I hear similar phrases as “What has the world come to” or “The world gets worse and worse as time goes by”. I believe the world would be even worse without the creation of these ten laws!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this post. I feel that people should realize that this nation was founded by Christian men united by one God. To say that religion and government should be separated is going against everything this nation was founded on. God is in our pledge of allegiance, and it should remain that way. God is on our money, and God is involved in much of our government. These things are not forcing Christianity on people but rather reminding everybody of the ideas the United States was founded on. As it says in the constitution, the citizens are free and they can choose to practice the religion of their choice.
ReplyDeleteI personally do not have a problem with the statue or any other reference to any religion as long as I'm not being forced to abide by any laws based on any one religious principle or belief. So to answer the first question posed, I do not feel any particular way about the 10 commandments. They were supposedly the first laws printed to govern man and many of them apply today. This fact does not make me feel as though Christianity is being forced upon me because the laws that have survived to be modern laws are so rightfully. To the second question my answer is no. I do not share the sentiment of those wishing to remove "Under God" out of the pledge of allegiance. I do not have a problem with this as long as my children or others that do not share the same religious beliefs are not forced to recite it. So what if you have to pass it by on your way to the courthouse. It is not offensive and is not a problem for me. And for the third...I do not think that the 10 Commandments make society worst off (Was this question rhetorical?). I don't really think that anyone does, but I can see why those who choose to participate in other religions would have a problem with issues under the religious-differences umbrella. The truth is all Americans are not Christians so there should be a "separation of church and state", when it actually applies. Besides, "separation of church and state" is written in the Constitution, which is also an idea that the United States was founded on. Furthermore not all Americans believe the Biblical story of Moses and the stone tablets to be true so I don't think that it is considered as "history". That idea is based on religious beliefs. I did find the comment of bseay1 to be particularly interesting and I think that you made an excellent observation. I think that people get so wrapped up in not coming off as seemingly intolerable that we don't take the time to stop and ask ourselves "Okay, what's going on here?".
ReplyDeleteGreat discussion, folks. just to play the devil's advocate (yikes...poor choice of words in this context...)
ReplyDeleteThese tablets are on government property (a courthouse). So that means the government will pay for its upkeep and maintenance. In other words, the "state" is paying for a document related to the "church."
So IF this is a violation of the separation of church and state, even though it seems inoffensive enough (sounds like nobody in the community has a problem with it), are we getting into "slippery slope" territory here? Saying that if the majority agrees to it, it's okay to violate the constitution?
What if (and this has actually happened) a very small, very eccentric religious group paid to place a monument to their beliefs on a courthouse lawn? Would that be unacceptable, because of the difference in the number of believers (i.e. there are millions of Christians in the U.S.)? What if, in a town with a large Muslim population, a group payed to build a monument with verses from the Koran?
Again--I'm not trying to be disagreeable or even to change your minds, just to dig a little deeper.