It seems the first one still hasn't gotten through to some people. The amendment should declare that the US is a secular nation, and not based on the values of any religion. It should decree that religious morality can not be the basis of any legislation. I would even go further and include a clause that forbids organized or overt public prayer at government functions.
2006-08-01 12:31:50 · 15 answers · asked by Duffman 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
You are still allowed to practice whatever religion you want, wherever you want except at government functions (ie public school, Congress, political campaigns).
2006-08-01 12:47:26 · update #1
No. I think there are already too many amendments trying to get passed. I think we should simply emphasize the ones that were there to begin with. I agree with you, though. Religious morals should have nothing to do with laws. Morals in general? absolutely.
2006-08-01 12:38:13 · answer #1 · answered by magerk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, if the goal is consistency, then I guess another amendment saying something which no amendment already says would be a way to do it.
I think I'd like to see some consistency in that so-called separation of church and state. You say, "I would even go further and include a clause that forbids organized or overt public prayer at government functions." How about banning all clergymen from leading prayer in Congress and the state legislatures? Ban them from prisons, and ban them from military bases. Take the words "In God We Trust" off all currency. Stop the Supreme Hypocrites (i.e., Court) from having a court crier from saying, in the courtroom, "God save the Unites States and this Honorable Court." And (heeheehee) assuming that you want all of this to be part of what you mean by "going even further," how do YOU, as an individual, amend the Constituion? All by yourself?
And you say this country is "not based on the values of any religion." Ha!!! Have you ever read the Bible, such as the part in which it says, "Thou shalt not bare false witness"? Have you ever noticed that our country has laws against perjury, fraud, libel and slander? Have you ever noticed the similarity? Do you think the similarity is merely a coincidence?
2006-08-01 13:35:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is not necessary. But I am tired of the people saying this country was founded on religion and especially christian religion.
God is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence only mentions "the creator" which is a Deist concept quite different from the Christian Concept of god -- Jefferson was a deist not a "christian", John Adams was a Unitarian. I am not denying that many Americans were quite religious at the time of the founding. However, our form of government owes much more to the pagan roman republic and the political philosophy of Locke than to the Bible or any other religious text. To my knowledge there is no mention of representative democracy, freedom to worship any religion, freedom of the press, speech etc. in the bible.
2006-08-01 12:54:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Uh, no, the first one has been mistaken by the ACLU to read that no mention of God is allowed in public institutions, and that is not the intent of the first amendment. The U.S. is not purely a secular nation, but it is non-denominational. What you are asking for goes directly against the intent of the first amendment which was to ASSURE that religion could not be censored by government. You just want to replace the Judeo-Christian non-denominational government with your own atheistic ideas. You are the reason for the first amendment.
2006-08-01 12:36:59 · answer #4 · answered by keats27 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, we should not have an Amendment added to the Constitution. Second, go and get a copy of the US Constitution (I will provide one for you) and look for the exact Amendment that clearly states that "the separation of Church and State" actually exists. Then come back here and re-phrase your question by omitting your very first sentence in the description. Then we may continue this lively debate as educated adults. God Bless you and good day.
2006-08-01 12:46:44 · answer #5 · answered by carpe noctem 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the constitution forbids the establishment of religion. this is not the same as a separation of church and state. the founding fathers did not want to acknowledge a dominant religious sect for all to have to "bow" to. instead they wanted a freedom of religion, a freedom to worship under any religion you saw fit for your needs. with that, these forefathers were deeply rooted in a judeo-christian faith that was the corner stone of our bill of rights, our constitution, our institution of government, and our common law courts. with that, God is deeply imbedded in what has and continues to make this country a free, blessed, and bountiful nation. therefore, there will never be a 'separation of church and state' just as there will never be 'peace in the middle-east'. these are all simplistic plays on words for an ideology that is far removed from reality.
2006-08-01 12:47:09 · answer #6 · answered by suavechulo007 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is due to people like yourself that the country is in the state that it is a declining! This country was built on freedom and religion. It has been this way since its birth. You better open yours eyes because you have the minority opinion. If you have no religion in your life that is fine but don't try to shove your atheist views down our throats. Freedom of religion is in the Constitution. Do you suggest that we just delete it so that you and your fellow non believers can sleep better at night knowing you made our glorious country a worse place? GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!
2006-08-01 12:43:26 · answer #7 · answered by Jason P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
calm down. the constitution is pretty clear. 'congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof'. secularity itself is constitutional but it would not be constitutional to try to 'establish' such a perspective for the nation. whether states are free to go their own way in this regard or not remains to be seen. for some people, their faith in a higher power that can digest the complications of this world and remain confident in the direction that we're going in, provides for them the emotional resources that are part of the historical foundations of this nation, for good or ill, and should be afforded all due respect, difficult as it might be. personally, my mother and i go round and round on some of the issues i accuse her of being superstitious about. but i always try to respect her, because the times she was raised in were different. and the more i learn about the more i know that it would not be my place to judge.
2006-08-01 12:54:15 · answer #8 · answered by emptiedfull 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Obviously you don't know what seperation of church and state is in regards to our founding fathers...it was to prevent the government from declaring a national church like the Anglican church in Britain, and have the church dictate policy....nothing about being secular. In fact this nation is very much a christian nation and was founded on christian beliefs.....if we can tolerate non-christians who live here, why can't non-christians tolerate christians?
2006-08-01 12:38:52 · answer #9 · answered by jpxc99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leave the constitution alone there are already to many clowns trying to change a document that has worked for over 200 years.
2006-08-01 12:44:43 · answer #10 · answered by Chuck P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋