The First Comandment says not to worship any God but Yahweh.
The First Amendment gives us Freedom of Religion. That means ANY religion!
We canot have both, backed by any force of law. One must supercede the other. SO-- do we do things "God's way" or Man's way?
Be aware-- "God's way" means we start arresting people for violation of the !st Commandment. That included a million and a half Hindu Americans, and thousands of neo-pagans. And to do it "God's way" means the Biblically-prescribed penalty: DEATH!
Man's way means people can practice any religion they want, not none at all! It means the government won't give preference or aid to any. It's the way our Founders intended. Changing that would be un-American.
I prefer Man's way. How about you?
2006-08-23 03:03:28 · 17 answers · asked by kreevich 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
So if I have no other gods besides Yahweh, but I support a government that allows everyone to worship as they wish I can get the best of both worlds in supporting both the first commandment ANd the first ammendment.
Plus if I believe the first commandment (no heaven for those who don't believe in HIM), then by promoting the first ammendment (pray to whom you wish), then I'm making an investment in the quality of my afterlife. Surely He will keep the non-believers out, meaning more room for me in heaven.
Win - Win
2006-08-23 03:13:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
You have made several mistakes.
First of all, the laws are not mutally exclusive.
Second, God never states that violating the commandments carrys the death penalty.
Third, the first amendment states that Congress can not establish a state religion (i.e. the Church of England). The amendment does not state or imply that government can not show preference to a religion. Perhaps you should read it.
I choose both. I live my life according to God's law (the 10 commandments), and believe you have the right to practice whatever religion you choose (1st amendment).
Please educate yourself as to the facts of the Bible and the Constitution before spouting further nonsense.
2006-08-23 10:39:19 · answer #2 · answered by Aegis of Freedom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people forget that the First Amendment was the most revolutionary attempt to free mankind from religious bondage. Religious persecution and the killing of infidels in Europe led many to find a land where they could be truly free from all irrational, vengeful mythical beings.
The founding fathers realized that to keep the best and brightest minds from being purged by religious zealots in their new, free world, the First Amendment's principles of "freedom of religion" and "freedom of speech" had to be primary, foundational principles.
That same irrational, vengeful God is still on the march in the minds of many, 98% of whom have never read the very book they believe in cover to cover and 100% of whom don't get it even if they do read it!
The Constitution has survived thus far. Only the outright insanity of 3/4 of the states and a Constitutional Amendment can reverse the tide of liberty and justice for all.
2006-08-23 10:27:24 · answer #3 · answered by ideogenetic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not religious and don't believe in god, so I'd say the first amendment is more important.
Having said that, I don't really see a contradiction between the two for religious people. The state lets everyone practice any religion they want or not practice religion at all, while the individual believer can personally adhere to the first commandment. After all, it says you should believe in God, it doesn't say you have to impose him on others.
2006-08-23 10:14:08 · answer #4 · answered by PoliSciFi 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Churches can enforce the 1st Commandment (or any of the other first half-dozen) as much as they want. That's their right, to expel or demand contrition from those who violate their rules.
Just as the secular government can punish those who break secular laws. So, in the legal arena, (of the two) the 1st Amendment is the only one enforceable, because the Constitution preempts all other laws.
In the church arena, as a private non-government organization, they can violate the 1st Amendment protections all they want. Because the 1st Amendment is only a limitation on government action.
2006-08-23 11:07:05 · answer #5 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not assume that diffrent religions are praying to different gods.
They are not - they just have a different name for the same God.
The commandments were presumably meant for the believers. If you don't believe then they don't apply. Thats another reason for having "Man's way" as you call it.
2006-08-23 10:23:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The commandment isn't really "God's" way. It's the way of a bunch of men several thousand years ago. They put together several stories to lord over other people, which somehow found their way into the most widely read compilation of short fiction in history.
2006-08-23 10:11:01 · answer #7 · answered by emily_brown18 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Constitution of the United States of America decided this one for me by setting it into writing in the First Amendment, and then disallowing its revocation in the Tenth Amendment.
I try not to worry one way or another about things beyond my control :)
2006-08-23 10:08:17 · answer #8 · answered by AmericanDreamer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Freedom of Religion.
2006-08-23 10:20:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm all for the Freedom OF religion. Too bad so many are trying to make it Freedom FROM religion.
2006-08-23 10:35:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋