Can you tell me more about our first amendment rights...?

Question

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I had asked for someone to show me seperation of church and state in our nation's constitution, and I received lots of good answers quoting the first amendment. Now tell me, where does it say that I cannot put up the ten commandments in the courthouse, or talk about Jesus in my valedictorian speech, or why I can't pray woth my teacher, who also happens to be a Christian, immediately following something like 9/11...

I don't see anything about trying to appease every single person and their beliefs, all I see is that the writers of the constitution were trying to prevent another Roman Catholic church situation...

Our 1st amendment:

1st Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

infobroke: that WAS my POINT!!!

LisaA: do you know the definition of the word "establish" ?

Answer 1

As far as the so called Seperation Clause, it does not exist and you are correct. Each time the ACLU wins one of their lawsuits another American has had their constitutional rights violated. The ACLU also gets paid a huge amount of money, your tax payer money, from the federal government. The first amendment was written so that neither the majority or the minority would be able to trump the other when it came to their religious rights. As written, everyone has a right to practice their religion where ever and when ever they wish. That includes on government property. No other person has a right to stop them, to do so would violate their constitutional rights to religious freedom. The people who do not believe or are not of a particualr faith have every right not to participate and to walk away or not listen. The constitution only guarantees that Congres will not make any law that actually creates a national religion and mandates the citizens to practice that religion only. The government is NOT forbidden from sponsoring religious celebrations and/or events or allowing the citizens to celebrate their religion on its properties, nor is it forbidden from promoting one faith over the other.

Answer 2

The Catholic Church was the last thing on the mind of the Founding Fathers. Do you know why the Pilgrims came to America? Or why William Penn founded Pennsylvania, or Lord Baltimore set up shop where he did? They were FLEEING religious oppression in Europe, specifically in NON-Catholic England.

OK, I'm simplifying things a good bit, but here's the point: The Founding Fathers wanted to establish a country in which people are free to practice religion WITHOUT influence of the state - a far cry from life in England and indeed elsewhere in the world. Hence the language of the First Amendment.

It just so happens that I don't bristle at "One Nation Under God" or "In God We Trust", and I'm even OK with you talking about Jesus in your valedictory speech, even though he's not my guy and even though I suspect you'll cross the bound of tackiness (sorry, it's just me).

But this all being said, it doesn't take a whole lot of smarts to see how putting the Ten Commandments (try capitalizing them) up in a courthouse - where the sanctity of freedom FROM state-imposed religion is ensured - is a violation of the First Amendment (another one to capitalize).

Read some history too, please, as again, the Catholic Church in the specific was not the issue.

Answer 3

The courthouse is a public building belonging to the People; displaying the Ten Commandments would violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment as only the Judeo-Christian religions use the Ten Commandments.

You can talk about Jesus in your valedictory speech as you are speaking as yourself, not a representative of the State.

You can pray with your teacher so long as the prayer is voluntary and that you face no negative repercussions for having not prayed with him, nor are you afforded additional considerations for having prayed with him.

BTW: The Framers were more trying to prevent a Church of England situation.

Answer 4

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Answer 5

You can't put up the ten commandments in the courthouse, because that would be the court respecting the establishment of the Christian religion.

You can talk about Jesus in your valedictorian speech, because thats your speech, not the schools.

You can't pray with your teacher, because your teacher is acting as an agent of the government in an official capacity, and would be respecting that religion.

However, that teacher may permit time for people to do as they wish, and that does not prohibit you from praying.

Answer 6

I think you bring up a great point.

The limits on freedom and liberty are defined by others' rights.
Meaning I am free to do as I wish until I have begun to trample on someone elses' rights.

Michael Badnarik gave a great example of crying "Fire!" in a crowded movie theatre when there isnt one. Of course you are free to do that, but it shows no responsibility on the part of that individual.
And most people would agree, I think, that as much as a few people might laugh or find it amusing, many more people would find it unamusing, disrespectful, and ultimately dangerous.

So...What is it you want to know exactly? LoL.
There are so many angles you can create with the 1st amm.

Personally I tend to equate 1st and 2nd ammendment, amongst others, with free market principles. It is a given that you have free will and certain inalienable rights, but...you will pay for what you do. If its good you will mostly likely see a good return. And you will know when its bad. There are always consequences, so choose wisely.

Answer 7

Courthouses and public schools are government institutions. Putting up the ten commandments in courthouses and praying in public schools is a way for the government to establish a religion, and thus violates the 1st amendment.

Note that the 1st amendment only states what the government may and may not do. You are not the government, and so you are free to display the ten commandments anywhere on your own property, or pray in any way to whomever you like at any time you like, on your own property, or in a private school. You just can't do it in association with a government institution.

Answer 8

tell me how a loss of definitive reaction equates to the removing or curtailment of first modification rights? As I comprehend it, W and the group alllowed the fairness doctrine to flow with the help of the wayside. How regularly have you ever heard, on any media outlet, conservative or liberal, a voice of reason or a seek for consumer-friendly floor. the only element I seem to take heed to is the strident voice of the two an exact or left extremist/alarmist pushing an schedule that isn't enable any compromise. From what i've got considered, the previous 4 presidents have discovered motives to curtail our civil rights, in line with possibility you will instruct me at present administrations tries to shrink our first modification rights.

Answer 9

Yup, you are free to incorporate God as you see fit. Call him on the phone, talk about him at your graduation, give props to God after you score a TD on Madden '07, I could care less.

You cannot, however, make laws or govern the people of the US using God and Christianity as your foundation/reason. (or any other religion for that matter)

Schools, for instance, are government mandated. We cannot choose whether we want to go to school. We either attend public, private, or home schooling. Therefore, it's not Constitutional (not my opinion, this is from the Supreme Court) to force children into saying the pledge of allegiance at public schools.

Answer 10

It is saying that the Government can not force you to go to a certain church...you know the reason why the Pilgrims and Quakers came here...In England everyone had to go the the Church of England...the "Separation of Church and State" was in a letter the Jefferson wrote to a friend, and has been interpreted in different ways...The Liberal Supreme Court a few decades back thought it said no Church in government...unfortunately that was just the Judiciary caving in to a minority group and legislating...which is out of their lane...