Should we amend the Constitution to end frivolous "seperation of church and state" lawsuits?

Question

I think it's time to amend the Constitution to remove the so-called Establishment Clause that prevents the State from expressing a view on religious matters.

Fact is, we're a Christian nation. We shouldn't be clogging up courts with ridiculous lawsuits over Christmas trees, nativity scenes, the Ten Commandments, the Pledge of Allegiance, or "In God We Trust" being on coins. They have a state religion in the UK (the Anglican Church) and it works just fine.

Answer 1

right on

Answer 2

Theocracies are a dangerous thing because of the capability for religion to become perverted by people corrupted with power. Religion is a matter between a person and their God. The Anglican Church has persecuted many Christians, in fact I would say the Anglican Church has done more harm to Protestantism than help for it.

The state magistrates have no duty saying which religion, or religious idea, is right or wrong. The government should always be neutral in matters of religious conscience.

Besides, this does not stop you from voting according to your religious principles, it just keeps the government from requiring that you vote according to certain moral principles.

Answer 3

While I disagree that we are a Christian nation (we are a nation of many faiths), consider this:

The Sunnis and the Shi'ites believe in the same god, and in the prophet Muhammad. However they hate each other, and still kill each other, over a seemingly *small* detail: who is the successor to the Prophet. They have been at odds over this for nearly 1500 years.

While the enormity of that number rolls around in your head, think about all the different flavors of Christianity that exist: Orthodox, Methodist, Pentecostal, Baptist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, to name a few. And then we have our fundamentalists and our moderates of all the above.

So, when you say this is a Christian nation, to which denomination do you refer? Don't imagine for one minute that, were the US government to stop honoring the separation of church and state, that they would not pick a favorite. And then *everyone* else would lose out on the freedom of religion we cherish.

That separation exists to protect *everyone*. Not just atheists, but every Wiccan, Buddhist, Islamic, and Christian in this country. Everyone.

Answer 4

You are correct and don't forget that in Scotland there is the Church of Scotland (which is basically Presbyterian). While the church Scotland have many serious problems today it worked great in the beginning years.

In the past (started 1688) Scotland was an excellent example of allowing religion within it's society. Yes - there was a separation of powers, however the church and the civil magistrate worked together to bring morality and the gospel to the nation.

Answer 5

Join the legislative Branch of your government to enact amendment of the law for the complete separation of state and religion. At least you have the majority role on the ligeslative branch. Be a Sanator with many others inorder to win in the separation of the state from religion and if possib le be the Prtesident and your husband will be the Vice President and all your relatives and true friends are your senators.
jtm.

Answer 6

Let's see now....
The Puritans came to this country seeking to freely worship their brand of christianity.
Why? Because the church of england harrassed, hounded, and legislated them mercilessly.
Clearly, the puritans came here seeking not only freedom OF religion, but freedom FROM it.
And so it came to be.
Almost two centuries later, king george III was still dinking around with us, but it didn't have a damned thing to do with religion. By that time, it was all about money. We had some, england wanted it. Read the declaration of independence. It's interesting.
Anyway, after the smoke cleared, a bunch of these now-ex-revolutionaries sat down at the table and hammered out a constitution for this land which they now controlled outright, with no allegiance to anyone else.
So they made a list of all the things that kept people oppressed; quasi-slaves to a bunch of moneyed aristocrats.
You know the buzzwords, taxation etc..
Anyway, on that list was religion. These people had both personal and second generation knowledge that when religion acts as a legislative force within government, SOME people are NEVER free.
And so they made damned sure that words like "congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" was on this piece of paper.
Now here you come along, all full of yourself, proclaiming that any legal challenge to state sponsored religious practices must be "frivolous".
Well, stick it, lady.
I'm atheist. I'm also a united states citizen.
And I ==>>DON'T<<== trust in your god!
Ya don't like it? SUE ME!

Furthermore, the english "state religion" is an empty shell of yesteryear, when the king was the head of the church of england. Today, england is no longer a true monarchy. It's a parliamentary democracy. The anglican church today has absolutely NO say in government. None. Nada. Zip. Zilch.
So quit making crap up out of thin air like "Duh, england has a state religion that works just fine, duh..."

Finally, my country did just fine for 180 years WITHOUT having "in god we trust" stamped on its money, so don't get all huffy because we secularists don't appreciate the sentiment and would like to see it restored to its original state of being just plain old money, and not some dimwitted, rah-rah religious declaration.

You want to know what *I* think its about time for?
I think its about time you religionists took your religion back inside your church and kept it there.
You stay the hell out of my bedroom, my bank account, my school and my life, and I'll stay the hell out of your church.

Deal?

.

Answer 7

Don't know if you noticed, but the UK with its 'state religion' has been moving toward atheism for a long while. Sweden has a state-funded official religion too.

And the establishment clause serves probably the noblest function in a government - protection of the citizens from the government.

Answer 8

But what if the country decided we didn't want to be christian? Why should the rest of the people who don't practice christianity have to deal with it if they don't want to? What happened to a free country?? What if a law is passed that people don't agree with because it follows christian views. Like Gay Marriage, or Abortion? If you like the UK state religion...why don't you go live there?

Answer 9

"I have examined all of the known superstitions of the world and I do not find in our superstitions of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all founded on fables and mythology. Christianity has made one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites."
(Thomas Jefferson / 1743-1826)

“The government of the United States is in no sense founded upon the Christian religion.”
— (First) Treaty of Tripoli, 1797 (8 US at L 154)

Answer 10

"Fact is, we're a Christian nation." - Please define "Christian nation", please. Does that mean that the government is to give preference to Christianity over other religions?

What religion do you propose that our government support? The Baptist church? How about the Roman Catholic church? Maybe the Church of Christ? The United Pentecostal Church. How about the Seventh Day Adventist church? Inquiring minds want to know.
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Answer 11

Frivolous lawsuits will always be! You can't stop them apart from penalising the guilty parties for daring to bring such frivolous matters before the courts. But that would mean that everyone would be frightened of bringing a suit for fear of losing and being deemd frivolous? Would you want it that way.

We should NEVER allow State and Church to be combined, EVER. Look at Afghanistan, etc.....They determine strict Sharia law, and look what they get.....public executions for blasphemy, etc.

No thanks !