If something represents 80% of Ameicans why shouldnt it be in public?

Question

I dont mean to come off as rude, but I am interested.

Most religions have a deity(s) and I think most can agree that atleast 8 of the ten commandments are common good. I dont mean to start the drinking game, but I truely do not understand whats wrong with the ten commandments being in public view.

I dont eat meat, but I dont think its wrong that you see it all over the place. I'll even cook it for you, I just dont eat it. If someone could explain this without being rude you'll get ten points :-p

I try to see all sides of any matter and Im having trouble here

Seperation of church and state isnt in the constitution, its goverment may not respect the establishment of religion.

Answer 1

Fair enough. But we have to balance the rights of the minority with the rule of the majority.

For starters, I really have a hard time believing that 80% of americans want the 10 Commandments displayed. 80% might be Christian, but that DOESN'T mean that they want the commandments displayed.

But lets say that 80% do want one religious symbol displayed in public places. Problem is - when our country was set up, it was set up to be a secular goverment - not a religious one. So for "all" the taxpayer money to go to maintaining, lets say a manger scene in the town square, or putting up a statue of the 10 commandments was forbidden when we made up "the rules" to begin with (the Constitution).

No, the phrase "seperation of church and state" isn't in the Consitution (just like "original sin" isn't in the bible). But the concept of, in Jefferson's words, "a wall of seperation between the church and state" are throughout the document.

The 10 commandments can be in public view! I don't know what you're talking about there. You can stick em on your lawn or in your business all you want. My neighbors have a blood-red world-eating cross on the side of their house. The 10 commandments just can't be "state-sponsored." That's the difference.

Answer 2

While separation of Church and state is not something mentioned in the constitution, it is a principal that the supreme court has conceived of to adhere to the bill of rights declaring that Government can make no law enforcing or forbidding religion. The founding Fathers, seeing what a mess religion, if it is one required by the state, can become, decided to totally avoid that in their new country. In the history of England itself, some of the most biggest bloodbaths have been between Protestant and Catholic, depending on the religion of the King or Queen at the time...

So, in while the 10 commandments may be nice idea, they are central to Bible based religions, and placing them in a government building would mean an endorsement of Bible based religions...While this in and of itself seems like a small thing, allowing even one aspect of a religion to be endorsed by government, will just add to the weight and argument for further government endorsement (in other words, a slippery slope). In order to adhere to the constitutional mandate, all signs or sources of endorsement of religion must be eliminated.

Or how about the Wiccan Rede? The Laws of Karma, or even the commandments of The Church of Satan. The way the mandate is written in the constitution, government has to either forbid all of them (separation of church and state) or must give equal time to any and all that demands it...it can either forbid all or allow all, it can't be biased and allow one...

Answer 3

It can be displayed in a public building when its meaning isn't construed as respecting an establishment of religion. Whe the 10 Commandments are put alongside the Magna Carta, Code of Hammurabi, etc., as example of how we derived and evolved our legal system it's perfectly okay.

When only the 10 Commandments are put up in public, it gives the appearance of respecting and establishment of religion.

Are you opposed to having the 10 Commandments treated like several other legal documents, of no more importance than any of the others? Many legal systems have arrived at the same laws that we have and don't use the 10 Commandments as a basis. You can't kill in Islamic countries either. It's common sense more than religion.

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong with displaying religious symbols on private property. The problem begins when it is displayed on publicly held property like government buildings and schools. Since my taxes support those institutions, they shouldn't be showing any type of religious preference.
Personally, I don't care if someone wants to put up seasonal decorations, but creches and such belong at a church. As far as the Ten Commandments, while that may be appropriate for Christians and Jews, it isn't for Moslems, Hindus Buddhists, Sikhs, atheists ,etc. They have their own code of ethics.

Answer 5

It's like this: America is NOT a theocrisy. The United States is NOT a Christian nation. That's why we have that pesky little ammendment that guarantees each citizen the freedom from religious persecution. The Ten Commandments, like it or not, is a religious display when it's in the middle of a public park or a state house. It belongs at the Church, not in the community as a whole. Unless, of course, you're willing to allow passages from the Qur'an on public property. Or even qoutes from Greek Gods, as well. There are over 2,500 recognised Gods from various religions; you'd have to represent all of them (and update them for any new religions) for any area representing the general public in any country that (supposedly) doesn't favor any one religion over another. Then where are you going to put the park? How are you going to find room for the rest of the courthouse? EVERYTHING would become a place of whorship. And while we're at it, since Atheists are also protected, you'd have to allow qoutes from other Atheists or passages from scientific journals. Sounds like a mess to me!

You know what? Lose the Ten Commandments instead--keep 'em where they belong: At your house or at your church. I don't want to see them! Do you want to see anything from Atheism? Then that's my deal. Hope it sounds fair to you.

[Edit] I guess it doesn't. But one thing I've never called you people is fair-minded.

Answer 6

You have to put into the framework that the writers of our Constitution and the creators of our government came from countries in Europe that were totalitarian. Religion was chosen and dictated by the government, you worshipped who and what the government told you or you faced persecution. While the exact words 'separation of church and state' are not in the Constitution, the intent is clear. The government shall make no laws which promote or dictate religion. The founding fathers wanted all Americans to be free to chose their own religious path (or a non-religious path) without government interference.

Answer 7

There's nothing wrong with the ten commandments being on public view. Just keep them out of public buildings and parks, since that would of course be a violation of the First Amendment.

Now let's be honest about this. The fundies have you convinced that the ACLU is trying to keep you from exercising your religion, right? Of course they're not going to admit that what's really going on is that they - the fundies - are the ones trying to restrict religious liberties. Those same fundies are fond of saying that the United States is a Christian nation and that our laws are founded in the authority of God. That's a completely anti-American stance, and I'm not going to listen to that one day, and then magically forget that I ever heard it when they're arguing that they're just trying to freely exercise their religion. That's simply a lie - they're trying to turn the United States into a Christian nation.
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"Seperation of church and state isnt in the constitution, its goverment may not respect the establishment of religion."

So you're against religious freedom. Nice.
Happy Fourth of July, Osama.

Answer 8

The constitution protects all citizens if the 20% who do not believe the same are subjected to the will of the 80% thier rights are not being protected.. Placing the 10 commandments or any other religious paraphenalia in public schools etc. is allowed that 20% is not having their right protected...

What if the chosen text or paraphenalia proposed to be place in public government places was something you disagreed with wouldn't you fight for your rights?

Answer 9

I think it's an issue because it's is related to one specific religion...which isn't what this country is. It's pretty much all common things within most of humanity, so if we wrote up a variation that did not suggest religion, that might be ok, although people who for some reason have to have the religious aspect mentioned would flip out...so it's rather pointless.

Answer 10

People have a tendecy to bad mouth or try to condemn what they dont understand. I have no problem with homosexuals, I'm not one nor do I ever plan on practicing it, but if it works for that person then fine. And I think you would be hard pressed to find someone that has a problem with a bi-sexual woman. It's almost every mans fantasy, and if you gave women a choice of the 2 (man to man/woman to woman) the choice would probably be unanimous of what they would rather see.