For example, creationism in schools and gay marriage. Should we ignore the 1st ammendment? Should we ignore the fact that everyone in this country is supposed to have equal rights? Should our country violate the seperation of church and state and cater to a specific religion just because they over power the government? Should the US be a "Christian Country"? If so, why?
2007-10-12 07:54:31 · 16 answers · asked by getalifeFATTY 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The country was created by people escaping religious persecution. The framers of the Constitution knew that the government and religion needed to be at 'arms length'. Under no circumstances should the country adopt a national religion, or be mixed up in favoring one religion over another.
2007-10-12 08:01:47 · answer #1 · answered by words_smith_4u 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It feels like a major effort to come up with a reply to your over-simplified outlook.
Creationism in the public schools has already been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The Court struck down a Louisiana law dealing with that.
Gay marriage is legal in the state of Massachusetts because of the fact that the state's highest court lied about the state constitution. Gay marriage is not legal in any other state in the country and I would say that Christianity's traditional condemnation of homosexual behavior has a lot to do with why. But in my opinion, there is no violation of the 1st amendment at all just because a law is based on a moral value that people have learned from the Bible. Have you ever heard of "Thou shalt not bare false witness" ? How about "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not kill" ?
This country does not and will not "ignore" the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment unless and until it gets repealed. But believe me, it will take VOLUMES for me to explain how easy it is to misconstrue the 14th amendment.
No, this country should not allow any "specific religion" to "over power" the government. It never has happened and it never will.
This country is a "Christian country" insofar as the fact that a majority of the people and their elected leaders are Christian. That is a fact. Period. This country is not an OFFICALLY "Christian country -- like Israel has Judaism as its official religion and like many European and Latin American countries are officially Catholic countries. But to say that we know FOR A FACT that a majority of people in the US are Christians is not the same thing as saying that the government is officially Christian .... like Israel and the other countries I mentioned.
2007-10-12 08:15:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not. Educated people know that Christianity as we know it has nothing to do with the teachings of Christ, and more with the power of the church, and was formed in 400 AD by the Emperor Constantine. It would be ridiculous to base laws on a system of belief that says that anyone who doesn't belive or accept a savior is going to burn in hell, even little children. Not everyone believes in Christ as a God, so we should not be forced to live in a Christian country. If you think that combining church and state is a good idea, check out the Taliban. And any kook with a plan could come and say god spoke to him and start making crazy laws. Lets not forget the fact that some of these militant christians are so ignorant that they think the world is only 6,000 years old, in the face of scientific proof! I absolutely believe in God, but religion is the worst thing that happened to spirituality. Any time we get an us vs/them situation is terrible, and more people have been slaughtered in the name of religion than for any other reason. Like it or not, we have freedom of religion in this country!
2007-10-12 08:15:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The passages pertaining to creation (Genesis) and homosexuality (Leviticus) are not unique to Christianity and were part of Judaism even before Christianity existed.
To some degree, all laws are based on religion.
Certainly, you would not suggest that we legalize murder, stealing, perjury, etc., merely because they are prohibited in the Ten Commandments.
Although this is less well known, even the social security tax has its origin in Exodus. Until the commandment "Honor thy father and mother", the elderly were allowed to starve when they became too old to work or too disabled to work. Providing for one's own parents, to satisfy a duty imposed by religion, was the start of the modern ethical view that we have a duty to provide for the elderly, either directly or through the government.
I agree that some laws motivated by religion are bad, but all laws are based on religion to some degree. If we were to abolish all such laws, there would be no laws left.
2007-10-12 08:10:54 · answer #4 · answered by StephenWeinstein 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I see a lot of issues with that... the US has always been defined as a melting pot. That doesn't stop at just the color of someone's skin. It includes various religions and various native languages as well.
I enjoy the separation of church and state, and that we allow scientific research to continually prove or disprove the validity of ideals we have been brought up with.
In terms of creationism, I have never thought that the world was created in 6 days that were each 24 hours long. For all we know, a "day" in God's eyes may have been thousands of years long. And for all we know, the big bang theory may have been part of God's plan all along.
I think capitalism has done a good job of not forcing Christianity to be the overpowering religion of the country, though. Christmas and Easter are two good examples... children are brought up to believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, even if they don't know about Jesus.
I think religion shouldn't be a determining factor in passing laws though... I believe in gay marriage and freedom of choice, though I am a pro-life believer, in regards to my own life. I believe a woman has one person she has to make the abortion decision for... herself.
I say all this as an agnostic, who grew up Christian... just giving you some thoughts, though.
2007-10-12 08:05:43 · answer #5 · answered by Lily Iris 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Um no. Our rules are based human survival and humanism. If homicide grow to be criminal there does no longer be too many persons around now would there be? undemanding experience stuff. And the Christians weren't the 1st to think of of them any how. they only think of they have been because of the fact is the crap human beings have been feeding them. knowledgeable Christians nicely known the roots of their faith and appreciate people who got here previously it. only because of the fact the rustic is normally white does that make us a white u . s .? (Stole that from an previously quote from shown Atheist) The rules have been in line with English rules that borrowed heavily from the Germanic and Celtic prolonged kin gadget. It grow to be additionally equipped off of Greek Democracy (you recognize...that entire balloting element we do?) there's a reason god and slavery have been omitted of the form. The Founding fathers felt the two have been too debatable to put in. James Madison, founding father, provided the Treaty of Tripoli that grow to be UNANIMOUSLY signed that has a piece of writing (11 to be genuine) exceedingly putting forward that the US grow to be no longer in line with Christianity. attempt analyzing it sometime.
2016-12-29 06:37:30 · answer #6 · answered by rosse 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually the elite rally the support of the religion to further their own power....
abortion, drugs, and gay marriages..... are voting concerns for most americans,,,, but notice that all of them violate freedoms..
infringing their religions beliefs on others through force...
the elite use this group of simpletons to deter attention from the real issue of taking power from the rich and giving it back to the people...
2007-10-12 08:07:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes and no.
While there is to be a separation of church and state you must also undertstand that a democratic government is based on majority rules.
If the majority of the population, and even more so, the voting population, are Christians, then yes laws will be based on the wants of the Christians..(to an extent.)
Not that I mean to agree that since there are so many christians we should just become a christian country, rather trying to explain why it is that so many laws seem to be Christian based.
2007-10-12 07:59:48 · answer #8 · answered by elysialaw 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Not everyone opposed to gay marriage or abortion do so because of relegious reasons. Many laws make sense fro society.
If the 10 Commandments say, "Thou shalt not steal" & "Thou shalt not murder", does that mean that we can't make laws against stealing and murder because some people are opposed to it on relegious grounds.
2007-10-12 08:13:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
YES! because our nation was founded of Judo-Christian beliefs and to many men and women died defending those same beliefs And yes church and state should be separate to the extent that everyone be allowed to have his/her
on belief with out govt. interference
But the h#ll with all this political correct B.S. be pushed on us by the ACLU and such un-American groups!
2007-10-12 08:15:55 · answer #10 · answered by Dragons Slayer 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋