Tonight I have seen this alot...?

Question

Some nonchristians have stated keep religion in church or at home. Is this because you feel we shouldnt be allowed to speak of Jesus in public (parks, malls, city streets) etc or just not in schools/govt buildings to maintain separation of church/state? Please clarify

Answer 1

I think it is because many feel threatened or convicted and that's an uncomfortable feeling.
satan knows it's nearing his last days and I'm sure will use atheists, wiccans, God haters etc to try to shut us up!

But whilst there is breath in us and time for Christians to still speak freely, worship and read our bibles in the countries we can,*
..Let us talk of His Wonders and His Mercy and Salvation, that He gives So freely and doesn't want anyone to Perish because He Loves us All!
Amen

Answer 2

+PAX

You see, my vows won't allow me to leave Jesus at home. Where I go, he and the Holy Spirit go.

I don't proselytize but I will reach down and pick up the dropped book for you or hold your baby as you dig through your purse for the keys or hold your hand while you cry at the doctors office. I'll stop at the car wreck, etc...

What are wrong with these things? I'm performing the word of God right there in front of you. And you would wish me not to do these things. What if it were you that needed help? Should I simply ignore you? Because I can't be a Christian outside? Hmmm....sounds awful Hitlerish to me.

And no where in the Constitution can you show me the phrase "separation of church and state".

Unfortunately, we are doing now what our parents and grandparents fought against sixty years ago in WWII.

In Humility,
j

Answer 3

That's a good and a fair question. The problem is how to allow the private and the public to coexist. Private, personal beliefs, that are faith-based should certainly belong to individuals, but not to the state. I don't even personally have a problem usually with public expressions of faith. But I do feel that when personal faith is endorsed by the state via public displays that a selection of one "truth" over any others has been made. And I may not agree with that particular belief.

This is one important reason for advocating a "bright liine" between private and public, between church and state. I hope that offers some useful perspective.

Answer 4

Interesting how everyone seems to be saying that churches cannot utitlize public buildings for meetings.

If I put my house up for rent, and a white person rents it, I have the option to rent it to him. If no black people even apply to rent it, am I guilty of discrimination because I'm not renting to black people?

Same with public buildings. If a Christian organization rents the building, fine. But if a Jewish, or Muslim, or Buddhist, or Church of the Holy Moley wants to rent it, religious freedom requires that they all be allowed to do so. One can't be accepted while others are rejected. If no others apply, though, that is not discrimination.

For public agencies to deny any and all religious groups from renting public buildings, THAT is an establishment of religion, a studiously avowed catechism of NON-religion, or atheism.

*Reading above, I see someone saying that he wants religion kept out of government. Please, tell me which of the candidates campaigning for President this year has no religion? The First Amendment already prevents the government from establishing a particular religion, but every Congressman who makes our laws has some religion and it has an effect on his vote.

Answer 5

What I don't understand is when I am pumping gas, the car next to me is playing music that I don't like at a very high volume, when I complain either to them or the station manager, I am told they have the right.

When I see something on a tee shirt that I think is Anti-American or otherwise offensive, I am told they have the right, and it is freedom of speech.

When I hear people use foul language ( which I sometimes do, even tho not in front of your wife or mother or little child), I am told that is their right.

When my nieghbors fight and argue to the point that I can't hear my own tv, I can't invade their privacy.

When my neighbors dog gets into my trash, poops in my yard, and scares my children, I am told that is their right to have a pet. I have a dog too, but I make him mind.

When the people in the diner sitting across from me have such poor table manners that it spoils my appetite, I do not get a refund on my meal, because I am not supposed to judge them.

When I look at this, it is not offensive to me if someone wants to pray, or say they love Jesus, or invite me to church, or hand me some phamplet that I can either read or throw away.

I think it is time we stop blaming the religious people for the evil in America and start blaming the disrespectful and the intrusive and the criminals.

No Christian has EVER told me I am going to hell, they have all just wanted to tell me about either their church or how Jesus could save my soul.

I see many of you referring to "public property", public property belongs to the Christians also, we pay taxes based on our income not our faith or lack of it.

Answer 6

I believe that as a private citizen, you should be able to speak where ever you want to. Teachers when in front of a class, should abstain until they are off campus. Blue laws should be abolished, but people wishing time off for Sabbath services, should be allowed to take it.
A church in Tampa, Florida successfully sued the county government to hold services in the park for homeless people after closing hours, citing they are commanded to preach to the poor, and stopping the services interferred with the practice of their religion.

Answer 7

Eh, I wouldn't take them seriously. Just like they probably wouldn't take you seriously if you were to preach to them on the street.

However, being an atheist, it REALLY is annoying seeing at least 80 people, mostly of Abrahamic faiths, every Sunday morning, freshly released from church, outside of the local abortion clinic with picket signs about God, abortion, sin, Hell, etc... EVERY Sunday morning. And it's not the picketing so much as the fact that these people MUST have their own personal sins to deal with. How can they finger MOTES with PLANKS in their own eyes?

So, while saying that Christianity should be left at home and church is ludicrous, there are reasonable limits that should be considered for any Christian who wants to be taken seriously. I am sorry, however, if any of my "fellow" atheists sincerely believe this (assuming you interpreted what they meant correctly). That's the same as telling an atheist not to tell anybody that they don't believe in any deities, which is equally ridiculous.

Edit:

btw, I agree with AuroraDawn. If Churches and religious organizations wish to have a say in government, they need to be taxed. I wouldn't expect any less of anybody, whether I agreed with their beliefs or not.

Answer 8

America was founded by Christians. No where in the Constitution does it state separation of church and state. Benjamen Franklin said that. Most state constitutions state that schools are to teach Bible first, morals second, and education 3rd. Check it out. http://wallbuilders.com/ This website is a Christian website. The man who runs it has done alot of research and has found all this information. I have watched his TV series on Trinity Broadcasting Network. It is on Weds.

Answer 9

Freedom of speech - u should be allowed to speak of Jesus in public places (as long as it doesn't incite hate)

Freedom of religion-
just not in schools/govt bldngs... seperation of church and state

Answer 10

Specifically, adult-led organized religious activities in publicly funded schools or organizations.

It's in violation of the separation clause, which is a two way street. The government is not allowed to interfere with your church activities.

Two sides of the same street called America.