Did You KNOW???

Question

DID YOU KNOW? As you walk up the steps to the building which houses the U.S Supreme Court you can see near the top of the building a row of the world's law givers and each one is facing one in the middle who is facing forward with a full frontal view .. it is Moses and he is holding the Ten Commandments!
DID YOU KNOW?
As you enter the Supreme Court courtroom, the two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments engraved on each lower portion of each door.
DID YOU KNOW?
As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see the wall,
right above where the Supreme Court judges sit,
a display of the Ten Commandments!
DID YOU KNOW?
There are Bible verses etched in stone all over the Federal Buildings and Monuments in Washington , D.C.
DID YOU KNOW?
James Madison, the fourth president, known as 'The Father of Our Constitution' made the following statement:
'We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.'
DID YOU KNOW?
Patrick Henry, that patriot and Founding Father of our country said:
'It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ'.
DID YOU KNOW?
Every session of Congress begins with a prayer by a paid preacher, whose salary has been paid by the taxpayer since 1777.
DID YOU KNOW?
Fifty-two of the 55 founders of the Constitution were members of the established orthodox churches in the colonies.
DID YOU KNOW?
Thomas Jefferson worried that the Courts would overstep their authority and instead of interpreting the law would begin making law . an oligarchy: the rule of few over many.
DID YOU KNOW?
The very first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay, said:
'Americans should select and prefer Christians as their rulers.'

How, then, have we gotten to the point that everything we have done for 220 years in this country is now suddenly wrong and unconstitutional?
It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore, it is very hard to understand why there is such a mess about having the Ten Commandments on display or 'In God We Trust' on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the other 14% to Sit Down and SHUT UP!!!

Thanks Jason L, I was not aware of that, but its wonderful!

Steddy Voter: I fully heartidly know what you are talking about!

Steve C: other religions were around during this time period....NOT just Christianity.

Answer 1

Some of that I knew, some I didnt. You will catch grief for this but I liked it and it was thought provoking.
You probably know that In the 1830's, French diplomat Alexis de Tocqueville toured America, seeking for the secret of her greatness. Upon his returning to France, he made this profound observation

"I sought for the key to the greatness of America in her harbors...; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

Answer 2

rhio9, Great Answer!

Well yes, Christianity has always been the predominated religion of our society, so it has great influence. But the Government, by law and approved by the people, is specifically barred from having a religion and promoting any specific religion. The government by law can not compel religion or punish anyone for their religious choices (including choosing no religion)

Sure there are religious symbols and themes in many aspects of government and where that is cultural, educational, or traditional as opposed to an enforcement of authority, there is little or no objection. But these exceptions, which do not explicitly violate the constitution, are not license to do so, as would requiring public school children to pray to Jesus or Allah.

When the 86% that you believe think your way want to change things, then by all means do so. But they don't. They want to be free to pray or not pray, go to chruch or not go to church, to shop on Sunday and worship on Saturday or shop on Saturday and worship on Sunday. Or not worship at all. The vast majority may be Christian, but they know the difference between religious freedom and religious dogma. You apparently do not.

Answer 3

Did you know that the North Wall Frieze shows lawgivers from the AD era and includes representations of Muhammad?

Did you know that Moses' beard obscures some of the words so that instead of reading "Thou Shalt Not Steal," it says "Steal," and similarly appears to command viewers to murder and commit adultery.

Moses is found on the Guardian of Liberty which is to the right of the main entrance to the supreme court. He does not have the great leader as they are on the south and North Wall Frieze.

I agree with you in regard to the need to keep historical buildings as they were. I also think that anyone who gets offended by a statue really needs to take another look at themselves.

Answer 4

Because the Constitution states that they shouldn't have too.

Did you know that Christians have "evolved" their religion and the practices since the founding of our country? Did you know that this is because we as a country and a community have evolved?

There are extremists who want some of the changes you mention, but not the majority.

Did you know that on Halloween, I had a group of people come to my house to explain their version of Christianity to me. When I declined their generous offer and tried to leave to get my daughter ready to trick or treat, one tried to enter my home telling me I shouldn't let my daughter participate in a pagan religion holiday? Should I hold this against all Christians; or just the few who are extremists?

Answer 5

Did it ever dawn on you that back in the time of the founding fathers, Christianity was the only religion in the US? Now there a dozen different types of religions in the US. Putting one above the others is silly and insulting to the people who do not believe in Christianity.

Answer 6

DID YOU KNOW? DO YOU CARE?
The "separation of state and church" (I put state first because it is more important than the church) derives principally from the following three constitutional doctrines.

1) Article VI, which guarantees that "...no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

2) The First Amendment, which includes: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...."

3) The Fourteenth Amendment, which mandates that no State shall "...deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

DID YOU KNOW? DO YOU CARE?
In deciding most state-church cases, the Supreme Court uses the "Lemon test," Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), which requires that all government activity must:

1) serve a principally secular purpose;
2) not in effect advance religion over non-religion; or
3) not involve excessive entanglement with religion.

DID YOU KNOW? DO YOU CARE?
The "separation of state and church" has been repeatedly, although somewhat inconsistently, upheld by more than 50 years of affirmative jurisprudence. Constitutional law is based not on the actual wording of the Constitution but through the process of common law.

DID YOU KNOW? DO YOU CARE?
The separation of state and church prohibits government-sponsored prayer in public school classrooms, at sporting events, graduation ceremonies, or other official school functions. Government officials and employees must not engage in activity which would promote any specific religion or religion generally. This is why government must never allow the erection of crosses or the posting of religious materials on public property. Government policies must remain neutral and the enforcement of laws must be without bias or discrimination. Of course the separation of state and church does not prevent any individual from praying, reflecting, or otherwise exercising their chosen religious practices at any time or any place they choose.

DID YOU KNOW? DO YOU CARE?
More than 30 million Americans have explicitly chosen to reject religion in favor of a secular "impetus for our individual creativity, liberty and prosperity." We do not believe in Rowland's concept of God; to us Christianity is a delusionary fantasy. Yet we, the millions of nonreligious Americans and majority of Hawai'i residents, are citizens, too. We are also guaranteed due process and the equal protection of laws under the Constitution.

Answer 7

So, nobody said that our first passle of politicians didn't make serious mistakes.

Did you know that Thomas Jefferson warned against religion, christians in general and against Baptists in particular?

Answer 8

i don't believe in god but dont care that god is in the pledge or the money and the ten commandments are anywhere

why exactly are you telling me to shut up? stereotype a bit much?

Answer 9

Actually, the one that gets me most, are the people who scream about the mention of God or religion, but gladly accept money that says "In God We Trust".

Edit: For Steve C - there was a signifigant amount of people of the Jewish faith in NYC by the 1750's.

Answer 10

No i didn't - no offense but could YOU sit down and shut up? - my eyes hurt