The town I live in back in Florida normally a care free type town a live and let live type of place. It's not gay friendly when it comes to clubs or bars but that's ok there not far away if I want to go. They have other things that has to do with the gay community so all in all I guess its not bad. The reason for this post has nothing to do with the gay community but has to be somewhat a religion post. Seems there is an issue with the court house, the 10 commandments and people. I guess there are people in that town who think the marble 10 commandments shouldn't be on the lawn of the court house. I guess it's gotten so bad that someone damage this marble piece. Childish is you ask me.
Look I'm not a throw it in your face religious guy but I do believe. I have different believes them most Christian people but this post is not about that either cause I could go on and on about what I believe and how they don't believe like I do. I don't understand why people are so pissed over the 10 commandments being on the court house lawn. This country was founded on God and the 10 commandments is a big part of our American history. Nobody is asking you to believe in them if your don't believe in God then walk on by really nobody asking you to stop and pray. I don't believe in forcing religion on anybody but it's just a radio program or a TV program if you don't agree with it change the channel.
I just don't get why people are so pissed over this maybe ya'll can get me to understand cause right now I don't. I don't see where it hurts anything only hurt I see is the damage done to this beautiful marble. Oh I got another post about something I don't understand and it also has to do with history I'll try to get it up next week.
Later!
Look I'm not a throw it in your face religious guy but I do believe. I have different believes them most Christian people but this post is not about that either cause I could go on and on about what I believe and how they don't believe like I do. I don't understand why people are so pissed over the 10 commandments being on the court house lawn. This country was founded on God and the 10 commandments is a big part of our American history. Nobody is asking you to believe in them if your don't believe in God then walk on by really nobody asking you to stop and pray. I don't believe in forcing religion on anybody but it's just a radio program or a TV program if you don't agree with it change the channel.
I just don't get why people are so pissed over this maybe ya'll can get me to understand cause right now I don't. I don't see where it hurts anything only hurt I see is the damage done to this beautiful marble. Oh I got another post about something I don't understand and it also has to do with history I'll try to get it up next week.Later!
there's nothing like religion or politics, to bring out the best and the worst in people... Something good, is turned into a lever to pull people apart and simple reason, goes out the door as the water heats and starts to boil...
We live in a society that is very selfish, and, kind of paranoid, about things like this... I wish that people would learn to 'live and let live' and stop trying to pick fights about every possible thing that they can! Living like that, is not the way that Christ intended, and, if you're not a believer, it isn't a healthy way to go through life either- fighting to suppress someone else's beliefs, because you feel threatened, on some level...
The founding fathers saw the potential for dissent on this topic, hence, the concept of the separation of religion and government... I don't think that they anticipated the overall vitriol that the age of communication has made possible...
Damaging the monument was a sign of frustration, and was childish... If the public square wasn't acceptable to some, how about a thoughtful discussion, and, civil disagreement to iron out the differences. It would be more productive, and less inflammatory... luv, tman<3
Wish I could help. But I don't go near religion or politics. And that's because I'm not very religious or political :))
Ryan and tman, I agree with both of you. This is a Christian country based on Christian beliefs. God Bless America!
It's all because people want
control over others...One person
has a fit and others jump on the
band wagon cause it's a fight
for control...
HUGS!
Laurie
It isn't about your religious beliefs. It is about separation of church and state.
Take a hard look at Iran. Is that what you want? A theological government? A court system based on the Koran or Bible?
This is a country where you have the freedom to follow the religion of your choice. If you're gonna have the Ten commandments posted, then what about the other religions, Islam for example?
So the posting of the 10 commandments at government institutions could be viewed as a threat to freedom of religion , as well.
Cuts both ways!
@Jimm - I agree ... if someone wants to put a similar monument or statue, or memorial of some kind, I'd say 'Great!' I just don't think that the best way to deal with different beliefs, is to exclude all...
And, there is a huge difference between a simple rendering of the 10 commandments, and a theocracy, like Iran... I understand the immediate gut reaction; I just wish that there was a little more calm reasoning involved. When people pick religion to fight over, there is no good resolution... That's how you end up with places like Iran... luv, tman<3
Okay, let's clear up a couple of misconceptions here. First of all, the U.S. is not a "Christian nation" nor was it founded on "Christian principles." The Founding Fathers were *not* all Christians, and they specifically did not want any government-authorized religion like they fled from in England.
Having said that, displaying a monument with the "10 Commandments" (which don't appear as such in the Bible, by the way) is in NO WAY enacting a law which forces people to believe a certain way or become a member of a certain religion. READ the First Amendment of the Constitution! It says NOTHING about "separation of church and state." It only says that Congress SHALL PASS NO LAW with respect to religion.
If a state wants to display the 10 Commandments, fine, this does not hurt or harm me. Just so long as there is no federal law forcing me to become a Southern Baptist, Mormon or Muslim, I DON'T CARE.
Neither should you.
The founding fathers were christians and opened every meeting with a prayer. They would not even let a man vote who was not a christian in the elections of the day. Having said this I see that the ten commandments say do not lie do not commit adultry do not steal etc. All things we should be striving for. Even if you don't believe God gave these laws to Moses they are still great words to live by. Ted
While some of the Founding Fathers *were* Christian, some of them were deists, and okay even monodeists. So it is wrong to say they were "Christian." There is a difference. Yes, they believed in a "Creator," a "Supreme Being" or "Nature's God," if you will. Of that there is no doubt. But they were not all Southern Baptists or Catholics or Protestants or whatever. That they started each meeting with a prayer is irrelevant. And to say that they would not let non-Christians vote is simply untrue.
The words, "God," "Christ," "Bible," or "Christian" do not appear anywhere in our Constitution- the framework for our government.
Remember, freedom OF religion is not the same as freedom FROM religion. As long as the government does not prescribe that all citizens should be "Christians," then I'm good. I'm with you. Once ANYONE starts saying that our government is a "Christian" government, then I'm out, and we're gonna have words. Because it's not true, no matter how desperately some wish to believe it.
The U.S. is a religion-free zone. We must work to keep it that way.
See what I mean, kid?? lol... luv, tman<3
Ryan:
I've copied the following from Cornell Law School's LII:
"The First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion.” This clause not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion, but also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another. It also prohibits the government from unduly preferring religion over non-religion, or non-religion over religion."
Yesterday the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that two KY counties cannot display the Ten Commandments in s.e. courthouses since they could not demonstrate any valid "secular" reason for posting them. These cases keep reemerging since their legal fees are often covered by "right wing conservative religious groups. Our earliest colonists often fled from religious persecution in countries where there were "state" mandated religious. Our founders wisely sought to avoid these practices.
"The First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any law “respecting an establishment of religion.” This clause not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion, but also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another. It also prohibits the government from unduly preferring religion over non-religion, or non-religion over religion."
Well, that's Cornell's interpretation of the First Amendment. Unfortunately, the Founding Fathers didn't elaborate on what they meant by "respecting the establishment of a religion." I suppose that there are different interpretations of that phrase that have to be decided by the Supreme Court.
Fussy, paranoid, nit-pickers with nothing better to do with their miserable lives will see ANYTHING as "government trying to shove religion down our throats." Even the simple display of the "10 Commandments" is viewed as such. And because belief in a Creator is SO FRIGGIN' DANGEROUS to society, they'll make a big hoo-hah about it and go to court to prevent such horrible affronts to mankind.
It's sad, really.
Because in general, it's hard to argue that following the "10 Commandments" (no matter where they come from) would make this country a pretty decent place to live.
Panhandle:
Despite what you might think these postings of the "10 Commandments" and other religious symbols do not happen by chance, they are part of a well funded conservative religious agenda,
which seeks to promote one religion over another. People of this ilk have recently sought to rewrite American history through their control of such state bodies as the one which selects textbooks for Texas public school. You should feel free to post religious symbols on your own property or place of business.