"...our founding fathers had the superior vision to separate church and
state. It is a fundamental principle that has allowed our great, diverse
nation to grow and flourish peacefully. blurring the line between church
and state erodes our constitution, and our democracy. it is a blatant
abuse of power. participating in something designed to incite
divisiveness and encourage contention is unacceptable. I would hope that
sen. Frist will rise above something so beyond the pale.”


--Senator Harry Reid (D-NV, trying to reason with a foaming, rabid dog

First put the OT in the header! And where does it say they had a vision to
separate religion and state? They only stated there would not be a state
religion! Ala Church of England. They mentioned God in the Declaration of
Independence. They opened Congress with prayers, etc. Jimcomma, use your
brain for some self examination and reasoning. Do not go along with
whatever liberal sound bite of the day you find comforting.

"Jim," wrote in message
...

"...our founding fathers had the superior vision to separate church and
state. It is a fundamental principle that has allowed our great, diverse
nation to grow and flourish peacefully. blurring the line between church
and state erodes our constitution, and our democracy. it is a blatant
abuse of power. participating in something designed to incite divisiveness
and encourage contention is unacceptable. I would hope that sen. Frist
will rise above something so beyond the pale.”


--Senator Harry Reid (D-NV, trying to reason with a foaming, rabid dog

Bill McKee wrote:
First put the OT in the header! And where does it say they had a vision to
separate religion and state?

In the Constitution.


.... They mentioned God in the Declaration of
Independence. They opened Congress with prayers, etc.

Which was commonly done in those days as a matter of etiquette. Not as a
statement of gov't policy.

BTW I'm still waiting for you to show where you can buy an insurance
policy which provides all the same benefits Social Security does, only
cheaper.

DSK

Bill McKee wrote:

First put the OT in the header! And where does it say they had a vision to
separate religion and state? They only stated there would not be a state
religion! Ala Church of England. They mentioned God in the Declaration of
Independence. They opened Congress with prayers, etc. Jimcomma, use your
brain for some self examination and reasoning. Do not go along with
whatever liberal sound bite of the day you find comforting.

"Jim," wrote in message
...

"...our founding fathers had the superior vision to separate church and
state. It is a fundamental principle that has allowed our great, diverse
nation to grow and flourish peacefully. blurring the line between church
and state erodes our constitution, and our democracy. it is a blatant
abuse of power. participating in something designed to incite divisiveness
and encourage contention is unacceptable. I would hope that sen. Frist
will rise above something so beyond the pale.”


--Senator Harry Reid (D-NV, trying to reason with a foaming, rabid dog



Sorry about the OT -- it's my failing memory, BUT OTOH, YOU found it
interesting enough to read and respond.

Bill McKee wrote:

First put the OT in the header! And where does it say they had a vision to
separate religion and state? They only stated there would not be a state
religion! Ala Church of England. They mentioned God in the Declaration of
Independence. They opened Congress with prayers, etc. Jimcomma, use your
brain for some self examination and reasoning. Do not go along with
whatever liberal sound bite of the day you find comforting.

"Jim," wrote in message
...

"...our founding fathers had the superior vision to separate church and
state. It is a fundamental principle that has allowed our great, diverse
nation to grow and flourish peacefully. blurring the line between church
and state erodes our constitution, and our democracy. it is a blatant
abuse of power. participating in something designed to incite divisiveness
and encourage contention is unacceptable. I would hope that sen. Frist
will rise above something so beyond the pale.”


--Senator Harry Reid (D-NV, trying to reason with a foaming, rabid dog



Sorry about the OT -- it's my failing memory, BUT OTOH, YOU found it
interesting enough to read and respond.

And where does it say they had a vision to
separate religion and state? They only stated there would not be a
state
religion! Ala Church of England. They mentioned God in the
Declaration of
Independence. They opened Congress with prayers, etc.

*************

They mention God, not "church" in the Declaration.
There is an opening prayer each day when Congress convenes. The prayers
are offered by a variety of Christian clerics, as well as Jewish,
Muslim, Native American, Buddhist, Hindu, etc.
I'm not sure the Wiccans have been given an opportunity yet......


One of the funniest trends of modern times has been the outcry from the
Fundie Right to reexamine our long tradition of separating church and
state.
The arguments about the use of "God" in the declaration, etc, are
factually correct, but one has to wonder what inspires the Fundies to
believe that if God were present in government it would have to be
through the vehicle of a specific branch of a specific (conservative
Christian) faith?

I listened to a guy on right wing radio wailing on and on about how
churches should be allowed to financially support and/or actively
campaign for certain individuals or issues. Somebody asked, "What about
the members of a church who might prefer the other candidate?" The
answer was rather revealing, "If they aren't willing to go along with
the official political position of their church, they should go and
worship somewhere else."
Gotcha. I think that's why the founders realized that both religion and
government would be better off if they weren't officially in bed
together.

"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
Bill McKee wrote:
First put the OT in the header! And where does it say they had a vision
to separate religion and state?

In the Constitution.



Where in the constitution does it state there will be no religion practiced
in America? Where does it say government will not refer to God in any way?
Explain the amendment you cite.

wrote in message
oups.com...
And where does it say they had a vision to
separate religion and state? They only stated there would not be a
state
religion! Ala Church of England. They mentioned God in the
Declaration of
Independence. They opened Congress with prayers, etc.

*************

They mention God, not "church" in the Declaration.
There is an opening prayer each day when Congress convenes. The prayers
are offered by a variety of Christian clerics, as well as Jewish,
Muslim, Native American, Buddhist, Hindu, etc.
I'm not sure the Wiccans have been given an opportunity yet......


One of the funniest trends of modern times has been the outcry from the
Fundie Right to reexamine our long tradition of separating church and
state.
The arguments about the use of "God" in the declaration, etc, are
factually correct, but one has to wonder what inspires the Fundies to
believe that if God were present in government it would have to be
through the vehicle of a specific branch of a specific (conservative
Christian) faith?

I listened to a guy on right wing radio wailing on and on about how
churches should be allowed to financially support and/or actively
campaign for certain individuals or issues. Somebody asked, "What about
the members of a church who might prefer the other candidate?" The
answer was rather revealing, "If they aren't willing to go along with
the official political position of their church, they should go and
worship somewhere else."
Gotcha. I think that's why the founders realized that both religion and
government would be better off if they weren't officially in bed
together.


But the people attacking religion and the state, attack any mention of God
by the government. They have confused God and religion according to your
argument.

"Bill McKee" wrote in message
ink.net...

"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
Bill McKee wrote:
First put the OT in the header! And where does it say they had a vision
to separate religion and state?

In the Constitution.



Where in the constitution does it state there will be no religion
practiced in America? Where does it say government will not refer to God
in any way? Explain the amendment you cite.


This ought to be interesting.

First put the OT in the header! And where does it say they had a vision
to separate religion and state?

In the Constitution.




Bill McKee wrote:
Where in the constitution does it state there will be no religion practiced
in America?

Do you comprehend the difference between "practicing religion" and the
state imposing a religion? Or having the state favor one religion over
another?

... Where does it say government will not refer to God in any way?

???
Where did I say that the gov't can not (or even should not) refer to God
"in any way?"

DSK