|
As if the whole reason that the founders wrote about the wall between church and state, and put freedom of religion in the FIRST amendment, because they were scared that one day, someone looking suspiciously like the coronor munchkin in the "Wizard of Oz" would stand up with a rolled-up parchment and decree: "As president, I must aver, I thoroughly examined her and she's not only merely a Christian Nation, she's really, most sincerely a Christian nation."
You think that's why they put it in there? Just in case someone decided to "decree it?"
And further, what if it was decreed? And god was mentioned on our money, mandated in our schools, placed above every judicial doorway in the land. If we funded religious schools, funded religious charity organizations, let churches particpate in politics tax free, censored television according to Christian sensibilities, amended the Constitution every time a narrow passage in the bible warranted it.
I think that would pretty much mean that we've decreed ourselves a Christian nation, right? Those are all things that the religious right is either trying to do, or Bush and the GOP is letting them do.
And further -- OK. I hear Christians and Christian politicians stand up, and go on TV, and in call-in shows EVERY SINGLE FRIGGIN DAY, repeat these words: "The United States is a Christian Nation."
So are they decreeing it? Are they not supposed to do that?
There are PLENTY of argument against this -- limitless. Study the writings of the founders, particularly Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin -- study the enlightenment and how it helped birth democracy.
This, however, is to help your friend how ludicrous that particular argument is.
As far as separation goes, the founders wrote about it, and the only thing in the Constitution that mentions religion is the first amendment and the clause about how politicians should not have to pass a religious test. The declaration of Independence cites nature's God, which is the god of rationality. The SC, thankfully, has seen it fit to interpret all this information to mean there should be a separation of Church and state, but I wouldn't be so sure if the Chimp gets re-selected.
|