Republicans Launch A Theocratic Christian Assault On The Constitution

[cleanhippie]

Republicans Launch A Theocratic Christian Assault On The Constitution
March 26, 2011
By Rmuse

At the start of the 112th Congress, every legislator was sworn in using the standard oath proclaiming the members will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. Each state has their own oath of office that includes supporting and defending the Constitution as well as the particular state’s constitution. In many states, every civil servant, whether a firefighter, school teacher, or police officer takes the state’s oath of office including the clause regarding supporting and defending the U.S. Constitution. Since the new Congress has been in session, it appears that every single Republican in the House and Senate has broken their promise to uphold and defend the Constitution and it may be time to initiate a full-scale, across-the-board impeachment proceeding to evict the promise-breakers in the Republican Party.

The first Amendment’s Establishment Clause says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” and is generally accepted to mean the Congress cannot establish a national religion or show preference of one religion over another. In this session of Congress, Republicans arranged to have the Constitution read aloud to show their intention of strictly adhering to the document they claim directs their agenda and policy decisions. Since they swore to uphold the Constitution and heard it read aloud, there is absolutely no excuse for subverting the 1st Amendment’s Establishment Clause.

In the House of Representatives, Republicans have been on a rampage to make laws regarding establishment of Christianity as the law of the land, and in the process, are prohibiting the free exercise of beliefs or religion that is not Christianity. The illegal, unconstitutional establishment of religion is not unique to the House of Representatives or the Senate for that matter. Republican governors and state legislators are following the lead of House Republicans in passing laws establishing Christianity as the source of law that all residents must follow in spite of the Constitution’s prohibition.

http://www.politicususa.com/en/gop-christian-theocrats

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Yeah, its just the radical minority of christians.......

Where are the "moderate" christians opposing this? Do they even really exist?

[skepticscott]

1. This is not exactly a "launch"

Fundamentalist Xstians in Congress and in state legislatures have been on this campaign for decades, ever since the Reagan era. They're just feeling a bit more emboldened than usual right now.

As far as the moderate and liberal Xstians, they're doing their usual...nothing except whine about people trying to paint all of Christianity as consisting of right-wing fundies. Well, when they are the only Christians pushing policy, that's really all of that religion that matters to the rest of us. If they don't want to be tarred with the same brush, they need to push back with equal force.

[cleanhippie]

2. Well said.

[madrchsod]

3. is that the old testament christians?

moderate or liberal christians do not have control of the radio stations nor do they wish to. our work is on a personal level and community out reach. we do understand the reason for the separation of church and state. we rarely wear our religion on our sleeves.

[cleanhippie]

4. You mean they are not "real" or "true" christians?

How are they any different?

[jwirr]

5. They take their ques from the Old Testament and limit the effects of

the New Testament to themselves. In many ways they deny Christ. Anti-Christ anyone?

[cleanhippie]

7. Might they say the same thing about you?

I mean, we are talking about the one true god here, right? Who is to say who is worshiping him the right way or not?

[jwirr]

9. Sure they would. I do not listen to them.

[cleanhippie]

10. And they don't listen to you. Sounds like you are two sides of the same coin.

And in the meantime, they continue to advance their agenda in the name of your god while he sits by and watch. Maybe thats what he really wants?

[jwirr]

11. Have it your way. You do not listen any better than I do.

[cleanhippie]

12. I'm not trying to have it any way at all, I'm making an observation.

Am I mistaken in what I am seeing?

[jwirr]

6. I am a Christian the belongs to a liberal church and we are trying.

However, the right wing idiots do not listen to us - instead they think we are the enemy just like you.

[cleanhippie]

8. Perhaos thats because you are trying to reason with them instead of not allowing them to hijack

your religion.

Maybe a better tactic would be to get as loud and vocal and organized as they are and proclaim to the world that they are radicals, extremists and dangerous?

But then again, who is to say that THEY are the one's not following god's word?

[laconicsax]

13. This is just as bad as atheists criticizing religion online...

right? I'm pretty sure I read it in this forum not too long ago.

[struggle4progress]

14. Looked at the article for bill numbers: didn't find any. Article wanders a bit: it starts off

with Congress, then drifts into South Dakota and Utah; suddenly we're hearing what Pawlenty babbled in New Hampshire or Iowa; finally it says Dominionists and Reconstructionist Republicans must be impeached, recalled -- which makes no sense if we're talking about Congress

Most voters don't like the so-called Dominionists and Reconstructionists, so those guys don't get far unless they fly under false colors, lying about their views and their agenda -- and when they do that, we can win by spreading specific accurate information in a timely manner

But there's an art to fighting against nutbags: part of the art is to ignore them when possible, because whenever you fight against them, you help them get attention and you communicate "These folk should be taken seriously", so you might actually be helping them spread their message. When you do have to fight them, plan carefully and play to win

[darkstar3]

15. Only if we play by the rules set down by the tone trolls here and elsewhere.

You said:
"But there's an art to fighting against nutbags: part of the art is to ignore them when possible, because whenever you fight against them, you help them get attention and you communicate "These folk should be taken seriously", so you might actually be helping them spread their message. When you do have to fight them, plan carefully and play to win"

That's not true. Open mockery of nutbags like those discussed in the OP is one way to give them attention without lending credence to their arguments. And we should be giving them some kind of attention. Dominionists may have to keep their more radical opinions to themselves, but they know full well how to lead other believers by the nose, and they do so quite easily. If we don't shine a spotlight into their shady dealings and expose them for the mockable and crazy ideas that they are, they may get away with more than anyone thought possible.

But of course, that only works if those who mock the dominionists aren't immediately jumped on by the tone trolls who say that mockery of idiocy and sociopathy is actually religious bigotry.