| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
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| Date: |
17 Oct 2006 05:36:24 AM |
| Object: |
Column - James F. Alexander: Have faith in church, state |
Column - James F. Alexander: Have faith in church, state
Column - James F. Alexander: Have faith in church, state
http://www.amarillo.com/stories/101406/opi_5771848.shtml
Opinion
James F. Alexander
Our Founding Fathers had the idea of separation of church and state
for a reason. They had the sense to understand that the two do not mix
well. In fact, many of the people who came to our continent wanted to
attain freedom of religion. They wanted a government that would not
dictate how they would worship.
I have abandoned several religious leaders because politics somehow
got into the pulpit. Have we arrived at the point where we will let
religion dictate how we vote and therefore how we pick our leaders?
There is a real danger that ambition will use religion as a tool to
gain one's objectives
The key word here is "religion." Do I have the wrong idea? Shouldn't
religion be a personal, private thing? Is it for display or advantage?
As the reader knows, many crimes have occurred and many wars have been
fought in the name of religion.
That brings me to morals. One of the definitions in the Fourth Edition
of Webster's dictionary is knowing the difference between right and wrong.
I know these definitions are brought down to the simplest level, but
maybe that is where we should be. It seems that a good indicator of
morals would be past actions. The past actions of Congress, and that
includes both parties, leave much to be desired.
I'm not trying to cast stones here, because that is against my
religion. I would ask, though, that the reader vote, and vote on the
moral value of the people to be elected. I ask this for the country
and not my church or party.
No one has a copyright on moral value. No label can speak for everyone
within any given group. All groups within society are made up of
diversity, because all groups are human.
In this polarized country, it seems that everything and everyone has
come down to labels. Whatever happened to individuality (something
that my generation was very proud to profess)? Shouldn't we vote for
people who are morally upright and good for the country instead of
people who agree with our religious values? Who are we to judge anyone
- especially on religion? Isn't judgment determined elsewhere?
It's time for a change, and only the voter can accomplish that. Aren't
you tired of corrupt politicians putting their own self-interests
before our country's? Isn't it time to put our country first? How can
we possibly look the other way when she is being ripped apart by
selfish people who are so busy avoiding justice that they can't get
anything done? They can't look out for us anymore.
We have a chance to show the establishment that we, not they, are in
control. We will determine who will run this country, and if they
don't run it right, we will fire them! You have a chance to make a
difference.
Yes, I've asked many questions, but shouldn't the voter ask some of
them before going to the polls?
You are going to vote aren't you?
James F. Alexander is a 50-year resident of Amarillo. He graduated
from West Texas State University in 1969 and studied journalism at
Texas Tech.
*******************************************
* A Baptist minister and follow warrior with Jefferson, Madison
and others in the struggle for religious freedom gave this advice
about electing public officials: "...guard against those men who make
a great noise about religion..."
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/leland5.htm
***************************************************************
You are invited to check out the following:
The Rise of the Theocratic States of America
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocracy.htm
American Theocrats - Past and Present
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocrats.htm
The Constitutional Principle: Separation of Church and State
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
[and to join the discussion group for the above site and/or Separation of
Church and State in general, listed below]
HRSepCnS · Hampton Roads [Virginia] SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
[Its not just Hampton Roads folks who are members, there are members from
all over the US and a couple from overseas as well]
***************************************************************
.. . . You can't understand a phrase such as "Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion" by syllogistic reasoning. Words
take their meaning from social as well as textual contexts, which is why "a
page of history is worth a volume of logic." New York Trust Co. v. Eisner,
256 U.S. 345, 349, 41 S.Ct. 506, 507, 65 L.Ed. 963 (1921) (Holmes, J.).
Sherman v. Community Consol. Dist. 21, 980 F.2d 437, 445 (7th Cir. 1992)
.. . .
****************************************************************
USAF LT. COL (Ret) Buffman (Glen P. Goffin) wrote
"You pilot always into an unknown future;
facts are your only clue. Get the facts!"
That philosophy 'snipit' helped to get me, and my crew, through a good
many combat missions and far too many scary, inflight, emergencies.
It has also played a significant role in helping me to expose the
plethora of radical Christian propaganda and lies that we find at
almost every media turn.
*****************************************************************
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
****************************************************************
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