Religions > Atheism > Freedom of religion American tradition, Schempp says in talk
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12 Jun 2006 04:25:37 AM |
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Freedom of religion American tradition, Schempp says in talk |
Freedom of religion American tradition, Schempp says in talk
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2006/06/10/local_news/news/news05.txt
Texarkana Gazette - Texarkana,TX,USA
Freedom of religion American tradition, Schempp says in talk
Saturday, June 10, 2006 12:27 PM CDT
By TERRI RICHARDSON
Texarkana Gazette
The U.S. Constitution and common sense ought to hold sway over American
public affairs, a leading advocate of freedom of religion said Friday at a
public forum at Texas A&M—Texarkana.
Dr. Ellery Schempp is today a senior partner with the Harvard Consulting
Group, a firm that specializes in energy storage and cryogenic power
systems for commercial and military purposes, but 43 years ago he was a
high school student who prompted a landmark First Amendment ruling.
“I do not think any book from 2,000 years ago has any wisdom that we do not
have today,” said Schempp, relating that his views were not well received
by the faculty of Abington High School in Pennsylvania.
“I considered Bible reading unfair and argued that the Bible is not the
only source of truth, so I was sent to the principal,” he said.
“When I described the lack of liberty and equality to my parents, my father
suggested that I write to the ACLU,” said Schempp.
As a 16-year-old, Schempp initiated the legal action that led to Abington
School District v. Schempp (1963) in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled
that Bible reading and prayer recitation in public schools violated the
First Amendment’s Establishment of Religion Clause.
Abington High placed him in the school’s Hall of Fame in 2002.
“Not even the 10 Commandments made much sense. They are obviously not in
the Constitution. I am entirely in support of the Constitution,” said
Schempp.
During his speech, Schempp cited many of the works done by our founding
fathers in defense of different religions and references that they made to
the intentional separation of church and state including a phrase from
Thomas Jefferson designating a “wall of separation between church and
state.”
James Madison, another example, offered his services as a lawyer in the
defense of Baptists in Massachusetts where they were not only unpopular but
not a part of their state mandated religion.
*
James Madison, another example, offered his services as a lawyer in the
defense of Baptists in Massachusetts where they were not only unpopular but
not a part of their state mandated religion.
Schempp argued that there is no place in the Constitution requiring oaths
to be said over a Bible. He said the use of a Bible during oath taking is a
folk practice that has never been a rule.
A member of the public suggested that it would make more sense for
officials to take an oath over the Constitution promising to uphold the
Constitution.
Schempp also said the church has tried to block practically every advance
in science that has helped people.
“The church tried to hinder work in germs and medicine, saying that it goes
against God’s rule. They also argued against baby carriages saying the only
place for infants was in a mother’s arms,” said Schempp.
“Secular is not a negative word,” said Schempp, who explained that secular
is defined as an adjective denoting attitudes, activities or other things
that have no religious or spiritual basis.
“However, it is often right up there with atheist or communist and given
negative association,” Schempp said.
Fundamentalists hinder advancement, usually with arguments from the Bible
to back up their reasoning.
“Many of them argued that women would not have the moral fiber or
intelligence to vote because Eve was created second. But those arguments
are not sound,” Schempp said. “God’s laws cannot come from a 2,000-year-old
®book.”
Schempp graduated from Tufts University and earned his Ph.D. in physics
from Brown University. His academic work contributed to the development of
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
Schempp has taught at universities, published peer-review articles, worked
as a consultant for various organizations and explored different areas of
the globe from Antarctica to the Arctic.
“Emphasis should be given to education and especially science education. We
can do better,” said Schempp.
***************************************************************
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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