VOICES >> MRT's Bob Campbell says separation of church, state ...
http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16103822&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=563016&rfi=6
MyWestTexas.com - Midland,TX,USA
By Bob Campbell
Staff writer
Midland Reporter-Telegram
It seems irresistible for leaders in their respective fields to mix
religion and politics.
Religious leaders see the problems in government and feel it would be
greatly improved if run more by their precepts.
Politicians see churchgoers' dedication and want to apply it to their
campaigns.
Both are emotional concerns because of the personal way the adherents take
them and the stakes -- the soulıs fate on one hand and the possession of
governmental power on the other. The conflict is therefore between the
eternal and the temporal.
Other than how to live oneıs life, the theme of most religions is eternal
life -- where it will be and what itıll be like.
Religion has a limitless scope while politics is focused on right now,
today. Some politicians might look ahead for a couple of years, but they
canıt get too far ahead because there might not be a future if they donıt
take care of today.
The two donıt mix because their concepts of time are so different -- the
infinite versus the immediate.
Their leaders do share some skills. Along with being good speakers, they
must be able to organize groups and raise money.
Charisma is a big asset and one might say robust self-esteem is to be
expected in either field.
The difference is in what they talk about and why they talk about it. The
preacher wants to build up his church and save souls while the politician
wants to build up his party and get re-elected.
Itıs easy for the lines to blur, but they are two different spheres that
indeed are better kept separate.
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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]
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.. . . 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)
.. . .
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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.
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THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
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