| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"" |
| Date: |
09 Jul 2006 05:32:54 AM |
| Object: |
"What God has put asunder, let no man put together |
The Sat., July 8, 2006 edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution carried
an article/sermon presented by Rev. Bill Self, senior pastor of the Johns
Creek Baptist Church, under the title "What God has put asunder, let no man
put together. The full article is posted at
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/saturday/faith_values_44f\a4003648412370037.html
..
Here's are some excerpts:
When you attend church this or any other Sunday, you are validating a noble
experiment that has made these United States the most religiously diverse
nation in the world.
You are neither compelled to attend a certain church, nor are you
restricted from attending. The worship you engage in, the hymns you sing,
the sermons you listen to are not regulated by the government. We are
guaranteed by the First Amendment the freedom to worship as our conscience
dictates. We have religious liberty. We have the separation of church and
state.
However, for the past two decades this freedom has been under attack. On
the week when we celebrate Independence Day, let us underscore our
birthright of religious freedom as we celebrate the birth of our nation.
Secular forces are defending the First Amendment to the extent that they
will go to jail for it, and Christians are, for the first time in their
history, hearing their leaders calling for its destruction.
The strange and arresting feature of this controversy is that it is being
introduced into our political life by those whose tradition it is to fight
and die for religious liberty.
When the shouting is over, those who have weakened this separation will be
called upon to answer to history for their violation of this sacred trust.
[snip]
And now those who have benefited the most from religious freedom are trying
to stampede the American voter and turn back the clock on the issue of
separation of church and state in the 21st century. History teaches us that
in every situation where there has been a loss of religious liberty, the
clerics oppressed the people and a strong anti-clerical reaction resulted.
[snip]
During the '60s we freed ourselves from excessive ethical and cultural
structure, and into that vacuum has marched a new generation, of the
evangelical right not comfortable living existentially.
They are now opting for a more totalitarian structure than any they have
surrendered. In brief, we are ripe for totalitarianism.
We observe every phone booth, hoping to spot the Superman who will deliver
us from the oppressive potpourri of "do your own thing."
One of the significant dangers is that issues have been elevated to
doctrine and become a creedal test.
What you believe about abortion, prayer in public schools, the Ten
Commandments in courthouses has now become the litmus test for doctrinal
purity.
[end excerpts]
***************************************************************
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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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: "What God has put asunder, let no man put together |
09 Jul 2006 07:55:37 AM |
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wrote:
The Sat., July 8, 2006 edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution carried
an article/sermon presented by Rev. Bill Self, senior pastor of the Johns
Creek Baptist Church, under the title "What God has put asunder, let no man
put together. The full article is posted at
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/saturday/faith_values_44f\a4003648412370037.html
Do you have the full, original article? Even piecing the URL
together from your post, via "Show Original", does not help.
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/
editions/saturday/faith_values_44f\a4003648412370037.html
It does not show up on the AJC site, even with registration.
Bob Dog
Atheist #153 = 1^3 + 5^3 + 3^3
EAC's chief cook and brainwasher
-----
"The people we starve and torture have an unsociable
tendency to steal and murder. We think it's because
their brows overhang."
- Ann Druyan
"Our religion is Christ, our politics Fatherland!"
- Hans Schemm, Bavarian Minister
of Education and Culture (1930s)
.
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