(February 2, 2016 at 7:01 pm)Cecelia Wrote: Many Christian Conservatives misinterpret the Establishment Clause, assuming it only means that the state cannot create it's own church. They tend to agree with Rehnquist and Scalia on the Establishment Clause because they consider themselves special. They think that it's fine for this country to be a theocracy, so long as it is a Christian Theocracy (Change it to a Muslim Theocracy, and they will flip out). However, the majority of Supreme Court Justices consider Neutrality as the guiding principle of the Establishment Clause. An endorsement of religion is considered to be going against the Establishment clause (no matter how much the Christians don't like that, since they are currently the majority) John Addams certainly felt that the United States was not founded upon the Christian Religion. As seen in the Treaty of Tripoli.
When all else fails, they point to the Declaration of Independence -- which is not a legally binding document. The constitution itself makes no mention of god or creator. And rightfully so. I quite imagine that the Christians would not be the least bit pleased if another religion became the majority, and pushed upon them their values and beliefs.
These constitution fetishists, for want of another word, fail to realize that the constitution has evolved since it was written. It was not, to steal one of drippy's favorites, "carved in stone."
As Justice Black wrote in 1947:
Quote:The "establishment of religion" clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the federal government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance. No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect "a wall of separation between church and State."
One needs to be careful of "legal opinions" given by clowns who think the earth is 6,000 years old.
