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[ October 09, 2001: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]

Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1826; author, Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom; 3rd U.S. President, 1801-1809)

Convinced that religious liberty must, most assuredly, be built into the structural frame of the new [state] government, Jefferson proposed this language [for the new Virginia constitution]: "All persons shall have full and free liberty of religious opinion; nor shall any be compelled to frequent or maintain any religious institution": freedom for religion, but also freedom from religion. (Edwin S. Gaustad, Faith of Our Fathers: Religion and the New Nation, San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987, p. 38. Jefferson proposed his language in 1776.)

You forget the context it which that was written. There is nothing wrong with religion in politics as long as there is never just one religion in politics. People should be given the option to practice it or not. Yet we have a minority using politics to prevent other people from excersizing their religious and political right to free speech.

A case in point would be in today's news. A local school has chosen to put up a banner that says "God Bless America" as a way to show their support. Yet one parent - one parent- has contacted the ACLU who has in turn contacted the school board and ordered them to remove the banner as it breaks the alleged "seperation of church and state." One person, who is a self-proclaimed atheist, has the power over the choice of a overwhelming majority to excersize the right of free speech.

That is wrong.

BTW, the words "God Bless America" is now part of the American lexicon. It does not endorse any single religion be it Catholic, Protestant or Moslim.

[ October 09, 2001: Message edited by: Glenn Taylor ]

Proverb:17:13: Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. (arresting and imprisoning missionaries and humanitarian aid workers),

Jas:1:27: Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

1Co:13:1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co:13:2: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co:13:3: And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
1Co:13:4: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co:13:5: Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co:13:6: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co:13:7: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1Co:13:8: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1Co:13:9: For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co:13:10: But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co:13:11: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co:13:12: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co:13:13: And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
(Charity=Love)

As far as this is concerned these terrorist folks don't even HAVE a religion. Wouldn't you agree?

[ October 09, 2001: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]

I'd been half-listening to the old School-Prayer stalemate, and finally said "You self-styled Christians might better think about your brethren in Afganistan, who are in prison for preaching the Gospel."

Good lord, remember what Taliban were doing a year ago? Destroying 1500-yr old sculpture by Buddhists. And of course, their men regard women as livestock. Browse "Taliban" on Google a month ago, and you were very soon seeing links to international opium smuggling. Taliband were on a collision course with Planet Earth already; the only surprise was exactly when, and how.

Good luck to RAWA.