bodecea
Diamond Member
- Banned
- #21
All of them. The "state's business" is "our" business, you know "we the people". The separation clause's main purpose was to assuage the fears of the Danbury, Connecticut Baptists. The Supreme Court in 1892 gave what is known as the Trinity Decision. In that decision the Supreme Court declared, "this is a Christian nation." John Quincy Adams said, "The highest glory of the American Revolution was, it connected in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." The founders were definitely Christian for the most part. At least 90 to 95 percentage of them were practicing, Trinitarian Christians. This and the additional supporting evidence below show conclusively that the concern that motivated the framers to include the establishment clause in the constitution was definitely not fear of the doctrinal religion of Christian Theism. It was understood that Christian Theism was the default state doctrinal religion. As opposed to being something to fear, it was something believed to be vital to the success of our government. Consequently, the framers feared a state denominational religion not a state doctrinal religion! Some additional evidences that indicate Christian Theism was the national doctrinal religion are listed below:
- Emblazoned over the Speaker of the House in the US Capitol are the words "In God We Trust."
- The Supreme Court building built in the 1930's has carvings of Moses and the Ten Commandments.
- God is mentioned in stone all over Washington D.C., on its monuments and buildings.
- As a nation, we have celebrated Christmas to commemorate the Savior's birth for centuries.
- Oaths in courtrooms have invoked God from the beginning.
- The founding fathers often quoted the Bible in their writings.
- Every president that has given an inaugural address has mentioned God in that speech.
- Prayers have been said at the swearing in of each president.
- Each president was sworn in on the Bible, saying the words, "So help me God."
- Our national anthem mentions God.
- The liberty bell has a Bible verse engraved on it.
- The original constitution of all 50 states mentions God.
- Chaplains have been in the public payroll from the very beginning.
- Our nations birth certificate, the Declaration of Independence, mentions God four times.
- The Bible was used as a textbook in the schools.
The examples you give are NOT "all of them." Where is our Buddhist symbols on our public buildings paid for by tax money? Our Muslim symbols paid for by tax money? Our Hindu symbols paid for by tax money? Our Pastafarian symbols paid for by tax money? Our Druid symbols paid for by tax money? Our Voodoo symbols paid for by tax money? Our Ba'hai symbols paid for by tax money? Our Shinto symbols paid for by tax money?
a local town has a symbol associated with both buddhism and hinduism as a recurring theme throughout its town hall decor. this kind of stuff really doesn't bother me. there's all kinds of things paid for with tax money that i don't agree with, why should money spent on somebody's idea of a religious symbol piss me off any more than money spent researching the learning habits of honeybees?
Well, I will tell you this...honeybees are much more important to our survival than religion is. Seriously.