Do you support secularism?

Question

And do you think your country secular?

Serious, honest, mature answers please. Thank you.

Answer 1

No. In fact if you want to live in a secular society, move to Russia.

Answer 2

After reading Bill O'Reilly's book, "Culture Warrior", I have modified my position somewhat.

I was raised a Catholic, and even went to Catholic grade school.  However, after 46 years in the U.S., I moved to Europe, and I see that religion is not always a civilizing influence, nor does it always improve peoples' characters.  Some of the most mean-spirited and hypocritical people I know are very "religious".  However, that does not mean I am against religion.  I was taught by many fine nuns, one of whom was an absolute saint.  She was the finest humanity could offer.

What I object to is the idiotic notion that somewhere in the Constitution it says that people should be protected from even viewing religion.  If you read the documents and even private letters of our Founding Fathers, you will see that religion played a big role in most of their lives.  What the Constitution says is that no specific religion shall be forced on the populace, and that the right of practicing ones religion shall not be denied.

In other words, it is freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion.  The whiny dolts who complain about seeing a nativity set should be sent to remedial school.

If you read O'Reilly's book, you will see the insidious nature of the people promoting secularism in America.  It is an attempt to gain the minds (and pocketbooks) of a populace increasingly dependent on the government.  It is a very dangerous trend.

So, while I personally do not practice religion anymore, I see the value to some members of society.  And to answer part of your question, yes... the U.S. is very secular.

Answer 3

Yes, it it a critical component of our 1st Amendment.

Answer 4

I, too, support separation of church and state. I'm a Pagan. I do not want Christian doctrine forced on me. I respect others' rights to be whatever religion they choose. I expect the same common courtesy.

Answer 5

In the eyes of the state yes.  Religion and government don't mix.

Answer 6

No, I do not.

The reason is the 1st amendment was not created to keep faith out of the public view, which is what secularists desire.

It was created so there would be no establishment of a national religion, such as many European countries had (such as the Church of England) and have to this day.  The point was, those countries performed legal or tacitly legal (that is, with government looking the other way) acts of oppression against those who did not espouse the national faith of the given country.

The 'separation of church and state', as secularists (especially the ACLU) would have it, is simply balderdash.

Answer 7

I support separation of church and state, and the US is trending the other way with potentially disastrous consequences.

Answer 8

No. I support freedom of religion, as long as no laws are broken by the religion.

Religion is very good for some people. Some people are fine without religion. And there's some people that need some religion.

Overall, religion is a very good thing.

Answer 9

I support separation of church and state with all my heart.

Answer 10

Support secularism. Government is suppose to be secular. Full stop!

No religion or belief would be allowed to be imposed on a majority. As soon as religion starts interfering in politics, that'll be a return to good old dark ages. Some fundies literally believe earth is 6000 years old, many are actively trying to start a third world war apparently their Messiah is going to come.

Everyone is free to freely practice and voice their believes, but no one has the right to impose them on others. There was a deliberate decision for the founding founders to separate 'Church and State'.

Amendment I>

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

“I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibit the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state.”

~ (Thomas Jefferson)

“Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by difference of sentiment in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be deprecated. I was in hopes that the enlightened and liberal policy which has marked the present age would at least have reconciled Christians of every denomination, so far that we should never again see their religious disputes carried to such a pitch as to endanger the peace of society.”

~ (George Washington)

"Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting "Jesus Christ," so that it would read "A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination."

~ (Thomas Jefferson)

Religion & Govt. will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.

~ (James Madison)