Pray for the Supreme Court?

Question

A Supreme Court Justice does not have a simple four or eight year gig. Decisions made by the Court will affect all of us for the rest of our lives. And maybe this is okay with you… NOW… but lives and attitudes change and the laws do not.

The radical Christian Right is very pleased with the McCain/Palin ticket (James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, is quoted as saying, “Outstanding” regarding Palin). And they are already speaking openly about a new [their] makeup of the Court.

Although the Religious Right has tempered its mission statement from the “Christianization of America” to the less controversial “family values and morals”, the intent to have their credo be the nation’s is the same.

Do you think this is against the U.S. Constitution? Do you care?

Here is an excerpt regarding Religious Freedom from an Opinion column in the Los Angeles Times; August 23, 2008:

By Richard P. Sloan (professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University Medical Center)

“…. religious freedom referred to a right to practice one's own religion free of interference from others. It did not refer to religiously based interference with the rights of others, who may have their own and different religious traditions.”

“Freedom of religion is a cherished value in American society. So is the right to be free of religious domination by others.”

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-sloan23-2008aug23,0,2062816.story

Or do you agree with Prof. Sloan?

Answer 1

I believe in God. I believe in Freedom.

This nation was founded on those same beliefs. Our founding fathers were Christians.

While i can be accepting of other religions and beliefs that differ from my own, i cannot and will not let the rights of Christians be trampled underfoot. Ignorance is the reason that the "Separation of Church and State" issue allows other religions to do what they please and the rights of Christians to be taken away. This Law is not bias against Christianity (as many seem to want it to be enforced as such); but it is applicable to ALL RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS in regards to Government Office.

So, if the Ten Commandments or ("Christian Beliefs") cannot be in the Courthouse under this clause, then neither can "Buddhist Belief" "Jewish Belief" "Islamic Belief" or "Atheist Belief" as what is good for one under the law, is good for the other.

If Christians cannot pray in schools, then neither can Muslims, Jews or Buddhists.  Prayer is Prayer, regardless of the specific religion or deity that the individual is praying to.  

I am certain, that you (out of all the people that i know) understand what Separation of Church and State actually means.

I agree with the quotes insofar as holding the belief that Freedom of Religion is just that, and not one Religion should be allowed "more rights" than another. Each person has the right to believe in whatever God he or she wants to, and it doesn't have to be the same Guy LOL. But what i really feel is "against the Constitution" is stripping Christians of their rights to speak, advocate and practice their religion, while allowing other religions the right of way.  It's either everybody can, or nobody can.

But this nation, that was founded by Christian men with Christian principles and a very strong belief in the Almighty has become more and more obscene without the presence of God in it, and by stripping Christians of their rights while claiming "Separation of Church and State" makes this country more Communist than Democratic.

I agree with the quotes, but i also agree with "morals and values." I may not be perfect (I've never claimed that i was) but i am a Christian, and i will support my fellow Christians rights under the Law and Jesus Name being preached in this country until i breathe my last breath.

I may not be as well versed in this area as you are, but i know my rights, and in whom I believe, and those will never be taken from me, by any government, not even my own.

You sound like you don't like Christians much. (I don't know if that's the truth or not, i'm just saying it "sounds" that way.)

(( I know a lot of them suck and are really bad examples, but it's not all of us you know.))

Are you saying now that you're anti-Christian? Because if you are, you just lost 50 cool points.

Only a Fool says that there is no God.

(Psalm 14:1)

xoxo

♥

(i still love you however)

My "spell check" is jacked up.*yikes!* sorry!!

PS: I am starring this. It was a very good question. I am surprised that more people have not answered it. I would like to hear other opinions on the issue, even if they disagree with mine..

♥♥♥♥ you!

*EDIT* *shouts!* BEANS 4 BRAINS, I HAVE BEANS 4 BRAINS OKAY? I thought you knew that!  lol  I get it ! I get it now !  *sighs* gosh, lol.  Can i just say, "Yes" some of the RR are a little nutty, on that i can agree, and i wouldn't want them running a business, let alone a country. (yes i know they do not run the country. it's a joke..... )

Answer 2

You have many questions here. I promised seriousness on this one.  Ok, so I believe the first question is:  if having "family values and morals" as the nation's credo is unconstitutional. The words by themselves are not inflammatory, (after all we're all part of a world family and everyone has a moral code of some sort); it is, as you point out, who is saying those words and what the affect of a credo like that would have on those who do not agree with the Religious Right's interpretation of "family values" and "morals".  So yes, the enforcing of that credo to a particular religious end would be unconstitutional in my understanding (limited as it is).

I agree with Sloan for the most part. I differ when I consider historically, the rulings of the Supreme Court in such decisions as were made in respect to Native Americans. How do you account for such spiritual ideologies as Manifest Destiny  when factoring in what constitutes a religious/political decision? Would that not have been a case (or multiple cases) of "religiously based interference with the rights of others, who may have their own and different religious traditions?" If you've read some of the early Colonial literature, you know what the belief system was in respect to the "savages". Again, a "holy war" in the name of freedom of religion.

In any case, the Constitution covers both through the establishment and the free-exercise clause.

Last question, do I agree with Jefferson's quote? Yes.