Why are Some Atheists unable to understand the U.S. Constitution?

Question

Here's the actual amendment...

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.

Did you read it?

It does not mean that Religious groups cannot lobby the government.

It does not mean that Religious symbols cannot be on Public Property.

It means that the Government cannot interfere in Religious expression.

Isn't a public school having a Christmas pageant a religious expression?

Congress is prohibited from establishing it's own religion,, It is prohibited from stopping Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and even Scientologists from doing their thing.

This is a law that protect Religious Expression. I don't believe that anyone is going to argue that Secular Humanism is a Religion. Atheists don't have a religion, so they shouldn't even have an opinion about this issue.

Freedom of Religious Expression is like a woman's right to choose. If you are man you are just not entitled to have an opinion. Since Atheists have no Religion, they should not be involved in this issue.

Yes, I know Atheists have free speech and I know they have a right to not participate in Religion.

Answer 1

Then why do students have to pray "under God" every day at school?

Answer 2

Well I'm not American, so that's probably why.

x

Answer 3

Nothing scares atheists more than a well informed Christian.  

Answer 4

My interpretation is: Government can not tell me I have to go to church and pray to God, Jesus, Mother Earth, Satan or the Moon. I get to decide if I want to participate in religion or not.

Answer 5

answer: Does that mean YOU will support a Baphomet pentagram in the court house?  Or the Noble Virtues from Heathenism?  Or how about a Wiccan pentagram along side the Nativity scene?

Your logic is faulty all over the place, btw. Men may not be "entitled" to an opinion about a woman's right to choose but they're the majority that have made the laws for centuries.

Answer 6

What is it with you and school christmas plays?  

Answer 7

"It does not mean that Religious groups cannot lobby the government.

It does not mean that Religious symbols cannot be on Public Property.

It means that the Government cannot interfere in Religious expression.

Isn't a public school having a Christmas pageant a religious expression?"

Lol - you should really go to law school.

If the government, through either its public property or public institutions like schools, shows some favour towards one religion over another - such as a christmas pagent or a religious symbols then that is taken as an implicit promotion of one religion over the other. Thus, in order for such promotion there would have to be equal time/money given to all other religions - For instance, in Australia (where s116 of the Constitution there is almost identical to Amendment 1) a catholic school can get public funding, but only where the payment is proportionally equal to the funding to Jewish Schools or presbyterian schools or muslims schools (per Stephens J in Re Department of Government Schools ex parte Black).

Now tell me, should statues of the koran be placed on the courtroom steps alongside the bible? Or should children be forced into ramadan fasting just before the yuletide holidays?

I suggest that you read the supreme court decisions in relation to these cases.  

Answer 8

The constitution enforces freedom of religion. By default, it also enforces freedom FROM religion.

If I want to be free from religion, and want the same for my children, I have every right to have the allow uphold that for me. It should be possible to have my kids raised free of religion. If you bring religious teachings into my schools, then that choice is removed from me.

If you leave my schools free of religion, I will leave your churches free of knowledge. If you try and brain wash my kids by putting your beliefs beside the facts being taught in schools, you do not want to see what free thinkers like myself will bring to your churches.

Religion and knowledge deny each other.

Atheistically yours,

JM Gendron.

Answer 9

I'm impressed. A Christian reading something longer than a magazine article before they whine about it!



AMAZING!

Answer 10

People in general don't understand the constitution.  

YA has taught me this.  It has also taught me that most don't know jack about religions nor evolution.  Just spend a few hours on here reading answers about these topics and you'll agree.

Answer 11

people wouldnt be so upset if southern nutty judges and nutty fundementalist chrisitan whackos wernt trying to force there kids to pray to there God in the public schools and that is what is happening and that is what they did and that is what they want to keep doing,.

Have they read the Constitution.,

Have you? everyone has a right to an opinion public property is public property and belongs to athiests christians and anyone else just keep religion in the church next door and there isnt a problem is there

I am not an athiest they are as nutty to me as any other fundementalist extremist Keep it in your church an I will keep it in mine.we can all meet together at town hall and talk about what we all have in common bad roads and high taxes.

Answer 12

This is a retarded argument

Answer 13

Now that you've decided who is entitled to have an opinion on what, I guess the Supreme Court can take a well earned rest. If there's ever a question we'll just leave it here for you.

Answer 14

I just have a word for Lizard of Ahaz Goverment buildings are paid for by people like you and me a Christan. My daughter goes to private school,but yet I pay taxes that go to public schools. Schools that handout condoms and teach kids it's normal to be g*y but say kids can't pray. What has America come to?

Answer 15

sorry, I disagree with you about the religious symbols on public property, as has the supreme court. By putting ANY one religions symbols on public property, the government IS establishing a religion. How hard is that to understand?

Answer 16

I would argue that atheism is a religion.

One of the dictionary definitions of religion is:

"a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs"

Atheists believe there is no God! This is a belief and it shapes how they view nature and the purpose of the Universe!

This is why scientists should be agnostics, not atheists - we can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God(s).

Consequently your argument is spurious - atheism is protected by the first amendment!

Answer 17

First thing is first: Some atheists have a religion.  

Answer 18

There are atheists that have religions. I am entitled to an opinion whether you like it or not. I never said men have no right to have an opinion when it comes to abortion. everyone has an opinion.

As for the establishment of a religion part, it actually means that congress with not show favor on any one religion or sponsor any religion.

The government is not allowed to show favor over one religion. If you are going to have the ten commandments placed out side of a government building then you should also have the Egyptian book of the dead, a Buddha, the sigil of Lucifer, and every other religion.

Answer 19

You are oh, so right! The problem is that some still don't care. I'm not a christian either but, do believe that all Americans have the same rights under this Constitution and although I may disagree with certain ideas, I will still defend the persons right to state them as long as it is not of a vulgar of obscene nature, just as I would hope they honor my right to speak my mind.

Answer 20

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion".

Why the tax exemption for them then?

Answer 21

many probably do, and just don't like what it means.  but that's not the important thing:  the activist agenda is to convince other people---you, the public, activist judges---that the non-activist understanding is "incorrect"

Answer 22

The constitution creates a Personal freedom to express your religion, it does not create the power for the govt. to put up a statue or words for any religion to the exclusion of others (this includes govt. buildings or public schools) Atheists know this, you apparently do not.

Answer 23

Because I'm Canadian and don't give a rat's behind.

Answer 24

Yet the public demands that religion should mix with politics, thereby making the politics of the country questionable. And since the government cannot express their thoughts against the religious group's actions, the religious group are free to rampage on.

Also, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,"

I understand this just fine, do you?

The government gives more to Christianity, yet ignore the other religion in your country.

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Christmas is not a religious expression. It's a holiday. Albeit a religious holiday.

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Also, so you're saying that the government should suppress and oppress Atheism, since it's not a religion?

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You fail in arguing 101.

Answer 25

They don't understand it because they don't realize the amount of propaganda they have been fed their whole life. Separation of church and state is not even in the constitution. It was only in a private letter that Jefferson wrote. He was assuring a pastor that the government could not establish a religion or mess with his. He stated explicitly that this was a one way wall keeping the government out of religion but not keeping religion out of government.

All the founders knew and wrote a lot about if america loses it's christian bible based principles that we will loose our republic.

That is what is happening, We are moving towards Marxism.

I have a few issues about the rest of your question I think you should consider. I would argue that Secular Humanism is a religion. So is Humanistic Naturalism. It is the state sponsored religion in the schools. Every scientific discovery has to be viewed under the moral law of Naturalism and Uniformatarianism. It is this secular naturalism and humanism that is leading this country. All the laws and everything is following their religious dogma.

I also have issue with what you wrote that a man is just not entitleds to have an opinion in the abortion of his child. That is total garbage. I don't know how to put it nicer. That is a teaching of this new era of religion. You are in a religion no matter what you believe, that is your religious convictions. Even choosing not to believe in God is your religious conviction. Not beliveing that fetus is a living baby and not beliving that the man has the say in the babies life is a religious conviction. This is because it deals with morals and ethics. Not measurements and math. It takes faith in a certain right and wrong to make the decision.

Answer 26

Constitutional scholars disagree with you.

Who do you think I side with?

Answer 27

They do understand it, Its more that they don't like it, that's why they like liberal judges so they can legislate from the minority.

tGod bless

Answer 28

A school would be putting on a Christmas pageant on government property and, most likely, using government money. If the pageant is religious? No.

Since atheists are equal citizens with equal rights, they have a say in what happens in their country.

Answer 29

In case after case, the "establishment of religion" clause has been held to mean that the government cannot sponsor or have any connection to any particular religion because it appears to be an endorsement or "establishment" of that religion. Too bad you didn't get past the constitution to the hundreds of cases since then that have interpreted it. That's what the courts do. Interpret the constitution. Please go back to civics class, you self-righteous fundie idiot.

Answer 30

Atheists have the right to not have their children to be religiously indoctrinated in the public schools. Atheists have the right that their tax dollars not go to a religious institution against their wishes. They have the right not to be discriminated against by theists just because the atheist has no theistic belief. So you are so wrong on this issue!

Answer 31

I do.  You're forgetting one thing.  A religious symbol on public property, such as the ten commandments in a courthouse, is paid for with public money.  That would be giving preference to a particular religion.  Why should an atheist pay for a religious symbol?

BTW, it's a convenient way for you to try and win an argument by saying that, in your narrow view, that the "opposition" isn't even entitled to an opinion.