Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Yeah, that's what the 1st amendment says, but since when did liberal progressives give a damn what it says? In nearly every attack on religious freedom in America, Christians and Jews are the primary targets. And every liberal progressive judge, legislator, congress critter and bureaucrat have supported such attacks, even to the point of participating. For example, an activist gay couple who targets a Christian bakery under the guise of wanting a cake cannot, by their own authority, achieve their goal of shutting down the bakery and forcing the Christian out of business. But the government can and has. Progressive judges and legislators, councilmen and police chiefs have breached the wall that was supposed to separate church and state. A number of times progs in government have introduced legislation that would abolish the tax free status of Christian churches.

emarine

Gay isn't a religion yet Blade Buddy... its a wh**ever it is... I just follow the laws weather I agree or not...

BigMike Loc: yerington nv

Frankly, I think churches shouldn't worry about taxes because the state uses tax status as a cudgel.

Jesus paid taxes and the money was provided.

The Temple Tax. Matt 17:24-27

24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

25 “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

26 “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him.

27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

Interesting. If there were no Mormons, then who founded Salt Lake City?
There have always been atheists; same with Satanists, Taoists, Bhuddists and followers of Voodoo. These religions predate the United States, some of them by millennia. Why would you deny their existence?


The first amendment states that Congress shall make no law, not that Congress shall have no morality. Members of Congress, being free citizens first and foremost, are free to follow any religion that they desire, or no religion at all.


Considering the plain language of the Constitution, I'd say they did a pretty good job of being clear and concise in their use of the English language. As I understand it, the Constitution is written at an eighth grade level.


If you take the time to understand other religious beliefs, you'll find that they have more in common than they have differences. It is ignorance that breeds fear and foments division, not diversity.

truthiness

...
Almost everyone left or right feels that the Founders had great vision for the country. Many feel that they were inspired by Deity. If so, apparently Deity feels this nation which He inspired doesn't need to have constraints on/for some religion(s) that you feel are acceptable. Apparently He feels that way through the way He inspired the Founders.
I am amazed at how little credit some originalists give to the vision of the Founders when it comes to areas where some originalists feel that in spite of the words being general they have to make specific interpretations that disagree with the words themselves. If you are an originalist, then don't cherry pick where you want to change the originalist words. If you do, you aren't an originalist.

If you really are an originalist with your handy copy of the Constitution, you and I read this: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..."
Those are the words--nothing about as you say, "No Mormons, no atheists, no Satanist, no Jehova Witnesses, no Taoist, no Buddhist, no Voodoo,...". Are you an originalist or not?

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

I was talking about the US, not around the world. Look up when Mormonism began. It was after 1776, my friend. There was no Union Pacific importing Chinese. So no Buddhist, no Japanese, only the natives, w****s, s***es, and indentured servants and a few Jews. But I understand you're thinking it was different. Education isn't what it used to be. I've read a lot about other beliefs and I'm not the one who is ignorant about our history or its founding. I'm also not bashing other religions but they aren't Jewish or Christian. They don't claim Jehovah or Christ. That's the difference. Mormons were chased out of the US and ended up in what we now call Salt Lake, Utah because of polygamy. They were only allowed to join the Union after they gave up their additional wives. Like Islam, they planned on outbreeding everyone else.

Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

So now you're saying that the founders didn't know of these other religious orders? I didn't say they were here, I said they predate the Constitution.

Seth

The #1 propaganda publication in the Soviet Union was "PRAVDA," which means "t***h" in Russian.

T***hiness must be a sort of plagiarism.

Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

Would it have been more effective if it was called 'Soviet Lies' instead?

Seth

LOL

Reminds me of when I saw Yakov Smirnoff at Harrah's Reno many years back.

He praised all three different types of TV we have in America, then said,

"In Soviet Union we have two channels, 1 and 2. 1 is the propaganda channel. If you switch to Channel 2, there is KGB officer telling you to go back to Channel 1."

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

Since many of them could read and write Latin and Greek I'm pretty sure they knew of them. We're kind of going around in circles. You know what I mean and just want to pretend you don't. I'm out.

truthiness

Sue me :).

Seth

I have no dog in that race, so to speak, but don't be surprised if, somewhere down the road, some lawyer representing a guy named Boris contacts you.

truthiness

No dog; no standing.

Seth

You're right, not standing. I'm actually sitting on deck, it's a beautiful night, sipping coffee and having a good laugh at the r****ded sounding posts of the anti-Trumpers. Winds looking to be less than 2 knots all night so won't even have to take up any more slack on the lines, just enjoy the night.

Ahhhh.....