bahmer

Please watch the short video before commenting thanks.

https://youtu.be/K_yS0X5s0lo

Kevyn

bahmer

I have to go to youtube to get the url address for the video because ParagerU doesn't list it in their website smartypants.

Smedley_buzkill

Kevyn was just stating his qualifications.

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

Amen & amen! That info can't be shared enough! Good job!

EN Submarine Qualified Loc: Wisconsin East coast

I am totally amazed and disappointed that anyone reads Keyy's crapola. I wouldn't waste a second on it.

son of witless

I am guessing that Kevyn posted a selfie. He is much smarter looking than I would have surmised from his posts.

saltwind78

bahmer, I'm sorry, but I make it a point not to read postings from youtube. I take Thomas' Jefferson's and Voltairs as well. Jefferson believed in a complete separation of church and state. The state should have no power to involve itself in church business. It doesn't pay any taxes for that protection. The church should never have anything to do with the state. That means supporting and/or endorsing a candidate for office. The founding fathers did not even believe in a religious test for political candidates. Voltair advanced the freedom of religion during the Enlightenment.

EN Submarine Qualified Loc: Wisconsin East coast

A bit excessive. Remembering the conditions existing at the time of revolution,it was very important to ensure the government would never be able to direct you to belong to a given religion.
Nothing more.
Actually that was one of the reasons for breaking with England. People wanted to be able to select their religion, even none.
The so called 'separation of church and state is modern BS to justify ripping down cemetery and memorial crosses, etc.
Until comparatively recently, having a religion was not only OK but expected. As matter of fact,a person without professing a religion was frowned down on and castigated.
Also your comment aboutYouTube is just 'shooting the messenger'. The real gist was the speaker's words, not who happened to have it on their website.

saltwind78

At the time of the American Revolution, the Stuart monarchs had established the Church of England, and the Protestant Church in Scotland suffered through several civil wars, America wanted to be free of religion dominated society. You could be a religious person or a complete non believer. It should not be a matter of church involving itself with politics.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Government intrusion into the affairs of the Church has become a growing threat to religious freedom and the inner workings of churches.
ADF launches legal effort to protect churches from government intrusion.
Atheist Coalition Urges Unconstitutional Government Intrusion into Church Finances.

Religious Freedom: What’s at Stake If We Lose It

The first amendment to the United States constitution begins, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”

Fast forward almost 250 years and religious freedom is one of the most pressing issues in American culture today.

Let’s take a look at some of the concerns surrounding this debate.

First of all, what is religious freedom?

Religious freedom is more than the “freedom to worship” at a synagogue, church, or mosque. It means people shouldn’t have to go against their core values and beliefs in order to conform to culture or government.

Religious freedom protects people’s right to live, speak, and act according to their beliefs peacefully and publicly. It protects their ability to be themselves at work, in class, and at social activities.

Ok, that sounds good, but does such “freedom” allow people to do wh**ever they want under the cover of religion?

Well, that answer is no. The Supreme Court has said the federal government may limit religious freedom – but only when it has a “compelling interest” to do so in order to protect the common good and limit people’s ability to harm others.

Here’s how that applies to the most common allegation in religious freedom cases today – charges of discrimination.

Should florists, photographers and bakers be forced to provide their services for same-sex weddings and celebrations that violate their religious beliefs?

Well, let’s flip the question. Should a lesbian graphic designer or printer be forced to create a flyer for a religious group’s rally opposing same-marriage?

In both cases, the answer should be no.

There are plenty of other bakers that provide cakes for same-sex weddings and there are other graphic artists a religious group can hire. Additionally, in neither example is a person or group being denied a service because of who they are – it’s because of the specific service they are requesting. In these cases, there is not a compelling interest for the government to interfere.

That is very different from Jim Crow laws that mandated segregation based on racial supremacy. These laws prevented all individuals and businesses, regardless of their personal beliefs, from opening their doors and providing their services to African Americans. These laws enforced widespread discrimination and denied African Americans basic necessities. The government absolutely had a compelling interest to interfere.

And that’s why the answer to this next question is very important…does religious freedom mean religious people get special rights?

No. Religious freedom prevents the cultural majority from using the power of the state to impose their beliefs on others. This protects everyone—religious and nonreligious alike—from the government becoming so powerful that it can tell people what to think and how to act. Conscience has been considered the individual’s most sacred right. A government that intrudes on conscience will not hesitate to intrude on our other freedoms.

Additionally, forcing individuals and faith-based organizations to choose between living out their religious beliefs or serving their neighbors actually harms our communities.

Did you know that an estimated 350,000 religious congregations operate schools, pregnancy resource centers, soup kitchens, drug addiction programs, homeless shelters, and adoption agencies?

These efforts serve 70 million Americans each year and the value of their services are estimated at over a trillion dollars annually.

Ultimately, everyone benefits from religious freedom.

It covers all people equally—Christians, Jews, Muslims, agnostics, and atheists. Religious freedom preserves America’s diversity, where people of different faiths, worldviews, and beliefs can peacefully live together without fear of punishment from the government.

Efforts to repress religious freedom is not just an attack on individual liberty and human dignity, but on the very foundation that has made America strong.

Kickaha Loc: Nebraska

Excellent post. There's actually more evidence of government interfering with the free exercise of religion than the other way around. We hear of the sex scandals of Catholic priests (don't hear about other sects/or religions), but they want to force the Catholic church to be open to all sexual orientations. Religious groups that oppose a******n are told they must include birth control and a******n coverage in their health plans. Groups that provide pregnancy counselling are told they must provide proa******n information even if they are antia******n.

bahmer

Amen and Amen

Marty 2020 Loc: Banana Republic of Kalifornia

Remember the comic strip Beetle Bailey? Character “Zero” is Kevy.

Comment Loc: California

[quote=Blade_Runner]Government intrusion into the affairs of the Church has become a growing threat to religious freedom and the inner workings of churches.
ADF launches legal effort to protect churches from government intrusion.
Atheist Coalition Urges Unconstitutional Government Intrusion into Church Finances.

[i]Religious Freedom: What’s at Stake If We Lose It

The first amendment to the United States constitution begins, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”

Fast forward almost 250 years and religious freedom is one of the most pressing issues in American culture today.

Let’s take a look at some of the concerns surrounding this debate.

First of all, what is religious freedom?

Religious freedom is more than the “freedom to worship” at a synagogue, church, or mosque. It means people shouldn’t have to go against their core values and beliefs in order to conform to culture or government.

Religious freedom protects people’s right to live, speak, and act according to their beliefs peacefully and publicly. It protects their ability to be themselves at work, in class, and at social activities.

Ok, that sounds good, but does such “freedom” allow people to do wh**ever they want under the cover of religion?

Well, that answer is no. The Supreme Court has said the federal government may limit religious freedom – but only when it has a “compelling interest” to do so in order to protect the common good and limit people’s ability to harm others.

Here’s how that applies to the most common allegation in religious freedom cases today – charges of discrimination.

Should florists, photographers and bakers be forced to provide their services for same-sex weddings and celebrations that violate their religious beliefs?

Well, let’s flip the question. Should a lesbian graphic designer or printer be forced to create a flyer for a religious group’s rally opposing same-marriage?

In both cases, the answer should be no.

There are plenty of other bakers that provide cakes for same-sex weddings and there are other graphic artists a religious group can hire. Additionally, in neither example is a person or group being denied a service because of who they are – it’s because of the specific service they are requesting. In these cases, there is not a compelling interest for the government to interfere.

That is very different from Jim Crow laws that mandated segregation based on racial supremacy. These laws prevented all individuals and businesses, regardless of their personal beliefs, from opening their doors and providing their services to African Americans. These laws enforced widespread discrimination and denied African Americans basic necessities. The government absolutely had a compelling interest to interfere.

And that’s why the answer to this next question is very important…does religious freedom mean religious people get special rights?

No. Religious freedom prevents the cultural majority from using the power of the state to impose their beliefs on others. This protects everyone—religious and nonreligious alike—from the government becoming so powerful that it can tell people what to think and how to act. Conscience has been considered the individual’s most sacred right. A government that intrudes on conscience will not hesitate to intrude on our other freedoms.

Additionally, forcing individuals and faith-based organizations to choose between living out their religious beliefs or serving their neighbors actually harms our communities.

Did you know that an estimated 350,000 religious congregations operate schools, pregnancy resource centers, soup kitchens, drug addiction programs, homeless shelters, and adoption agencies?

These efforts serve 70 million Americans each year and thereforth, there was a combination of regi value of their services are estimated at over a trillion dollars annually.
rong
Ultimately, everyone benefits from religious freedom.

Christianity has been around before AD/BC. In abut 800 AD Charlemagne, Emperor of Rome, a Christian combined the rule of the Roman empire with the Catholic Church. Henceforth, the rulers of Europe have, for the most part, dictated a certain religion be the mandated religion of the state. The founders of the USA didn't want that happening here. That policy was eventually abandoned, as I recall, some 800 years later.

I my humble opinion, THE SCOTUS got it all wrong. Schools have no right to deny prayer in school; even though "under God" may be replaced with Buda. That is freedom of religion; not freedom from religion.