vision2020
RE: end state-sponsored religions
Actually Mr. Tom Hansen, the founding father's were referencing the very
specific triune God based on the Lord Jesus Christ as can be seen in the
oaths required to be taken when someone became a "public servant."
I could also show a whole bunch of supreme court decisions that use the
bible for the determination in their verdict and the court decisions that
say that Christianity is part of our common law. But I won't, just now..
- Delaware, Article 22: "Every person, who shall be chosen a member of either
house, or appointed to any office or place of trust shall...make and subscribe
the following declaration, to wit: 'I, __________, do profess faith in God
the Father, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God,
blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and
New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.'"
- Pennsylvania, Frame of Government, Section 10: "And each member [of the
legislature] before he takes his seat, shall make and subscribe the following
declaration, viz: 'I do believe in one God, the creator and governour of the
universe, the rewarder of the good and the punisher of the wicked, and I do
acknowldedge the scriptures of the Old and new Testament to be given by divine
inspiration.'"
- Massachusetts, Chapter VI, Article I: "[All persons elected to State office
or to the Legislature must] make and subscribe the following declaration, viz.
'I, __________, do declare, that I believe the Christian religion, and have
firm persuasion of its truth.'"
- North Carolina, Article XXXII: "No person, who shall deny the being of God,
or the truth of the Protestant religion, or the divine authority either of the
Old or New Testaments, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with
the freedom and safety of the state, shall be capable of holding any office, or
place of trust or profit in the civil department, within this state."
- Maryland, Article XXXV: "That no other test or qualification ought to be
required...than such oath of support and fidelity to this state...and a
declaration of a belief in the Christian religion."
- Vermont (1786), Frame of Government, Section 9: "And each member [of the
legislature], before he takes his seat, shall make and subscribe the following
declaration, viz: 'I do believe in one God, the Creator and Governor of the
universe, the rewarder of the good and punisher of the wicked. And I do
acknowledge the scriptures of the old and new testament to be given by divine
inspiration, and own and profess the [Christian] religion.' And no further or
other religious test shall ever, hereafter, be required of any civil officer
or magistrate in this State."
- Tennesee (1796), Article VIII, Section II: "No person who denies the being of
God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the
civil department of this State."
Living In His Great And Glorious Kingdom,
John Harrell
--- Tom Hansen <thansen@moscow.com> wrote:
> Mr Clevenger -
>
> I believe that any reference to God, whether it is in the US Constitution,
> the Pledge of Allegiance, or any other document, is made generically. What
> I mean is that the reference to God is to refer to each and every religion's
> God. The only noticeable exception is the atheist who does not have a God.
>
> I also believe that our founding father's found it nearly impossible to
> avoid reference to God throughout anything and everything that went into the
> creation of this great country. Their answer to this predicament was to
> refer to God in a general manner.
>
> Just a thought,
>
> Tom Hansen
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Earth Life [mailto:onewildearth@hotmail.com]
> Sent: Friday, June 28, 2002 2:50 PM
> To: vision2020@moscow.com
> Subject: end state-sponsored religions
>
>
> It seems to me that it makes perfect patriotic sense to delete references
> to God in publicly sponsored events (ie schools, courtrooms, congress, etc.)
>
>
> Not only would we be following the Constitutional Amendment of the
> separation of church and state, which any patriot surely would stand behind,
> but we would be encouraging what it means to be an American.
>
> We are a melting pot of cultures, religions, politics, etc. We are not
> united by one belief system. That is obvious reading this email listserve.
> By referring to God in state sponsored activities, we are endorsing one (or
> perhaps a few) world views. We are excluding other Americans. If the
> believers in one God get state endorsement, then so should the believers in
> other Gods or no God.
>
> It seems easier and more American for the state to not endorse any God.
>
> Non state-sponsored activities still have the Constitutional right to
> endorse their God. The state should not interfere with the right to
> practice a religion. That is patriotism as well.
>
> In an era where understanding of one another is crucial for world peace,
> we should strive to not alienate other American cultures. By referring to
> "God" in state sponsored activities, we are undermining the ability to reach
> out as Americans and accept our differences.
>
> I am a believer in God, Goddess, the Creative Force, Higher Power,
> whatever you want to call it, but I still am not offended by the Courts
> decision to ban the use of the Pledge of Allegiance as it is written now
> from public schools. My beliefs are not devalued.
>
> Peace from Garrett Clevenger
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
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>
>
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