GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

I would hope that all of us would agree that the First Amendment separation of church and state is fundamental to the ideals of our country. Religion is be a private matter. No where in the Constitution is God or Jesus mentioned, nor is religion, save to assert that a religious test is never to be required to hold public office.

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State recently posted this to its membership, of which I am proud to include myself :http://au.org/media/press-releases/legal-battle-over-north-carolina-town-s-sectarian-war-memorial-to-go-to-trial

For those who don't wish to view the site, here's the text:

Legal Battle Over North Carolina Town’s Sectarian War Memorial To Go To Trial
Opponents Of Christian Displays In City Of King Will Have Day In Court
Jul 8, 2014
A dispute over a Christian war memorial in the city of King, N.C., deserves to go to trial, a federal court has ruled.
The court also ruled that several of the city’s practices with respect to religious memorial ceremonies violate the separation of church and state.
U.S. District Judge James A. Beaty ruled today that many issues raised in the lawsuit are compelling and should go to trial. The lawsuit, Hewett v. City of King, was filed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State on behalf of Steven Hewett, a decorated veteran of the war in Afghanistan.
In the lawsuit, Americans United asked the city to remove the display of a Christian flag as well as a Christian-themed statue at the city’s war memorial and to stop promoting Christian prayers at official events held at the memorial.
“A memorial that incorporates Christian symbols and promotes Christian messages fails to honor the sacrifice of all of our veterans,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “We’re asking the city of King to stop elevating one religion over others.”
Hewett, who won the Combat Action Badge and Bronze Star during his service with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, first complained about King’s overt promotion of Christianity in July 2010. A non-Christian, he asked for the removal of the Christian flag from the city-sponsored memorial out of respect for the many non-Christian veterans who have served their country.
City officials rejected Hewett’s request, and community residents who learned of the controversy also besieged the council with demands that the Christian flag remain in place.
After a complaint from Americans United, the city council voted in September 2010 to remove the Christian flag, but its absence was temporary.
In November 2010, the city – following advice from the Religious Right legal group the Alliance Defending Freedom – created a “limited public forum” in which a flagpole at the veterans’ memorial was reserved for a rotating group of pre-approved flags. The city conducted a lottery and selected 52 flag applications, one for each week of the year.
Americans United says in its lawsuit that this so-called public forum is a sham. The Christian flag has flown at the memorial for 47 out of 52 weeks in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
The city also displays a statue of a soldier kneeling before a cross, and it hosts memorial events featuring prayers and extensive Christian content. Even after purporting to transfer those events to private entities, the city remained involved in their planning and sponsorship.
In his ruling, Beaty said that a reasonable factfinder could conclude that the display of the Christian flag and cross statue violate the separation of church and state, and thus those claims should proceed to trial. In addition, Beaty concluded that the city unconstitutionally participated in and promoted religious memorial ceremonies. Beaty also rejected the city’s argument that the recent Supreme Court decision of Town of Greece v. Galloway authorized the city’s conduct.
“We’re pleased that Mr. Hewett will have his day in court, and that the court has already recognized that the city went too far in promoting Christianity at memorial ceremonies,” said AU Senior Litigation Counsel Gregory M. Lipper. “Veterans should be recognized for serving their country, not singled out on the basis of their religious beliefs.”
The case is being litigated by Lipper, AU Legal Director Ayesha N. Khan, and AU Madison Fellow Zachary Dietert. John M. Moye of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP is serving as local counsel.
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Barry Lynn, the Executive Director is, in addition to being a lawyer, an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ.

user47602 Loc: ip 304.0.0.33.32

:thumbup:

Bill Coleman

.....and meanwhile, across the nation, the federal government is surrendering the states to Islam, a political religion in which its religion and government are one and the same...Islam. Do we really hate our culture so much that we are allowing that to continue? To stop it, all that is required is for constutional conservatives to be organized. And since constitutional conservatives refuse to find their common ground and organize, what does that say about constitutional conservatives?

steve40 Loc: Asheville/Canton, NC, USA

Most people don’t know anymore, what separation of church and state even means. It has been twisted out of proportions by God haters, until all meaning has been lost.

#1. separation from state means the state would not sponsor nor require any certain brand of Christianity/religion as to mandatory attendance. As England did in the middle ages, the reason the Puritans came to America in the first place.

#2. That the Church would not influence nor by threat! try to influence affairs of government, as the Catholic church did in the middle ages. And is also the way a Muslim state is run.

It has nothing to do with the right to display religious icons, or the 10 commandments, or public prayer. That was started again, by the God haters, which this country is full to the brim of. Maybe they should go to a Muslim country, they hate God also. But unfortunately require you to love Mohammed. Or they will take your head off, the Christians in this country don’t require such. You are free to hate God if that’s what you desire, he will take vengeance for that.

So we should be free to display as Christians, our love for the things of God. Who is that hurting ???. And has nothing to do with violating, separation of State and Church.

It looks to me like this country is no longer the home of the brave, and the land of the free. But filled with sniveling cowards, and would be enslaving bigots. Who are sitting back, and allowing something far worse than the Christianity they hate, to creep in. :thumbdown: But I guess!, you just get what you deserve in the end. :)

Bill Coleman

The common ground that liberalism and Islam share is the hatred of christians and the constitution while at the same time using constitutional freedom to destroy the constitution. The other possibilty is that liberals are also culturally suicidal and/or would be willing converts to Islam.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Odd how easily progressives get their panties all tied up into knots....

Why don't you just come out and say it George, you hate Christianity because you feel that it stands in the way of a progressive utopia.

Bill Coleman

I left that possibility out. The libs/progressives may actually ignore the threat of Islam or believe their utopia will be spared by Islam.

GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

Well, since one cannot prove a negative, I can't really answer your assertion that I hate Christianity. I don't. It has, as enunciated by Jesus, a wonderful ethical and moral code. One needn't accept the theological accretions to live by his morality.

But it is sad that the sublime truths spoken by him, such as "Love your enemies," "Turn the other cheek," seem to have been forgotten by so many so-called Christians, many of whom are more concerned with forcing their beliefs on others than in witnessing by the example of their lives.

Steve40, there is nothing to prevent you from expressing your Christian or Buddhist or whatever beliefs ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY. I don't want my tax dollars funding religious displays or ceremonies of any sort on public properties. Prayer at city council meetings, at public school functions, graduations, etc, is perilously close to REQUIRING prayer by a governmental agency. And who is to chose the prayer?

Bill Coleman, how is the federal government surrendering the states to Islam?

Some towns have adopted a period of quiet reflection in lieu of a prayer. Sounds like a good idea to me. Anyone who felt the need could pray, those who didn't wouldn't be forced to listen to a prayer not in accord with their beliefs.

Ghandi expressed it well: "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

I have met a few folks who exemplified Christianity in word and deed. They knew that I did not share their theology, but that I respected them. They returned that respect. We need more of these quiet Christians, who walk the walk, but don't shout about it. In truth, deeds speak louder than words.

Kombiguy Loc: Cedar Rapids, IA

Yea, well, Ghandi was a jerk.

Bill Coleman

The federal government is surrendering the states to Islam by: (1) allowing the hostile political beast that is Islam to have the protection under the constitution of a religion, (2) by allowing Islamic mosques ( hostile political forts) to be built and manned across the USA, (3) not vetting candidates for the position of POTUS, (4) by allowing muslims to deny freedom of speech to citizens in areas where muslim dominate, (5) by giving refugee status to muslims who come here to do the jihad that caused them to be "persecuted" in their homeland, (6) refusing to recognize that the doctrine of Islam powers the motivation of muslims to do the different levels of jihad against the non muslim and (7) referring to orthodox muslims who carry out the violent commands of the Islam doctrine as "radicals" in lieu of calling them muslims, orthodox muslims, Islamic fighters or jihadists, etc.

dljen Loc: Central PA

Or as someone else said, "I don't mind God, I just don't like his fan club."

Good post, George.

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

Dona, did you know that Jesus fan club is made up of people just like you. Not all Liberals are atheist. Most even understand what the First Amendment really means. Like Liberals, not all Christians are perfect. Can you tell us what the First amendment means?

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

Well Bangee, You just cause her to un-watch.

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

Hey George..It isn't in the Constitution.
Please read.
http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2010/10/1920/

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Why, because you think the President is a "secret follower if Islam? How stupid are you?