seperation of church and state
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Why are the Democrats stressing Faith so much?
I've been watching the DNC, and I've noticed an interesting and slightly unsettling trend.
Democrats are constantly referencing Faith and God in their speeches. And right now as I'm typing this, here comes the real kicker. Currently, a pair of Methodist pastors are saying a closing benediction prayer.
What is with this new mixing of Church and State by the Democratic Party? Strange how this is happening while the Republicans are working on putting less focus on religion. I've been watching the DNC, and I've noticed an interesting and slightly unsettling trend. ... more -
Religion in veteran health care
"Taxpayers cannot sue the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for incorporating religion into its health care programs for the nation's veterans, an appeals court has ruled.
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday the Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation and three of its members have no legal standing to bring the case.
The group was trying to end the department's practice of asking patients about their religion in "spiritual assessments," its use of chaplains to treat patients, and drug and alcohol treatment programs that incorporate religion. It claimed those practices violated the separation of church and state.
But the court ruled that federal taxpayers cannot challenge those expenditures. The court cited a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year in which the same group was not allowed to sue over President Bush's faith-based initiative.
In that case, the court ruled 5-4 the executive branch cannot be sued by taxpayers for expenses that allegedly promote religion. Cases can only be brought when the questionable expenditures are explicitly authorized in a congressional spending bill, the court ruled.
Congress never authorized spending on the chaplain services, pastoral care and other programs challenged, the 7th Circuit ruled.
Annie Laurie Gaylor, the foundation's co-president, criticized the ruling but said an appeal to the Supreme Court was unlikely. She said the group would look for VA patients who object to their treatment to be potential plaintiffs but said such a case would still be difficult to win.
"The courts are moving to the position where government can fund religious activities and endorse religion without restraint," she said. "It's really very disturbing."
The veterans agency, which treated 5.3 million people at its facilities in 2005, says it believes spirituality should be integrated into care, but it allows patients to decide whether that involves religion.
Its spiritual assessments ask patients a series of questions about their faith, such as how often they attend church and how important religion is in their lives. Agency officials say the assessments help them determine patients' needs."
What do you think? "Taxpayers cannot sue the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for incorporating religion into its health care programs for the na... more -
Iranian woman's rights activist convicted of terrorism against Islam - 5 year...
Exactly what are the charges against Hana?
She has been charged with gathering and collusion with the intent of committing a crime against national security. This sentence has been issued with reference to articles 189, 190, 191, and 194 of the Penal Code, in relation to the crime of Moharebe (combat against Islam and the State) and also article 610 of the Penal Code which is more inline with Hana’s crime, and carries with it 2-5 years prison term. It should be noted that Hana was issued the maximum sentence allowed in such circumstances. Given the fact that the sentence is seriously inappropriate given the nature of the case against my client, it is possible that the sentence will be over turned in appeals court. Nevertheless, I absolutely did not expect such a sentence in Hana’s case. I had predicted that she would be sentenced to 2 years prison term, in a city close to Sanandaj, close to her family, not in a border province so far away.
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Many women convicted of trying to seek equality in Iran are burned or buried up to their mid chests and stoned to death as punishment for trying to change their status in Iranian society. Exactly what are the charges against Hana? ... more -
Ohio teacher burns cross on child's arm
A public school teacher preached his Christian beliefs despite complaints by other teachers and administrators and used a device to burn the image of a cross on students' arms, according to a report by independent investigators.
Mount Vernon Middle School teacher John Freshwater also taught creationism in his science class and was insubordinate in failing to remove a Bible and other religious materials from his classroom, the report said.
School board members were scheduled to meet Friday afternoon to discuss the findings by consulting firm H.R. On Call Inc., hired by the district to investigate. The report was released Thursday.
School Superintendent Stephen Short wouldn't comment on the report before Friday's meeting, his office said. A message seeking comment was left for Freshwater's attorney, Roger Weaver.
The report comes one week after a family filed a federal lawsuit in Columbus against Freshwater and the school district, saying Freshwater burned a cross on their child's arm that remained for three or four weeks.
Freshwater's friend Dave Daubenmire defended him.
"With the exception of the cross-burning episode ... I believe John Freshwater is teaching the values of the parents in the Mount Vernon school district," he told The Columbus Dispatch in a story published Friday.
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So family values equates to more torture in the name of Jesus? A public school teacher preached his Christian beliefs despite complaints by other teachers and administrators and used a device to bu... more -
No, On Prayer In School, But We All Should Pray
No, On Prayer In School, But We All Should Pray!!
The reason Ole Funky Fingers says this is because
We cannot assume all kids have a religious preference.
Or even believe in the same religon. Instead of putting
Prayer in schools we should put more educational resources
Ie: Computer Labs, After School Programs, Job Training Coures. No, On Prayer In School, But We All Should Pray!! The reason Ole Funky Fingers says this is because ... more -
School under investigation for "teaching Islam", not flying American fla...
A state investigation into a charter school has been launched for accusations of teaching a religion. A substitute teacher said a school in Inver Grove Heights is blurring the line of separation of church and state by teaching Islam... A state investigation into a charter school has been launched for accusations of teaching a religion. A substitute teacher said a sch... more
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Moment of Silence Seems to Work...
Myself, I pray frequently and privately. This is what Jesus asked for.
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TESTOLERANCE.COM the Movie ... In GOD We T.R.U.S.T.
I Made this during the time of my 1st. visit to Current ... Since then although I'm NOT as Current HERE as I'd like to be ... C.U.R.R.E.N.T. is the Shiznet ...
I Talk You Guys ^ UP ^ ALL the time & both the web & T.V.
This is just 1 of a few movie's that I've made ... I've spent an average of 8 - 12 hours a nite 5 & 6 night's a week Building TESTOLERANCE.COM
So Please Watch & let me Know if it makes YOU want 2 Do SomeThing ...
Leave it HERE & Please visit TESTOLERANCE ... & Bring your Knowledge & comments to any 1 of the 10 Chat rooms at the bottoms of the pages ...
Religion - BattleBoardBabylon ... A FREE SPEECH Zone - SportsFREAK - TeachersLounge ... A Place 4 Educators to go - These are just few of them &
There are 30 pages... ALL FREE fun & games & Daily Need's ....
But The REST are Serious Topics & Real Solutions & fact's ...
Like ... UncleSamStuff - VOTEshount2008 - STRIKE3 ... They're O.U.T. The GREAT amer-I-can WalkO.U.T.-
& Much more ... Thanks Again for Watching & Taking Part in a Time That will be Remembered In H.I.S.T.O.R.Y. 1 of many Leader's of the Next generation of Fore F.A.T.H.E.R.'s & M.OT.H.E.R.'s ... SeeYa'round, AceBanger, Ther Guru ... I Made this during the time of my 1st. visit to Current ... Since then although I'm NOT as Current HERE as I'd like to be ..... more -
Schools are being led astray
Taking prayer out of school is the worst thing that could happen.
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Why Jesus is better than Santa Claus
Recently, a girl in Vermont came home with a flier handed out by her public school entitled "Why Jesus is better than Santa Claus." Her father immediately became concerned with the separation between Church and State in the classroom.
But this isn't the first incident at this school. Back in September, the Ten Commandments were mounted to the classroom wall, Christian books filled the classroom bookshelf, and a school-funded Web page, used by the teacher, included links to Christian Web sites.
Complaints to school officials, including a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, have prompted administrators to remove some of the books and Web links in question. But the girls father and at least one other parent have lingering concerns over an apparent constitutional breach of the separation of church and state.
What do you think? Should religion stay out of a public classroom? Recently, a girl in Vermont came home with a flier handed out by her public school entitled "Why Jesus is better than Santa Claus... more -
Modern Day Prophet? Robert Anson Heinlein
Writing in the early 1960s, Heinlein accurately predicted the existence of enormous Evangelical/Fundamentalist megachurches as corporate entities controlling their own television networks and other businesses, similar to the Moral Majority, the Christian Coalition, and other historical entities.
I highly suggest everybody should read this book. Or download it from Audible.
Stranger in a Strange Land Writing in the early 1960s, Heinlein accurately predicted the existence of enormous Evangelical/Fundamentalist megachurches as corpora... more -
Golden Compass is a Blast! - Don't let the fuss about the Catholic League kee...
I just came from seeing the movie that has got many in the Catholic and Evangelical Christian Communities in an uproar. The film is about a totalitarian government that has control of both the political and religious institutions. It is called the Magesterium. According to Mrs. Coulter, the part played by Nicole Kidman, the job of the Magesterium is to tell people what to do and what to think for their own good. However, disobedience is dealt with swiftly and painfully.
The story tells us that their are many parallel universes with their own unique realities. However the Magesterium wishes to be able to cross over from one universe to the other so that they can eventually control all the universes; all of them. This is megalomania to the extreme and on steroids.
I can see why Religions like the Catholics and the Evangelicals are afraid of this movie. One of the witches in the movie says that "a war is coming, you may not think that it is your war but it is your war, you just don't know it yet." Sam Elliot who plays a character named Lee Scorsby asks the witch, "what is this here quarrel all about?" And she responds, "Nothing less than your free will."
Catholic and Evangelical religion is about taking away your free will and bringing it under the authority of the church. That is why this story hits home because the Magesterium is very much like their own authority.
The Alethiometer is a device that helps you to find out the truth. In my view the Alethiometer is an allegory for our own conscience, when it is properly tuned to the source of all life, it acts as an internal compass to guide us and to protect us from lies. I just came from seeing the movie that has got many in the Catholic and Evangelical Christian Communities in an uproar. The film is ab... more -
Bush should be Impeached!
I was raised Catholic and Baptist, but today I do not call myself a Christian because I believe that most of the organized religions have, as predicted in the New Testament's book of Revelation, become the apostate church in direct opposition to the true faith of Jesus Christ. Remember the Beatitudes?
Organized religions are the cause of 99 percent of the problems our world faces today when it comes to terrorism, abortion and civil rights. I can no longer support a president who wraps himself in Christianity as though it were the purple robe of royalty. His words say one thing, while his actions speak volumes to me.
Our country was founded on separation of church and state, and this president has done more in the five years of his presidency to distort that separation and to blur the lines than any other. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.
I strongly urge my constituents and fellow followers of Christ to demand that President Bush be impeached for being a liar. He lied about Iraq and now it is clear that he has lied about being the good guy he and the rest of his cronies says he is.
JON JARAMILLO I was raised Catholic and Baptist, but today I do not call myself a Christian because I believe that most of the organized religions h... more
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seperation of church and state
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seperation of church and state
