Spanish
explorer Hernando DeSoto died of a fever while searching for gold in
Florida and the territory north of the Gulf of Mexico. To protect his
body from enemies, his men buried him at night in the Mississippi River,
which he had been the first European to discover. (1542)
A favorite argument the right wing frequently points to as a reason to believe God was speaking through the Founding Fathers is the expression of art throughout the Capital Building. I guess they believe if God was speaking through the Founding Fathers (whom were not ordained by any religious organization) then God is speaking through them. That is called Self-Righteous. But, that isn't the point here.
There is no doubt a large population of Christians living in the USA. The US Constitution states every citizen has Freedom of Religion. It doesn't mandate anyone to belong to a religious organization or adhere to any particular religious beliefs because the Founding Fathers left all that behind in England.
However, a frequent rant out of the USA southern members of Congress, be they US House or US Senate, is that God has control of the USA. They believe that. No one says they can't. However, more frequent than not these members seek to invoke the Bible as their guiding documents. They better not be. That is called, "The Laws of Man." (excuse the gender bias - thank you)
Where do we see the Laws of Men in other regions of the Earth? Many, right? Tribal elders and an Ayatollah in Iran, but, there is only one place where the USA Constitution exists and that is within the USA borders.
The art that exists throughout the US Capital and other areas of government is our history is to honor and remember the history of this country. Our history is dense with Christian people, but, we are not a Christian nation.
It is completely wrong for any legislator, be they Muslim, Baptist, Mormon, Catholic, Methodist, Jewish or non-religious to place a far different book as the basis of our democracy. We as a country separate ourselves from religion with our Constitution. If legislation is passed to enact religious precepts before that of the "Rule of Law" it is unconstitutional.
God can be spoken anywhere in the USA, except, in sanctuaries where it is not spoken. God can be stated in reverence when speaking appropriately of those lost and soldiers in battle. God is an expression of benevolence that should not be outlawed from speech.
Here is proof by the way. Real world proof.
On August 28th (click here) through 31st of the year 2000, two thousand of the
world's preeminent religious and spiritual leaders representing the many
faith traditions, gathered at the United Nations for a Millennium World
Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders.
Summit Information 1 | Who Attented?
One thousand of the world's leading religious and spiritual figures. Apart from His Holiness Pope John Paul II and The Most Reverend Dr. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, religious leaders who have been approached include Sheikh Ahmed Keftaro, the Grand Mufti of Syria, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Alazar from Cairo, the imans of the mosques of Mecca and Medina, Dr. Abdullah Salehal-Obaid, the secretary of the World Muslim League, the Israel's Chief Rabbi, Israel Meir Lau, the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, the Most Rev Bartholomew, the Russian Patriarch, His Holiness Alexii II, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Bishop Carlos Belo, the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner from East Timor.
The majority of religious leaders speak about God and peace in the same breath. I believe all religious leaders care about their people.
The point here though is our governing bodies are not religious figures as others are in other nations. That doesn't say they can't be if their religious organization allow them to call their career to be service in goverment, ie: Mike Huckabee. But, the USA Constitution prohibits even those members of Congress to act within constitutional rules of law.
The motto of the USA printed on money, "In God We Trust," is a respectful form of art. It can even be living art in honoring the past and the words of the past. But, it is art and nothing more. There are no holy men or women ordained in the US Capital or any other places in our government. Elected officials and not those 'called by God' are sworn in by taking an oath. There is very little preparation required by the USA Constitution for the election of citizens to office. Religions usually have a preparation period before a person can state they are ready to serve God.
The Southern Folks run their elections on the basis of 'The Bible" (of one version or another) because their funding sources demand it. Their funding sources demand them to make this a Christian nation or as the Southern Baptist Conventions would state, "Judeo-Christian." Good luck to everyone else.
The US House floor and US Senate floor is not a soap box for Evangelicals and/or a place for stump speeches. It is unethical to carry out political ambitions from the legislative floor of any house.
It is time to call this what it is. When a legislator places the Bible ahead of the USA Constitution as a reason for oppression and victimization it is treason. No document is legislated ahead of the USA Constitution. Treason is treason and diverting authority to God is unconstitutional and treason. Evangelizing religion to pandering to political chronies or carrying on with a political directive that is to enhance elections is unethical. It is time the US Senate and the US House file ethics violations for speeches as that made about personal beliefs related to religious content intended to victimize Americans while advocating a legislative agenda to that end.
I am sure there is a Chapel in the Capital building and quite possibly other buildings within our government, however, that is for the convenience of those that practice religion to find solace while working within their legal capacity under the USA Constitution. A Chapel does not turn a hospital into a church or Mosque and it doesn't turn the USA Capital building into a religiously sacred place.
A favorite argument the right wing frequently points to as a reason to believe God was speaking through the Founding Fathers is the expression of art throughout the Capital Building. I guess they believe if God was speaking through the Founding Fathers (whom were not ordained by any religious organization) then God is speaking through them. That is called Self-Righteous. But, that isn't the point here.
There is no doubt a large population of Christians living in the USA. The US Constitution states every citizen has Freedom of Religion. It doesn't mandate anyone to belong to a religious organization or adhere to any particular religious beliefs because the Founding Fathers left all that behind in England.
However, a frequent rant out of the USA southern members of Congress, be they US House or US Senate, is that God has control of the USA. They believe that. No one says they can't. However, more frequent than not these members seek to invoke the Bible as their guiding documents. They better not be. That is called, "The Laws of Man." (excuse the gender bias - thank you)
Where do we see the Laws of Men in other regions of the Earth? Many, right? Tribal elders and an Ayatollah in Iran, but, there is only one place where the USA Constitution exists and that is within the USA borders.
The art that exists throughout the US Capital and other areas of government is our history is to honor and remember the history of this country. Our history is dense with Christian people, but, we are not a Christian nation.
It is completely wrong for any legislator, be they Muslim, Baptist, Mormon, Catholic, Methodist, Jewish or non-religious to place a far different book as the basis of our democracy. We as a country separate ourselves from religion with our Constitution. If legislation is passed to enact religious precepts before that of the "Rule of Law" it is unconstitutional.
God can be spoken anywhere in the USA, except, in sanctuaries where it is not spoken. God can be stated in reverence when speaking appropriately of those lost and soldiers in battle. God is an expression of benevolence that should not be outlawed from speech.
Here is proof by the way. Real world proof.
Summit Information 1 | Who Attented?
One thousand of the world's leading religious and spiritual figures. Apart from His Holiness Pope John Paul II and The Most Reverend Dr. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, religious leaders who have been approached include Sheikh Ahmed Keftaro, the Grand Mufti of Syria, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Alazar from Cairo, the imans of the mosques of Mecca and Medina, Dr. Abdullah Salehal-Obaid, the secretary of the World Muslim League, the Israel's Chief Rabbi, Israel Meir Lau, the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, the Most Rev Bartholomew, the Russian Patriarch, His Holiness Alexii II, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Bishop Carlos Belo, the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner from East Timor.
The majority of religious leaders speak about God and peace in the same breath. I believe all religious leaders care about their people.
The point here though is our governing bodies are not religious figures as others are in other nations. That doesn't say they can't be if their religious organization allow them to call their career to be service in goverment, ie: Mike Huckabee. But, the USA Constitution prohibits even those members of Congress to act within constitutional rules of law.
The motto of the USA printed on money, "In God We Trust," is a respectful form of art. It can even be living art in honoring the past and the words of the past. But, it is art and nothing more. There are no holy men or women ordained in the US Capital or any other places in our government. Elected officials and not those 'called by God' are sworn in by taking an oath. There is very little preparation required by the USA Constitution for the election of citizens to office. Religions usually have a preparation period before a person can state they are ready to serve God.
The Southern Folks run their elections on the basis of 'The Bible" (of one version or another) because their funding sources demand it. Their funding sources demand them to make this a Christian nation or as the Southern Baptist Conventions would state, "Judeo-Christian." Good luck to everyone else.
The US House floor and US Senate floor is not a soap box for Evangelicals and/or a place for stump speeches. It is unethical to carry out political ambitions from the legislative floor of any house.
It is time to call this what it is. When a legislator places the Bible ahead of the USA Constitution as a reason for oppression and victimization it is treason. No document is legislated ahead of the USA Constitution. Treason is treason and diverting authority to God is unconstitutional and treason. Evangelizing religion to pandering to political chronies or carrying on with a political directive that is to enhance elections is unethical. It is time the US Senate and the US House file ethics violations for speeches as that made about personal beliefs related to religious content intended to victimize Americans while advocating a legislative agenda to that end.
I am sure there is a Chapel in the Capital building and quite possibly other buildings within our government, however, that is for the convenience of those that practice religion to find solace while working within their legal capacity under the USA Constitution. A Chapel does not turn a hospital into a church or Mosque and it doesn't turn the USA Capital building into a religiously sacred place.
