It frustrates me to no end these loud and obnoxious groups making broad statements of how we have lost our way as a nation morally, and we must go back to strict enforcement of the constitution, but for some reason upholding the separation of church and state is not part of that. I appreciate the heck out of this post, and it's clear presentation of views I share regarding politicians forcing religion onto others to pander to their base.
I find myself in total agreement with you. My own experiences with organized religion and my study of history have left me with what I think is an objective appraisal…sort of like organized religion gets in the way of what a person believes. And having taught American history, including the creation of the Constitution and subsequently the Bill of Rights, I become at various times angry, depressed, or outraged at the ignorance of people and the manipulation of politicians regarding the separation of church and state. I won’t get started on Trump’s latest hypocrisy about the importance putting the 10 Commandments in schools except to say I’m pretty sure he’s broken almost all of them.
I just heard an interview with conservative political commentator Charie Sykes who thinks the Commandments should be placed in every Trump hotel room and in all Republican field offices. He agreed that Trump has violated most.
Wonderfully said. Perhaps it is a function of 'age' and/or growth, both emotionally and spiritually, but I agree with 100% of what you say here. In recent months, my mind has been more and more focused on these very questions and answers.
As a society, we are in grave danger of losing our way, but I guarantee you that 'one-size-fits-all' religious mandates are not the solution to put us back on track. That has never worked in the past and it won't work now.
If you lose readers or fiends for your honesty, we, indeed, are in trouble as a nation.
We have apparently failed to teach our children the origin of our nation’s founding fathers who sought religious freedom by fleeing persecution. Nor have we explained the connection in Germany between religion and the state during the 1930’s leading that nation to blindly follow the Nazi regime. Is history going to repeat itself?
Thank you for speaking up.
I hope all of us are praying for democracy to prevail in America. This next election is critical.
As a recovering Catholic, I wholeheartedly agree. My husband is also a recovering Christian with Jewish roots. We're trying to teach our 7 year old to be a good person and treat people how you want to be treated. We don't go to any religious service or identify as any organized religion. We aren't teaching him religion is bad, just that everything has a positive and a negative with a lot of grey in between. He doesn't understand why government doesn't make sure no kids are hungry. His public school is very economically diverse and he's seen his father and me offer financial help to the teacher for school events so that all kids in his grade can participate. His little heart hurts when his friends can't participate because they don't have the money. You don't need God or organized religion to care for other people. Far too many people hide behind religion as an excuse for being assholes. Can I curse in my comments? I know how you feel about curse words, but you know I love them. :)
Our children had the same struggles in their youth, and they have them today. So much inequity in the world, but let's focus on one document of questionable origin dating back to the 13th century BC.
And I also love curse words. I'm just selective about which words I use around other folks, but you can imagine the conversations I have in my head! :-)
I've been confident in my religious and political beliefs since my teens, but it has been a learning experience explaining both to Finnegan, who has no frame of reference.
I participated in playing music at my family’s church as a teen. I can confirm I did run into church musical directors who didn’t seem to have much faith but church music director gigs were one of the few job options for their majors.
David, you don't have to worry about me. I'll remain a reader. I was raised catholic but I believe there is only one God. God may be at the top of only one Mountain, but there are many paths up that mountain. As a kid I was told that God made me because he loved me. I might shock you but God mad me because he was bord. Why am I here? I'm here to experience this world and that God experiences his creation through those he created. Now I always went to catholic schools and I don't disagree with the rule that public schools not teach religion. However, I do believe that some sort of "ethics" be taught. Like a good work ethics or community responsibility. These sort of things slip into religion classes, but are for the good of the community not religion.
It frustrates me to no end these loud and obnoxious groups making broad statements of how we have lost our way as a nation morally, and we must go back to strict enforcement of the constitution, but for some reason upholding the separation of church and state is not part of that. I appreciate the heck out of this post, and it's clear presentation of views I share regarding politicians forcing religion onto others to pander to their base.
I find myself in total agreement with you. My own experiences with organized religion and my study of history have left me with what I think is an objective appraisal…sort of like organized religion gets in the way of what a person believes. And having taught American history, including the creation of the Constitution and subsequently the Bill of Rights, I become at various times angry, depressed, or outraged at the ignorance of people and the manipulation of politicians regarding the separation of church and state. I won’t get started on Trump’s latest hypocrisy about the importance putting the 10 Commandments in schools except to say I’m pretty sure he’s broken almost all of them.
I just heard an interview with conservative political commentator Charie Sykes who thinks the Commandments should be placed in every Trump hotel room and in all Republican field offices. He agreed that Trump has violated most.
Wonderfully said. Perhaps it is a function of 'age' and/or growth, both emotionally and spiritually, but I agree with 100% of what you say here. In recent months, my mind has been more and more focused on these very questions and answers.
As a society, we are in grave danger of losing our way, but I guarantee you that 'one-size-fits-all' religious mandates are not the solution to put us back on track. That has never worked in the past and it won't work now.
Agreed. Look at how prohibition turned out, for example.
100% agree ! If you lose a reader over this, they weren’t worth having in the first place.
What is your stance on Anthem or Pledge, but for certain make it optional. Not “religion”, but very much “state”. JL
If you lose readers or fiends for your honesty, we, indeed, are in trouble as a nation.
We have apparently failed to teach our children the origin of our nation’s founding fathers who sought religious freedom by fleeing persecution. Nor have we explained the connection in Germany between religion and the state during the 1930’s leading that nation to blindly follow the Nazi regime. Is history going to repeat itself?
Thank you for speaking up.
I hope all of us are praying for democracy to prevail in America. This next election is critical.
As you know, today's school curricula often leave off or gloss over anything that might cast our history in a negative light. Thanks for your comment.
As a recovering Catholic, I wholeheartedly agree. My husband is also a recovering Christian with Jewish roots. We're trying to teach our 7 year old to be a good person and treat people how you want to be treated. We don't go to any religious service or identify as any organized religion. We aren't teaching him religion is bad, just that everything has a positive and a negative with a lot of grey in between. He doesn't understand why government doesn't make sure no kids are hungry. His public school is very economically diverse and he's seen his father and me offer financial help to the teacher for school events so that all kids in his grade can participate. His little heart hurts when his friends can't participate because they don't have the money. You don't need God or organized religion to care for other people. Far too many people hide behind religion as an excuse for being assholes. Can I curse in my comments? I know how you feel about curse words, but you know I love them. :)
Our children had the same struggles in their youth, and they have them today. So much inequity in the world, but let's focus on one document of questionable origin dating back to the 13th century BC.
And I also love curse words. I'm just selective about which words I use around other folks, but you can imagine the conversations I have in my head! :-)
I stand happily corrected regarding curse words.
I've been confident in my religious and political beliefs since my teens, but it has been a learning experience explaining both to Finnegan, who has no frame of reference.
Amen!!
I participated in playing music at my family’s church as a teen. I can confirm I did run into church musical directors who didn’t seem to have much faith but church music director gigs were one of the few job options for their majors.
I have known people who were agnostic at best who went to church because they enjoyed singing in the choir. Thank you for your comment.
David, you don't have to worry about me. I'll remain a reader. I was raised catholic but I believe there is only one God. God may be at the top of only one Mountain, but there are many paths up that mountain. As a kid I was told that God made me because he loved me. I might shock you but God mad me because he was bord. Why am I here? I'm here to experience this world and that God experiences his creation through those he created. Now I always went to catholic schools and I don't disagree with the rule that public schools not teach religion. However, I do believe that some sort of "ethics" be taught. Like a good work ethics or community responsibility. These sort of things slip into religion classes, but are for the good of the community not religion.