From: invalid@notreal.none   
      
   On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:01:14 -0700, jdjj2@msn.com (Jack Johnson)   
   wrote:   
      
   >Larry........you are absolutely WRONG.   For example, I am a Christian   
   >Scientist, a peaceful Christian faith, with a beautiful, though,   
   >non-traditional interpretation of 'some' scripture.   Who are you, or   
   >anyone, to impose the will of the state, on any church, or, religion?   
   >Who made you God?    If religions 'bicker', how is that your concern,   
   >or, the concern of the state?   We have Freedom of Religion in this   
   >country.   Churches 'bicker', because we interpret scripture   
   >differently.   That is our right, and our freedom.   We also have a   
   >separation of Church and State.......and both work.   There is no need,   
   >or call, for a 'State Church', or, state involvement in any curriculum,   
   >or, teaching of any Christian, or, non-Christian faith.   America was   
   >founded, in part, by pilgrims seeking 'religious' freedom.   We threw   
   >off the King, and we threw off the Kings Church.   We follow our hearts,   
   >not just our minds.   You, or, no one like you, can dictate to the   
   >majority of people.......what our faith should be.   When that day   
   >comes, that will be the beginning of the end of the America we knew.   
   >   
      
   This is an optimistic; "everything is beautiful"..."we can all get   
   along view of religion.  Many Christians, Jewish, Buddhist, Baha'i and   
   other groups feel this way... embrace your neighbor, love your   
   enemy...turn the other cheek.... etc. etc.   
      
   I would argue that not all religions have such benevolent goals and   
   objectives.   
      
   Unfortunately, there are parts of the world, where, for hundreds or   
   thousands of years, different religious groups just wanted to kill   
   each other, or one group decides to exterminate the other, just   
   because different groups could not live with people from different   
   religions.   
      
   Look at the conflict between Bosnian Orthodox Christian Serbs and the   
   Muslims of that country...  murders, atrocities, committed on both   
   sides.  And some of the worst incidents happening just a few years   
   ago.  The fighting comes and goes, but the conflict never ends.   
      
   Throughout history, the Ottoman Empire (a Muslim civilization that   
   eventually became modern day Turkey) oppressed non-Muslim people such   
   as the Greeks and Armenians.   The modern day Greek state emerged   
   during the mid 19th century to save itself from this persecution.   
      
   France is an example of a country that is currently having   
   difficulties with its Muslim population and archaic, (some would   
   consider barbaric) 7th century customs creeping into what had been the   
   law of the land for the French population.   
      
   On this very day, France is experiencing conflicts with marriage-law   
   (divorce rulings allowed if the bride proves not to be a virgin) and   
   the ritual slaughter of animals in residential areas during Muslim   
   holidays.   
      
   The thing is...  In the United States we have both religious freedoms   
   and a general way of life (essentially without violent religious   
   conflict) that we wish to protect.   
      
   To give up seemingly little things (such as the Pledge of Allegiance),   
   in our schools is, I fear, the first step to sow the seeds of a   
   greater conflict.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)