From: qqqq@7600.net   
      
   Nadacomin wrote:   
   > You anti-Christians are missing the boat on the subject of separation of   
   church   
   > and state.   
   > You cannot expect others, who are elected to office, or in any other   
   position,   
   > to not make decisions and conduct themselves according to thier religious   
   > beliefs and faith.   
      
   True.  Of course people get their principles from somewhere,   
   and that somewhere still exists when they apply their principles.   
   The problem comes when the officials demand that citizens accept   
   and follow the trappings of the religion from which that official   
   got his precepts.   
      
   Example: Christian officials have beliefs they want to promote.   
   Let's assume these are: murder is bad, obeying just laws is good,   
   raising children properly is necessary.  Fine.  Let's say we all   
   agree with those precepts.  Now the officials say, those precepts   
   came from Christianity, so to spread the precepts you must acknowledge   
   Christianity by saying "One nation, under God...".  Well you say   
   that's no problem for you, should be no issue for anyone else   
   either.  But take just a moment and ask yourself, how would it   
   feel if it said, "One nation, under Allah...".  Would you still   
   say the words as easily?  Would you even say them at all?   
      
   Now what if I am teaching your kids, and I say that those good   
   principles, you remember, the ones we all agree with, come from   
   my belief in the Earth Mother, and I want the kids to recite an   
   invocation of her.  That's harmless, right, since she stands for   
   good principles.  As harmless as reciting Christian dogma, right?   
   Hmmm.  Not so easy when the shoe is on the other foot.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)