Church vs. state: Surge of cases around conservative Christian beliefs infiltrating U.S. courts 

Amen

@@davidgoff357 So are masks and vaccinations.

Even their holy book says so, if they'd ever actually read the thing

That's right. The Founding Fathers deemed *ALL* religions unfit for modern, civil law & governance. The *1st Amendment's Establishment Clause* prohibits the government from making any law, _“respecting an establishment of religion.”_ This clause not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion, but also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another. It also prohibits the government from unduly preferring religion over non-religion. *Constitution Article VI Supreme Law - Clause 3 Oaths of Office* _"The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; _*_but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."_* This means nobody is ever required to swear to a god or on the Bible, or any other religious book for an oath of office. They may choose a god or religious book, but none is required. Thomas Jefferson and Calvin Coolidge did not use a Bible in their oath-taking ceremonies. Theodore Roosevelt did not use the Bible when taking the oath in 1901, nor did John Quincy Adams, who swore on a book of law, with the intention that he was swearing on the constitution. _"In this enlightened age and in this land of equal liberty, _*_it is our boast,_*_ that a man's religious tenets will not forfeit the protection of the laws, nor deprive him of the right of attaining and holding the highest offices that are known in the United States."_ *-George Washington* (To the Members of the New Jerusalem Church of Baltimore, 27 January 1793) _“The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Jewish or Mohammedan Nation.”_ *- John Adams* (American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, Founding Father & 2nd president) _“...the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion."_ *-Treaty of Tripoli - June 7, 1797. Signed by President John Adams & Ratified UNANIMOUSLY, by the Senate June 10, 1797* ....only a few times in history the Senate unanimously agreed on anything. A 2018 Supreme Court Ruling re-affirmed this statement, from The Treaty of Tripoli. The Supreme Court released an opinion on May 14, 2018 in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Assn., 584 U. S. (2018), Justice Thomas in his concurring opinion wrote: _"The Treaty of Tripoli was passed by the Senate and signed into law by President John Adams. As such, it is a "legislated text" which must be read "textually". The lower courts in this case read a hypothetical legislative intention into the text by dismissing Article 11 as "a mere formality". The language itself makes a clear direct statement that _*_our government is not based on the Christian religion and any attempt by a government official to represent our government as Christian contradicts the text and the historical understanding of our founders."_* _"Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects?"_ *- James Madison 4th president* (A Memorial And Remonstrance, On The Religious Rights Of Man: Written In 1784-85)

But Satans Pride flag flies on federal flagpoles.

That is a nicely succinct way to put it.

David Duke disagrees and he's running for Congress

well said

Yes Heil biden

And it's really starting to show isn't it?

No religious organization should be exempt from taxes

Churches are running the biggest con game in the world. Tax the churches.

Any church that tells people to vote for the evil ones is not a Christian church. Trump and the Republicans are not Christians. Christians do not condone hate and violence.

Christians do not condone hate and violence. VOTE BIDEN AND BLUE ALL THE WAY TO SAVE AMERICA AND DEMOCRACY 💙 👏

Myself and many others have not abandoned God but religion because they are out for money not preaching just making you feel guilty for money. Why is their congregation below the poverty line and the are raking in millions a year.

Agreed 💯%👍👍

@@toddcorrigan4874 you see what I see as well 💯%👍👍

There is at least one caveat, some protestant groups, at least, do not subscribe to Free Will, Redemption, etc... they are Pre-Destination adherents going back all the way to the Schism. In terms of social change and transformational change, you guys are in a fight for the national identity. Social cohesion is kinda built on the bonds of identity arising from group association, social networks, fellowships yada yada ..so a pretty fragmented buncha social actors is gunna exist with identity constructions of mixed cultural roots and that stuff.

Exactly and this kind of thing only pushes people away from religion. When religion starts acting like a political party and wants to control our lives through legislation and lobbyists it has ceased being a tax free entity and should start paying its fair share.

The Republicans have shown they could care less about the constitution.

They always tell others to leave the country if one doesnt like the rules/laws here, but they never apply that logic to themselves

@@danteattenborrough4686 And yet I'm sure you have no problem with your kids learning about Pride and LGBTQ.

@@pc4mlc451 I'm a teacher and the parent of a biracial child. I will say this: Indoctrination goes both ways. You may not want your kid learning about pride or black history month, and I don't want my kid being taught that she is a second class citizen because Eve and Cain both sinned, and now she has to pay for it as a girl with dark skin. Meanwhile, while books by black and LGBTQ+ authors are being banned from schools, there's not really any law that says you can't say racist, sexist, or homophobic things to someone. While most schools don't typically allow this kind of behavior, it often goes unpunished when it does happen. So while you are able to get the content and topics that you don't like out of my child's school, I am not able to do the same. It's an absolutely maddening double standard. As a history teacher, I tried to be inclusive of a lot of different people and cultures, including Christians, Muslims, Jews, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and more. I think that's how school and history should be. It should be based on facts and the stories of all who were there. It should not be based on white, Chrisitan dogma. So in answer to your question, yes, I'm perfectly okay with kids learning about the history of Pride and the LGBTQ+ movement. I'm also okay with kids learning about famous Christians and their contributions to the world. What I'm not okay with is this idea that YOUR kid cannot be "indoctrinated," but you have no problem "indoctrinating" and even vilifying mine.

@@fairywingsonroses How are children part of the LGBTQ community?

@@fairywingsonroses Nailed it. Thank you for that response.

​@PolymorphicBytes Come back when you find those words in the constitution. 😂

​@PolymorphicBytesNone of those sayings comes from a founding document.

@PolymorphicBytes You would not have to go far for that visit - just the mid 1950's when conservative Christians replaced our ORIGINAL (and far better motto) "E Pluribus Unum" with their religious crap, and they add "under God" to the pledge. As for "So help me God" no one is required to say that when taking an oath. Most do, either because they believe, or as I used to, not wanting to make waves. I no longer do that. I was a Juror 3 years ago and our oath was: “Each of you do solemnly swear (or affirm) that, in this action now before the court, you will justly decide the questions submitted to you, that, unless you are discharged by the court from further deliberation, you will render a true verdict, and that you will render your verdict only on the evidence introduced and in accordance with the instructions of the court, so help you God.” I did not say those last words and my oath had to be accepted.

​@PolymorphicBytessweety- in god we trust wasnt added to ANYTHING until the height of Mccarthyism in the 1950s. Work on your history

​@PolymorphicBytes I got a one-way ticket for you to Iran.

Yes!

Sadly, the average conservative Christian rarely learns any fact that doesn't paint their faith in a favorable light. That's one of the reasons why so many of them want a theocracy. They have no idea that the various churches and factions within their religion will turn on each other like starving dogs as soon as their common foes have been defeated.

And wars in Europe between Catholics and Muslims, the conflict between the Moors and Catholics in Spain for example.

No.

I’m a Christian and I agree!

​@@josephjones825 why do you think it's acceptable to include any specific religion into in government? Why is it unacceptable to allow laurat7232 peace from religious intrusion?

Ignorance is the answer.​@@ladyofbast250

That's the Bigly problem with the blind belief bozos bud, they're incapable of the ''you do you'' part and are fixated on their ''growing the flock'' duties from above. The silly duffers don't realize it yet but the goat herders who wrote their holy Buybull book meant it literally as there wasn't much other tucker for them as they roamed lost in the desert for those many decades.

Keep your belief in nothing to yours.

"There will be Weeping and gnashing of teeth."

​@@kdenso3196 that's pretty easy to do lol

@@kdenso3196 Not believing in your nonsense is not "believing nothing", ignoramus. And us atheists do not try to push anything on you.

Sayeth Dave, who spends his time as a troll trying to spread hate and division. Not very Christian of ya Dave, me old China.

Sure, we'll get right on it! Till then ponder this: F J B !!!!!!!!!

Do you mean the guy who goes to church every Sunday?

Reminds me of how the naxis felt about the jews

If conservatives want to be persecuted so badly we should oblige them. ​@Gabedudley1

Build a wall between the Red patriots and the woke and broke Blue

​@PolymorphicBytes the freedom of religion must include the freedom FROM religion. Youre working overtime in the comments and every time your post is nonsense

​@PolymorphicBytes, "try injecting 💉 disinfectant" (former Superspreader-in-Chief/Insurrectionist-in-Chief) and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

​@PolymorphicByteshow is any religion being "prohibited"?

@PolymorphicBytes I’m better informed than you are, little man. There are two clauses in the First Amendment which refer to religion. Both are exclusive. There is the free exercise clause, and the establishment clause. These to clauses make up,what is known as the separation of church and state. This separation is where we need to build the wall. Free exercise of religion doesn’t mean you get to push your imaginary friend onto others. Especially by the government.

Good point!

Sounds like Grant. Please cite your source.

lol at 'atheistical dogmas'

Can't be truly achieved unless you prevent those with a religious upbringing from ever entering politics at any level. Mainstream religions have always had a certain amount of influence in politics which has been falling fast in recent decades and that's exactly why these RW christians are now in panic and going extreme in their ways.

Woke is: The Liberal religion of imaginary Racism, permanent victim hood, avoiding responsibility, and intellectual Laziness.

So act! You "good" christians just watch those things happening. and keep calling them the wrongs and you the right. So act as you say, and do something about these people, they are your "brothers". Do something, or else you are in the same pack. The best thing you would do to yourself, the civilization, or anybody is to leave these ancient myths behind.

@@pedromain You probably mean well, but your suggestion is not an applicable suggestion to the TRUE believers. Being a Christian is not just something I do, it’s who I am. And there is absolutely nothing that can change that. I don’t like to be associated with the evangelicals because their beliefs are different than mine. And their beliefs do not represent the fullness of the Bible. Christ showed love to the world, he fed the hungry, healed the sick, and gave comfort to the oppressed. The evangelicals don’t have a Bible centered view of the world; if they did, they’d want to nurture the environment and keep it clean because God made us stewards of this world. It is not a myth to me. But I support your right to believe that. I hope that you can support my rights as well.

I'll do that as soon as you say that I don't have to respect the Bipoc Trans flag.

@@pc4mlc451 Not the same thing, phobe, and you know it. But if you stupidly think it is, then you best tell everyone what religion LGBT falls under.

@@pc4mlc451 Cope, incel.

​@@pc4mlc451you don't have to like any flag but respect our American flag. And if you're an American support the troops .

@@pc4mlc451Simply existing as a human being is not a belief system. Religion and the LGBT community is not an equivalency and you know that. You don’t have to respect a particular person if you don’t want to, that is your right, just as someone doesn’t have to respect a particular religion, that is their right. One is a human being and the other is a set of beliefs - do you understand the difference?

Where is that in the US Constitution? Exactly?

@@MaPerkins-uz2ow Go to school.

@@TEPO-- you're the one who challenged me, back your hotshot talk with citations from the U S Constitution or get back to your keyboard judgements without FACTS.

Giving *any* religion or sect a dominant position violates Constitutional Law, and the First Amendment.

And all of them should be irrelevant in any legislation

It’s all meaningless. If you are delusional enough to belief in gods you shouldn’t be allowed to vote

Conservative Christian beliefs are like Church of Ireland protestants, or Methodists. Do you think They'd laugh at Trump talking about migrant battles, or lynching his enemies? America doesn't have conservative Christians - it has deeply hateful Christian extremists and fundamentalists. Nowhere near the same thing.

This Christian National movement is the Republican party as a whole. Not some off hand conservative radical sector of the Church! Just look at the laws being written, votes cast in Congress & read project 2025!

Sure Stalinist

No, Stalinist

​@@marklasky3555 what's a stalinist?

​@@marklasky3555?

Heil biden

Haha ... Before that, put security cameras in All the churches and Keep The Kiddies Safer!

​@@stefanveenstra5402haha ... before that, require every government employee, elected or hired, to take a mandatory course on the US Constitution before their first day. How can anyone keep their oath of office to the Constitution if they don't know what it says? I suggest the excellent course taught by Hillsdale College. Have you studied it, or even read it?

The only thing Ol' Chris was interested in was the bottle. (Just like Nance.)

Yet still had a better understanding of humanity and the damage done by religion than those only interested in “The Good Book.” Cheers!

​@@seanflynn1693In between the DTs ?

@@josephjones825 Wow! What is it with you and Christopher Hitchens' drinking habits? I don't know how that is at all relevant to the topic at hand which is Christians trying to impose their beliefs on others. On the other hand, the quote is on point regardless of who said it or whether they were sober or not when they said it. Are you OK?

​@@josephjones825grow up dude. Seriously.

IOW, Jesus Christ Himself wrote the proverbial book on separation of church and state.

​@@meow2u22Jesus Christ didn't write anything

There is no such thing as judeo-christian

Defund Planned Parenthood.

Yes, this guy is asking us to bindly accept that vouchers for religious schools are OK. Vouchers are NOT OK. It it the churches who should be giving money to the government. TAX the churches.

You should try to define words you use

What's wrong with options? Or are you saying Christians can only survive when it's being supported by the government?

Catholics are very likely to support fascism in that they believe in a supreme being whether it be man or god. Benito Mussolini was a devout Catholic.

God *is* a hypocrite. Or, he would be if he exists.

😂

AT least you believe in God, thats a start. But you definitely need more Christian education.

Unfortunately for you, God didn't create "religion".....

Or a schizoid personality. That helps too.

I appreciate the self-flattery as an atheist myself, but I also know some pretty unintelligent atheists

Way better than worshipping Rachel Maddow, CNN, and Satan.

I'm 37 and have been looking for ways to be successful, please how??

Sure, the investment-advisor that guides me is….

Mrs Lee Wallace Stacey

😱Sounds familiar, I have heard her name on several occasions.. and both her success stories in the wall Street journal!

Her services is the best, I got a brand new Lambo last week and paid off my mortgage loan thanks to her wonderful services!

Thank you for your comment here. It’s so refreshing to read something that is founded on history and FACT. I thoroughly agree: this country was not founded in religion. The first settlers here were running from authoritarian religion-mandated governments that would not allow them freedom to worship (or not) as they chose. When did they stop teaching American history in schools?

@@marilynaicardi1860 That's correct..... When the early colonists arrived in the _"New World,"_ they likely spawned the largest variety of differing religious beliefs & sects into existence in centuries. The Founding Fathers, themselves, had a wide variety of differing beliefs. Some were _"traditional"_ Roman Catholic, most were some sect & variety of Protestant, others identified as some _"flavor"_ of Deism. I would include Unitarians'\Congressionalist in the Deism group. I would even argue, one or two may have, privately, identified as atheist. *The Founding Fathers’ Religious Wisdom* This notion-that our country’s roots are explicitly Christian-is both foolish and wrong. _"Many of the founding fathers-Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison and Monroe-practiced a faith called Deism."_ SOURCE: American Progress - ARTICLE JAN 8, 2008, by Nicholas Rathod The Founding Fathers encouraged this _"freedom of thought,"_ but observed the colonists continuing to jail & torture each-other, including burning _"witches"_ alive at the stake, over these different belief systems, & even differing theology, within a same belief system.....just as they did for differing beliefs, in Europe. _“In those parts of the world where learning and science has prevailed, miracles have ceased; but in such parts of it as are barbarous and ignorant, miracles are still in vogue.”_ *-Ethan Allen* (Reason the Only Oracle of Man: Or a Compendious System of Natural Religion) Not any one of them wanted to be ostracized or persecuted, as they would have been in Europe, for their personal beliefs. Therefore, given their life experiences, they deemed *ALL* religions to be unfit within modern, civil law & governing systems.

Buddhism’s chill

And become drunks like he was?

​@josephjones825 oh, no 🙄 freedom to drink 🙄 Got hypocrisy

But..."I love the 10 commandments": Says genius trump😂

@marka5069 Exactly. Trump and the Trump party have been casting those stones at every opportunity.

Thou shall not bare false witness - "lock her up" "his laptop" "Q"

PLENTY of evidence, just not proof

@@TrumpAnointedAntichrist You can say the same about bigfoot.

@@elizabethpomeroy3145 I believe in investigating all data, regardless of how absurd it sounds. So, if someone speaks to seeing an interdimensional primate, I'm totally going down the rabbit hole. Otherwise would be to demonstrate bias.

They'll still bare false witness with their parents while they can "lock her up" or whatever 🙄

Only in W VA but momma does not count.

No. Because religion exists. Try again.

I agree. Trumpers have been asking "" wHat Is A WoMaN " for years .. I still wont spoil it for them.

@markmierzejewski9534 if you don't date trans women then you're transphobic

​@@markmierzejewski9534 it's sadder that they don't know the difference between a fetus and a baby.