That was (I believe to be) a light hearted jab at another totally seperate conversation we had a few days back in IRC.
I believe you should be similarly unwilling to make the former claim about everyone who seeks to remove a religious display on government property.Regards,quadz
Every person in this world can tell when something is wrong or just not right.
Going to battle against an entire town to take down a simple Nativity scene that is only temporary, that is hurting no one else in the entire town, and is there only because it's Christmas (a national holiday btw) = Asshole.
Quote from: quadz on November 11, 2008, 01:42:38 AMWhether churches which receive government subsidy in the form of tax exemption are truly private, I'll leave for another discussion... Our church always has (since it's founding in 1904), and always will pay taxes - Jesus did. It's totally incompatible with "render unto Caesar" and fail to pay taxes.QD
Whether churches which receive government subsidy in the form of tax exemption are truly private, I'll leave for another discussion...
Quote from: [BTF]DeathStalker on November 11, 2008, 04:54:51 PMEvery person in this world can tell when something is wrong or just not right.Just like banning gay marriage?Quote from: [BTF]DeathStalker on November 11, 2008, 04:54:51 PMGoing to battle against an entire town to take down a simple Nativity scene that is only temporary, that is hurting no one else in the entire town, and is there only because it's Christmas (a national holiday btw) = Asshole.Going to battle against an entire segment of the population to deny a simple right that is hurting no one else in the entire planet, and that is objected to only because of its Christians (and other mythologies btw) = Asshole.
Quote from: QuakeDuke on November 11, 2008, 05:28:34 AMQuote from: quadz on November 11, 2008, 01:42:38 AMWhether churches which receive government subsidy in the form of tax exemption are truly private, I'll leave for another discussion... Our church always has (since it's founding in 1904), and always will pay taxes - Jesus did. It's totally incompatible with "render unto Caesar" and fail to pay taxes.QD I LIKE YOUR CHURCH! Now, if only the other 47 bazillion other churches would quit hiding behind their tax exempt status, maybe the government could loosen their financial noose... which would in turn do far more good for the people than all of the "charity" work these churches claim to do.
As I said before, the authors of the words "separation of church and state" are dead. They did not clearly define what was acceptable as far as displaying religious symbolism or artifacts on government owned property. It seems to me that it is not our job to "interpret" what they may or may not have meant by those words, especially by using any statement that ISN'T included in that same document no matter how relevant it seems. It IS our job to create new laws that cover these areas which they obviously did not foresee when the constitution was penned. I see nothing wrong with amending or changing parts of the constitution.In the similar way that Quadz described gay marriage...The constitution also gives us the right to "keep and bear arms". In those days, you had to reload with a ramrod and cartridge and it took an hour to fire more than 50 shots with one gun. People carried guns with them to the general store. These days, we can fire 200 rounds in under a minute with belt-fed M-60. Should I be allowed to walk around the grocery store with a loaded M-60 strapped over my shoulder? Just to make it more ridiculous, should I be allowed to own a mortar cannon that launches nuclear mortars? (because you never know when those might come in handy!)The government has made new laws which clarify how it interprets the ones that may not have covered certain issues. To my knowledge, there is no federal law prohibiting government buildings from allowing churches to display nativity scenes on the lawn. It is left up to the discretion of the state and local governments what they allow on their property. In my opinion, debating whether or not "separation of church and state" allows for a nativity scene is a waste of time. If a town is predominately Christian, it's fine. It's not going to hurt anyone. It doesn't mean that if I go there wearing a great big turban and a muslim pendant, that I will receive a higher fine for whatever law I've broken. If I do, that's a whole different ball game. THAT would be a clear-cut case of discrimination covered by the phrase "separation of church and state".
As I said: But as far as gay marriage, thats a whole different story with both different motivations and reasons for both sides of that coin.
Quote from: [BTF]DeathStalker on November 11, 2008, 07:26:44 PMAs I said: But as far as gay marriage, thats a whole different story with both different motivations and reasons for both sides of that coin.In my previous responses, I've drawn direct comparisions, pointing out similarities.You claim there are differences but haven't identified any.
No I haven't, because i'm trying to stay off that topic, but you keep trying to bait me in. If fact I keep trying to work my way out of this one but ya'll keep dragging me back in.
how dare you your lucky to fucking even know i didnt brainwash you fuck im your only fucking hope
you take the fear of god away from people who live in the hood, see what type of world you'll end up with.