I've never seen such religious zealots on the internet until I happened upon RateItAll.

UPDATE: This myth is propagated by the obfuscation of the separation. First, what fit was thrown and what is/was the example of church/state separation? Second, who is the enemy we're criticizing for being religious zealots? I'm trying to see the hypocrisy so many are so angry about. I think everyone understands why the 10 Commandments displays are removed (in some places) from courthouses. Is it fair to say that the 10 Commandments are a purely religious icon, no other meaning? Does the Confederate Flag enjoy such singular symbolic value, then? ORIGINAL COMMENT 5/26/05: I just don't see the quid pro quo on this point. We don't criticize the enemy , Wid71, the islamofascist/fanatics, for their religion. At least I don't. I criticize them for the hideous, murderous deeds they individually and collectively commit in the name of their religion.

This suggestion is ridiculous and shows how completely ignorant people are with regards to the historical role of religion in our public life. Religious zealotry in Saudi Arabia for instance is born of an intolerance to other religions in favor of Wahhabism. The Saudi government destroys any articles of other faiths in the public square. They preach their faith in schools. They've removed books from other faiths (include other Muslim faiths) from all book stores and libraries. It is simply illegal to practice any other religion in public other than the Wahhabi brand of Islam- and not doing so is punishable by death. The essence of American tolerance has always been however the free exercise of your religion. From the early Bay Colonies up through the ratification of our Constitution traditions developed that allowed individuals to seek their own conscience in manners of religious obligation. This however did not keep states from establishing state religions. Even after the ratification of our Constitution only the federal government was barred from establishing a Church- several states had established Churches. What they did have however was a long standing tradition of religious tolerance- whereby individuals were free to exercise their own religion. After the ratification of the 14th Amendment and the Court through ensuing usurpative acts dissolved federalism and democracy though the equal protection clause states were then barred from establishing specific religions. This however did not bar them from, through the democratic process, supporting various religious affiliations with secular value. It has not been til recently that secularist zealots have arguing upon a peverted principle of separation of church and state have succeeded in creating a chasm between our traditional institutions and our positive law. This simply was not the intention of our Founders nor is it beneficial to the health our our nation as a whole- it strikes at the core of the free exercise. Secular zealots have succeeded in removing religious publications from the public square all together. The have removed any mention of our founding traditions from our schools. They have removed all religious books from our school libraries and have revised history to remove all mention of God. They have removed any mention of God anywhere in our public life. They filed lawsuits to have little crosses removed from tiny emblems on police vehicles. They have sued to have the Ten Commandments removed from every government building, our national pledge changed, the boy scouts change their procedures. Wait a second this sounds familiar? In reality secular zealotry is a religion in and of itself- and just as dangerous. Liberals should ditch the canard of separation of church and state because they have more in common with the Islamic zealots than do those who want to practice religion freely in the public square. Just like Wahhabi zealots who have removed all religious observances from the public square except theirs- so have that liberals. They are the religion of the human-god. Where my desires are fulfilled at the expense of the world around me and this necessitates a destruction of all that would get in our way- most notably a belief in a Higher Being.

Part of this is because of how people perceive their beliefs as opposed to other people's beliefs. People do not see their beliefs as just religion, it's not mythology; it is their truth, something that is factual to them. Every other belief is just myth. That goes for all parties involved. Everyone will see the opposing viewpoints as something that is silly to believe, while they see their beliefs as the obvious truth. No one's going to budge. (For the record, I'd be what most would consider agnostic)

It's not a problem with separation of church and state, it's a problem with some people's twisted definition of separation of church and state. Personally, I haven't critisized certain areas of the world for religious beliefs, and I'm also not sure criticize is the right word when talking about people who fly planes into buildings to get 72 virgins.

There is a place for religion...just make sure it stays there....no filibusters required.

Eschew, it's good that you don't judge the enemy by their religion. Unfortunately MANY in this country do, which is why violence against Muslims is on the rise in this country. I hear many people say that Islam is to blame, and the problem with these Middle eastern countries is that they are run by religion-based governments. Yet many of these same people think that the laws in this country should be Christian based. The hypocracy makes me very angry.

Very easy answer- you can't. There is no logic behind attacking religious zealots overseas while consolidating power to push a domestic religious agenda. And the curtain is slowly being drawn away and middle America is getting tired and pissed. . .

I agree with djahuti, our country is about freedoms I'll take my church and state seperated thank you.

I can understand this to a certain extent, but as I have stated elsewhere in my comments, this has, in certain instances, reached the point of absurdity. This is especially true in public schools (or at least the one I attended); they avoid talking about Christianity like the plague (note specificity to one religion). Forgive me for being obtuse, but for some reason I think it would be just a tiny bit less difficult for a Muslim to practice their religion in the U.S. than for a Christian to practice in any Muslim nation.

America is supposed to be a FREE Country- NOT controlled by any one Religion.Our Forefathers were DEISTS,not Fundamentalists!!! Ramming ANY Religion down the throats of the Populace is about as Anti-American as one can get.