RateItAll: The Opinion Network

That the federal government could not establish by passage of law an official state religion- which is what the first amendment means and all it means, yes.

While everyone seems to be concerned about religion making its way into government the one facet I have not yet seen addressed is government interference in Church doctrines and teachings. I have seen how a trend which starts in another country eventually makes its way to the the US. My Bible says homosexuality and divination are sins. It does not tell me to hate gays or Wiccans, we are to pray for them. Those who preach hate and death are not followers of God's word but in my view, are trying to be God themselves. That having been said, if the Bible says something is wrong in the eyes of God a preacher should have every right to preach a sermon based on those verses. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (HR 1592) approved by the US House on May 3 is the first step toward government regulation of religious doctrine. It is my opinion this is the first step towards muzzling people of faith who dare express their moral and biblical concerns about homosexuality. This bill will be used to establish a legal framework to investigate, persecute and prosecute pastors and others whose actions are based upon and reflect the Bible. So called "hate speech" could become the target of zealous federal prosecutors which could include a pastors sermon against homosexual behavior. If gay marriage is legalized on a federal level it is possible churches could be forced to go against their doctrines and beliefs and perform same sex marriages or risk losing their tax exempt status. Government interference in churches has already begun. In 1992, the Attorney General of Hawaii ruled that, under a state gay rights law, church leaders are legally forced to consider homosexuals for all church positions except the pastorate itself. In 1994, in Sweden, an evangelical pastor was jailed for preaching a sermon from Romans 1 ruled to be "belittling" to homosexuals. In October 2002, US News & World Report noted that "In Saskatchewan Canada last year, a newspaper was fined for publishing an ad that quoted Bible verses on homosexuality. For this so called human-rights violation, the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and the man who took out the ad had to pay $1,500." It also reported "Sweden is about to forge ahead of Saskatchewan by passing a constitutional amendment banning all speech or material opposing homosexuality. When it does, remarks that offend gays could bring a jail term of up to four years. Religious objections to homosexuality would not be allowed, even in churches." Apparently it came to pass as a Swedish court in 2004 sentenced a Pentecostal pastor to one month in prison after finding him guilty of offending homosexuals in a sermon. While the current debate centers on preachers who give sermons based on Bible passages about homosexuality who is to say government interference would stop there? We have already seen partisan politics showing favoritism based on party affiliation. Statements, sermons, or printed literature which might be construed as a political endorsement of a conservative candidate have induced IRS investigations in some churches. But when Bill Clinton and other liberals visited and campaigned in democratically oriented churches in the guise of delivering a sermon I've never heard about the IRS questioning the right of those churches to hold such services. Personally I have a problem with some religious practices such as those who do not immunize children but I cannot and will not stand by and let the government tell me or my pastor we must not preach certain passages because they may offend homosexuals, Wiccans, occultists, or any other group whose lifstyle is contrary to what is written in the Bible. We are all guaranteed the right of free speech which means speech based on the Bible as well as secular speech. Behavior is what must be regulated by state and federal laws, not someone's beliefs or the right to express those beliefs from the pulpit.

Like rule of law, this is not exactly unique to the US, at least not since the later 19th Century. In 2006, most countries have separation of Church and State; many of those that don't (e.g. England) are just as modern as the US. A lot of the items on this list look like 'Reasons Why the United States Was the Greatest Nation in 1776'; the rest of the world is not as primitive as some Americans seem to think.

The one sane part of this country that I actually agree with. Many other countries have this same agreement in their constitutions I believe, but at the time, America was a pioneer for the idea. Unfortunately, recently some religious nuts have been trying to oppose this and unwittingly remove it from the constitution, which is crazy! Religion, in my carefully constructed opinion, needs to be eliminated. I think any mature, educated person with all the facts can reasonably conclude that it's all a bunch of hogwash. So many die and ruin lives for religious fanaticism. If you examine most religions and their tenets, you'll find many of their practicioners are hypocrites and woefully backwards. Why should people die for religions that preach love and unity? I don't see the point. Many people have been raised to not question the system; I'm questioning it, God will come down and tell me what he wants me to do himself, not some idiot preacher with a book of a dubious background. So far, he hasn't! Enough with the nonsense, ok?

This place is the greatest nation for me- but calling it the greatest nation is an asinine absolute statement that makes no logical sense since you cannot gauge all people, cultures, and nations. . .but put religious freedom at the top of the list why this place is good for me. . .the statement above is more of a joke when screamed by people who haven't travelled much outside of America.. . .but religious freedom makes this place a wonderful fit for me. Too bad that lesson is lost on many zealots from many places.

Again, a ideal that is part of our dreams and desires as a country which is not always being accomplished.

This country was founded by people seeking RELIGIOUS FREEDOM....(even though they turned out to be narrow minded "Puritans" themselves after awhile).Still,after we won our independance from England-the best thing our forefathers did was to write Separation of Church and State into our Laws.Why? Because it keeps us FREE to believe and practice any form of spirituality we choose.THEOCRACY is historically an awful idea- it fosters the kind of government that practices female circumcision and other such barbaric rites.We need a rational government.Religion and the rational make very strange bedfellows indeed.Morality can not be legislated as it means different things to different people.How would you like some fanatic telling you how to live your life? Not very "American" at all.If you want to read the Bible,or the Koran,or the Talmud,or the Baghvad Gita,or Liber al vel Legis,FINE.Just keep these belief systems OUT of the Government-for Heavens Sake!(pun intended)

Good for all concerned (both church and state) when it is honestly observed and not used as a political tool by political tools.

If only this were true...

Top 3 reason, no question in my book. The desire to avoid a state/government sponsored religion has been one of the key elements that has separated the U.S. from the Irans, Iraqs, Afghanistans and too many other oppressive regimes to mention. Tolerance of religious practices by citizenry is as necessary for a democracy as safeguards against making sure that individuals are not forced to participate in form of worship to which they do not subscribe or feel allegiance.