Religion

Paul Harvey says:

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue
somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I
don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a
lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory
of evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be
endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer
before a football game.

So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there
reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a
God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the
players on the field and the fans going home from the game.

"But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country
founded on Christian principles. According to our very
own phone book, Christian churches out number all others
better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect-somebody
chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem,
I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad,
I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China,
I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended.
It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome ..

"But what about the atheists?" is another argument.

What about them?
Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to
pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If
that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear
plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand.
Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or
two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do.
I don't think a short prayer at a football game is
going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other
cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our
parents and grandparents taught us to pray before
eating; to pray before we go to sleep.

Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a
handful of people and their lawyers are telling us
to cease praying

God, help us.
And if that last sentence offends you,
well ... just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we
let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard
. know that the vast majority don't care what they want. It
is time the majority rules! It's time we tell them, you don't
have to pray; you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance;
you don't have to believe in God or attend services that
honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your
right. But by golly, you are no longer going to take our
rights away. We are fighting back ...
and we WILL WIN!

God bless us one and all .... especially those who denounce
Him. God bless America, despite all her faults. She is still
the greatest nation of all.

God bless our service men who are fighting to protect
our right to pray and worship God.

May 2005 be the year the silent majority is heard
and we put God back as the foundation of our
families and institutions.

Keep looking up.

Here's the core of it: The US is not, by law, a Christian country. Says so right in the constitution. I don't care about the life philosophy of the founders, or what somebody's momma or daddy taught them, or any of that crap. The founders had lots of personal issues that they overcame to produce that document. Lots of people still get taught to hate the blacks and the gays by momma and daddy.

I care about what the founders wrote down, and how we've chosen to modify it since them. That's the law we have to deal with, and it defines the country we live in.

Citizens are not required to practice any particular religion, and the government isn't allowed to sponsor a state religion. This is true even if one religion is 200 times more popular than another. In fact, it is *especially* true in that case.

Therefore:
---------------
* State sponsored schools shouldn't be in the business of teaching religion. Certainly, they should allow the practice of religion, provided that it doesn't interfere with the teaching. The teacher shouldn't lead prayer of any sort. Trying to play the fair share, everyone is included game is crap. Just leave it out.

* Yes, this includes a prayer at the start of the football game. Just leave it out.

* Double that for the science curriculum. Science is not philosophy. I think it's close to treason to pollute our science teaching with the mystical "intelligent design" crap. I think people who push intelligent design in the schools should be shot as traitors.

* Religious organizations should pay taxes, just like every other business. At best, they should operate as not for profits...if they meet the criteria for those. Churches shouldn't get any more of a tax break than the Y.

* The government shouldn't be handing out money to religious organizations for their evangelical mission. Religion should have nothing to do with the allocation of grants. It shouldn't be fair, balanced according to population, or any of that crap.

Here's the bit that scares me:

The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we
let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard
. know that the vast majority don't care what they want. It
is time the majority rules! It's time we tell them, you don't
have to pray; you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance;
you don't have to believe in God or attend services that
honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your
right. But by golly, you are no longer going to take our
rights away. We are fighting back ...

This doesn't scare you? "We're the majority and we're going to do whatever the hell we want, no matter how loud you scream?" It scares me, particularly at a football game.

This guy believes that his rights are infringed if the announcer doesn't read his particular prayer. That's a mistake. The government is overstepping its bounds if it sponsors a religious assembly.

No matter his beliefs on the subject, it is *not* his right to have the government support and endorse his particular faith. His rights extend to the free practice of his faith and his free and peaceable assembly with like minded people.

Admittedly, this is a small example and a fairly trivial one. Seriously, there's enough offensive crap going on at most high school football games that we can probably let this slide while we work through the culture of violent jocks, objectified and over-sexualized cheerleaders and shallow and superficial parents. Who cares, really?

But if this guy is willing to fight me to stick his religion in my face and waggle it around, because I'm just the puny minority ... I'm willing to fight back.