From: aultj@rpi.edu (Jim Ault)
Newsgroups: alt.censorship
Subject: Re: Limiting religious speech
Date: 1 Sep 92 21:58:12 GMT
	<AULTJ.92Aug25131548@caleb.rpi.edu>
	<1992Aug30.185659.12102@newstand.syr.edu>
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

In article <1992Aug30.185659.12102@newstand.syr.edu> greeny@top.cis.syr.edu (J. S. Greenfield) writes:

   The case you cite is a lone example of an improper application of
   the establishment clause (based on the facts as presented).
   Furthermore, it says absolutely nothing to support your accusation
   of hostility aimed, in particular, at a "Judeo-Christian God."

I said "those who believe in the Judeo-Christian God".
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
   >If you (plural) can't see that this is open hostility to Christianity,
   >and only Christianity, then I am amazed and ashamed that we as a
   >country have fallen this far. 

   The charge that a country, in which the legislators, executives,
   judges, and people of every state, and of the country as a whole
   are, *overwhelmingly* Christian, and in which most politicians, and
   even the President, openly refer to God on a frequent basis,
   practices "open hostility to Christianity" is simply ludicrous--and
   demonstrates just how extreme *your own* vision of what is
   happening is.

I did not say that every legislator, executive or judge practices open
hostility toward Christianity.  I said that this _decision_ was an
example of it. 

If you want another example of hostility toward Christianity, how
about a preacher who, two weeks ago, was arrested and put in jail for
six months without being accused or charged with a crime, and without
a jury trial, for preaching the gospel on a public sidewalk?  A judge
in Houston did this almost singlehandedly, and flatly refused to let
another judge be involved in the case.

Oh, yes, the public sidewalk happened to be in front of an abortion
clinic. *sarcasm on*  Anyone knows that the 1st amendment does not
apply to Christians in front of abortion clinics.  *sarcasm off*

I believe that the many people who want to remove every mention of God
from our the face of government (and by extension, from everyone and
everything that receives public funds, which lately is almost
everyone) are denying the history of our country, and ignoring the
wishes of the people that you yourself say are overwhelmingly
Christian.  

Does it ever occur to anyone on this side of the "establishment of
religion" debate that the first amendment says "Congress shall make no
law..." ? Which law has Congress passed to "establish" a religion?

How is it that every public school teacher has been elevated to the
level of Congress whenever they happen to mention God on school
grounds?  How can a single individual actually "establish" a religion
in a entire country, just because their salary may be paid by the
government?

Some more things to think about:

How is it that the author of phrase "separation between church and
state" (which is NOT found in the Constitution or the Declaration),
Thomas Jefferson, who, when he served as a schoolmaster, saw fit to
approve and heartily recommend the Bible for use in all public schools?  

Could it be that the understanding of that phrase, which is so
commonly used today, is not really what Jefferson meant?
--
Jim Ault, ITS Systems Programmer, aultj@rpi.edu    <><
Newsgroups: alt.censorship,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,rec.arts.books