From: graham@venus.iucf.indiana.edu (JIM GRAHAM)
Subject: Re: SECULARISM
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Reply-To: graham@venus.iucf.indiana.edu
Organization: Indiana University Cyclotron Facility, Bloomington, Indiana
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 21:29:57 GMT

In article <3378.97.uupcb@hal9k.ann-arbor.mi.us>, laurel.schippers@hal9k.ann-arbor.mi.us (Laurel Schippers) writes...
>-> Newsgroups:
>-> alt.rush-limbaugh,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh,alt.politics.clinton,alt.po
>-> From: kellmeye@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (kellmeyer steven l)
>-> Subject: Re: Lifestyle Choices and Secular Reasoning
>-> Message-ID: <C0Ax5F.9K6@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
>-> Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
>-> References: <1992Dec30.162502.6756@asl.dl.nec.com>
>-> <1992Dec30.185545.26789@cbne Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 23:27:01 GMT
>-> Not everyone gives a damn about secularism either, but it appears to
>-> be forced on the great majority of the population whether they will
>-> it or no.  Furthermore, anyone who has spent any amount of time
>-> studying the history of science would find your last statement to be
>-> absolutely absurd.  The entire concept of a university was founded
>-> around advancing theological study.  Indeed, the term "professor"
>-> began as a reference to one who was a "professor of the faith" and
>-> who studied it regularly.
> 
>Secularism is not forced on the population. The First Amendment
>protects both your right to privately practice your religion and
                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>my right to be free of your religious practices. You can go to any
>church, temple, or shrine you wish. You can teach your children to
>believe in any god you wish. How are you being "forced" into
>secularism?

Privately?  I wasn't aware that the 1st amendment made such a 
distinction.  I think you're reading an awfully lot into it.

More importantly, I think it is significant that "religious
practices" are a way of life to many, many American's rather than
some mere formality that they go through while in a shrine,
synagogue, or church-building.

Indeed, just as the gay/lesbian population argues that their lifestyles
should be recognized as an "alternative lifestyle", how is it any
different if certain sects of Christians (to take one example) claim
that they have a right to practice their religion (ie _way of life_)
outside of the home?

What is the difference between the two "alternative lifestyles" in
terms of daily life?

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        -> ->Disclaimer: I do not speak for my company. <- <-
                          Neither do they speak for me.
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