the usa's constitutional government provides for self-government by and for 'we, the people'. ours was the first in modern western history to reject the notion that government derives its authority through divine delegation. like it or not, your civil master is your fellow citizens.

i notice neither you nor kfc has been willing to explain how the authors of the constitution accidentally neglected to mention god in the constitution.

Politics may make strange bed fellows, but in this case religion has KFC and Lulu against kingbee, Mason and DG. And that is very strange!

I own David Barton's book, Original Intent, which I highly recommend to anyone on any side of this discussion.

I want this book....it's on my A list.

This is clearly evidenced by the fact that the signer of the Declaration Charles Carroll

Charles Carroll was Catholic? Didn't know that. If that's true, and it sounds like it if Barton says so, my mistake then. I didn't know this. I'm familiar with him somewhat but didn't realize he was Catholic.

It's good to learn new things. Keeps life fresh and interesting wouldn't you say?

Strange? Perhaps. Entertaining? Definitely!

Lula posts:

DrGuy posts:

I did read the discussion and entered a remark countering Cacto's declarations.

I would just like to point out that I specifically qualified where I found no compatibility amongst Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity and that was by saying "In the area of love, worship and prayer to Almighty God."

Kingbee posts:

Didn't they leave that up to the States?

Oh, MasonM, the Catholic Church's "expression of faith" is the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds.

sooooo if we were playing poker....three of a kind beats a pair?

Where's Jythier when I need him?

Most of what I wanted to say has already been said, but I will add a few things...

I'm so glad to see that the separation of Church & State has been acknowledged. We violate this rule on a daily basis when they make people swear on the Bible. I've always wondered, what happens when an atheist swears on the Bible. Technically, to them, swearing on the Bible is as good as swearing on the new Harry Potter book right? Deciding that the Senate can only be opened by any form of religion whatsoever is not only against the first amendment as others have pointed out, but also a clear violation of this rule yet again.

The next thing that baffles me is the amount of hate & judgment people tend to have in this world. We have more than enough to be angry about and more than enough things to hate about others. I'm sometimes confused about how much quicker people are to discriminate against people who are homosexual or of a different religion, than people who take illegal drugs on a daily basis (ex. weed, I'm not knocking anyone, just trying to state a point). Furthermore, even if you are a hopeless devotee of Jesus, I'm pretty sure that Jesus would not teach you to hate.

I would also like to reacknowledge to KFC that Hinduism is not a purely polytheistic religion. There are various forms of one ultimate God but it is mainly based on A true God. In fact, it's more of a way of life because it does not teach people to hate. Lastly, even if it was a polytheistic religion, I don't really get your beef. I'm sorry to say but I think simply labelling Christianity as monotheistic and Hinduism as polytheistic and that being the whole basis for why something should be unheard of seems like somewhat of a cop out to me.

You really do lack the slightest contextual comprehension of the written word don't you? You are very accomplished at totally avoiding any and every point you can't argue aren't you?

You have so far managed to totally ignore, deliberately(?) misinterpret, or just dodge every single point from anyone for which you don't have a packaged answer. You are either so extremely stupid or intellectually dishonest that you are incapable of real interactive discussion.

KFC is fun to argue with because she debates and argues the points, even if I think she does go off half cocked at times (rarely but I've seen it) and I respect her for that, but you are just boring in your ultimate demonstration of more than one definition of the word obtuse.

There aren't very many people on JU that I deem worthy of ignoring but at this point I am now certain that you are among that few.

Actually this is inaccurate as the US Constitution does not contain the phrase "separation of Church & State". It does forbid the government from establishing an officially sanctioned religion and forbids the government from forbidding any religion. That phrase comes from a letter, not from any government document.

And the swearing on a Bible thing isn't forced upon anyone and isn't even done in most courts these days. I've been sworn in several times in a courtroom and not once was a Bible used. Even if it were it still doesn't violate the Constitution because a person has always had the right to refuse to swear upon the Bible and can simply opt to swear an oath without it instead.

Thanks for mentioning that, Mason. I'm so sick of people believing the tripe they get fed from their TVs and telling me that "you swear on the Bible, so it must be important in government". Bull honky you swear on the Bible.

Actually this is inaccurate as the US Constitution does not contain the phrase "separation of Church & State". It does forbid the government from establishing an officially sanctioned religion and forbids the government from forbidding any religion. That phrase comes from a letter, not from any government document.

Mason's done his HW. Well done Mason. We agree on this. Phew, I was starting to wonder for a while.

I would also like to reacknowledge to KFC that Hinduism is not a purely polytheistic religion

and I did acknowledge that somewhere on this thread....I'm too tired to go look for it. Feel free.

half cocked Mason? Thanks a heap......I'll make sure I'm really loaded the next time I shoot at ya.......

Furthermore, even if you are a hopeless devotee of Jesus, I'm pretty sure that Jesus would not teach you to hate.

I think that's a very unfair assumption to say that I've directed hate at anybody. I don't think there's been any hate here demonstrated. Because I disagree with something doesn't mean I hate the person doing it. I have not the slightest bit of hate in me towards the Hindu Preacher. My anger (if you call it that) or disappointment rather is with our leaders to allow this because I don't think we should based on how, what, why and who set us up in the first place. But certainly...no hatred. I don't even have hatred towards Judas for doing what he did. If our Lord didn't why should I?

Hopeless devotee? Well that's a first. Never been called that before. I'm thinking it's an oxymoron tho. To be a devotee, brings lots of hope.

There are a few things upon which we agree, but it's no fun arguing those.