First amendment conundrum re: religion. Has United States veered terribly from intent of founding fathers?

Judges, lawyers, what is your experience? (Tyranny can been evidenced through repressing and/or expressing).

I petitioned (years ago) for freedom of relgious restoration act in Illinois - house bill ? then realized this bill would allow anything be taught in public school that fell under "religion" i.e. wicca for example. (Lesson learned)

Simply spewing "separation of church and state" which is not found verbatim in Constitution, doesn't work for many. Why does mainstream Christianity (and other Judeo-Christian practitioners) still have to pay taxes to support public education? (which many do not utilize and which has been dumbed down to instill bloated self-esteem)

Any input whether pertaining to public education or another realm is appreciated.


http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/abou...

Farien, with all due respect, good job deflecting the question regarding religion and ranting about everything else that does not pertain to religion. I never insinuated I oppose paying for roads, etc.

Yes, this separation of Chuch and State BS has gone too far. The atheists and Jews in the aclu are trying to remove the Christian religion from any public forum. That was certainly NOT the intent of the first amendment.

What must be done in every state is to demand that the state provide vouchers for students so that they can choose the school of their choice. I certainly understand that those Christian parents who pay high taxes feel that they are getting ripped off because of the secular progressive philosophy of many public schools.

Its not separation of church and state.. it is that no state religion will be allowed, that is totally different.The actual separation of Church and state began with the Catholic church, who were separating themselves from control of the kings and queens of Europe and had nothing to do with the US constitution.

Why should I have to pay taxes for the construction of highways I don't use? Why should I have to pay taxes to pay for schools when I have no children? Why should I have to pay taxes on real estate I own, when I already paid a tax when I bought it to begin with? Why should I have to pay taxes to keep the streets clean if I don't littter?

Because schools and highways are necessary for the good of the state. Because my real estate occupies land in that state. Because I walk on those streets.

The 'separation' amendment is basically an attempt by the founding fathers to make sure that no PARTICULAR religion is given any more credence or 'respect' than any other. If you read the amendment, you'll see that.

All I will say is. Look what has happened to America since we have put The Holy of Holiest out of School System .Also out our lives, and Politics, We are telling God, we are smarter than He is, Oh,how wrong we are. We can't not even get out of bed, without His help.,Believe it now. or later. Your choice.

Why shouldn't Christians pay for public education? Everyone pays for it, even people who don't have kids. Why on earth would Christians be exempt? BTW, making that sort of exemption is EXACTLY what the 1st amendment says the government can't do (favor one religion over others).

The founding fathers wanted a country where people could follow their beliefs - whatever those beliefs are - in peace. So, no, I don't think we've veered from their intent, thankfully.

You don't seem to understand that "freedom of religion" means all religions, not just yours. You can't only protect some religions and then call it "freedom."

You are correct that "separation of church and state" is not in the Constitution verbatim.

What is there , is the First Amendment, which has been interpreted from the beginning as prohibits the central government from favoring one religion over another.

Why was that the intent?

Remember all the the Founding Father's forefathers came to America to escape religious persecution sine the 16th Century?

By the late 18th century, they realized that they had that in common, but that there were a variety of religions who had been persecuted. Scholarly and common perception placed the cause not on any specific religion as being worthy of persecution, but instead placed the blame on powerful central governments that were essentially inseparable from one religion or another (depending on the country),

In the example of England, it was (and still is) the Anglican Church which is the official State Religion.

After almost 300 years of this pattern happening and being recognized, the founding Fathers saw fit to create a new, radical (and in this sense still radical today) government form where religion and government were to be forever independent of each other.

In today's society 200+ years later, one example of that, is that public schools, which are provided by the government, do not preach, practice, or otherwise favor one religion or a group of religions over another.

Private schools, as you know, are free to do as they wish.

As to why you pay taxes towards schools even though you don't attend the schools, it is for these reasons:

1 - Taxes are not approtined based on how they are spent. Your taxes go into a general fund, and your representatives decide how to spend it. Just like you don't get to decide if the roads get repainted or not using your taxes.

People with no children, parents with children past school age, all have similar basis for concern, it is not a religious matter.

2 - Even those who don't have children in the schools benefit from the services that are provided there, just as you benefit form your town having roads or other infrastructure even if you don't drive.

If you think your district is taxing you unfairly by funding schools, then you should run for office on the board that manages such things, on precisely that platform, and find out if others agree and support you to get it done.

Amen!

The tax thing caught my attention, as it appears it caught others' as well.

Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and undo God that which is God's. I don't care what my taxes go to, so long as I pay them. The government and the US can do with it what they want; which is to include the Public Education System. I, however, am free to make decisions for the remainder of my money. While I don't have children, subjecting them to the public education system is not what I plan on doing...as I am more than willing to pay for a private education.

Don't get attached to your taxes, as it isn't your money. If you are truly concerned about what is being presented to your kids, put them in a school you have more faith and trust in than the public education system.