Open for Discussion... Anybody in the Tupelo know this group

[duramax]

Just more people being rediculous. Just giving the Rosie O'Donnel's out there with more ammo against Christians. Making the the entire faith look bad.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

An exception to the constitutional prohibition of government establishment of religion is made with respect to certain events ---- such as the opening of a session of Congress, a federal court, etc. ---- in order to "solemnize" the occasion. This exception is established by US Supreme Court decisions. The exception does not apply to public schools ---- except for special occasions like certain graduation events --- due to the age of the kids and compulsory attendance. Such is why Congress may have a public prayer and public schools may not.

This is the short version of the explanation. There is a much longer winded, legal analysis version that I could provide, but I doubt it would be read or appreciated by many, so I will spare you that torture. Just accept what I have told you are the legal court precedent governing these situations. I am not saying I agree or disagree with it. It is what it is.

And with respect to the specific issue at hand, I have no problem with the Hindu prayer. The purpose of the prayer is not to establish a particular religion for the government, but to solemnize the occasion as stated above. In that vein, Congress allows many religious leaders of various religions to offer opening prayer ---more as a symbolic gesture of our religious freedom and tolerance, than any real substantive worship. Such religious freedom is one of the things that makes this country so great and separates us from the religious zealots who threaten world peace with their extreme views of religious intolerance --- particularly the islamic extremists we are currently at war against.

While the AFA has many good qualities, they also tend to be intolerant of others which is a major turn off for many, including me. I prefer the following approach --- preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and if necessary, use words.

I thank God every day for the freedom we enjoy and for our constitution that protects us from the tyranny of well-intentioned, but misguided folks like the AFA. As the wise Ben Franklin said: Don't tread on me!

[rjohnson]

Well said PML.

[bobo5]

Here is a copy of an email I received recently. I don't believe that a Hindu should be leading the opening prayer for a session of congress because our nation was founded on Christian beliefs and these are the beliefs used in writing our nations constitution. However, with that being said, anyone practicing their religion whatever it may be has every right, but it should not be a part of our governmental proceedings.

Subject: AGREE OR DELETE

Andy Rooney

DID YOU KNOW? As you walk up the steps to the building which houses the U.S Supreme Court you can see near the top of the building a row of the world's law givers and each one is facing one in the middle who is facing forward with a full frontal view .. it is Moses and he is holding the Ten Commandments?

DID YOU KNOW?

As you enter the Supreme Court courtroom, the two huge oak doors have the Ten Commandments engraved on each lower portion of each door.

DID YOU KNOW?

As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see the wall, right above where the Supreme Court judges sit, a display of the Ten Commandments!

DID YOU KNOW?

There are Bible verses etched in stone all over the Federal Buildings and
Monuments in Washington , D.C.

DID YOU KNOW?

James Madison, the fourth president, known as "The Father of Our
Constitution" made the following statement:

"We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."

DID YOU KNOW?

Patrick Henry, that patriot and Founding Father of our country said:
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation
was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on
the Gospel of Jesus Christ".

DID YOU KNOW?

Every session of Congress begins with a prayer by a paid preacher, whose
salary has been paid by the taxpayer since 1777.

DID YOU KNOW?

Fifty-two of the 55 founders of the Constitution were members of the established orthodox churches in the colonies.

DID YOU KNOW?

Thomas Jefferson worried that the Courts would overstep their authority and instead of interpreting the law would begin making law an oligarchy; the rule of few over many.

DID YOU KNOW?

The very first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay, said:
"Americans should select and prefer Christians as their rulers."
How, then, have we gotten to the point that everything we have done for 220 years in this country is now suddenly wrong and unconstitutional?
Lets put it around the world and let the world see and remember what this
great country was built on. Especially send this to those who have been elected to protect our rights.

I was asked to send this on if I agreed or delete if I didn't. Now it is your turn...
It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore, it is very hard
to understand why there is such a mess about having the Ten Commandments on display or "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the other 14% to Sit Down and SHUT UP!!!

If you agree, pass this on

[DEERHUNT]

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

[cwink]

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — hat to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Sounds to me like we need to abolish the current Govt and establish a new one..

[Po Monkey Lounger]

I think we tried that once, and it did not work out too well.

[MSDuckmen]

When will it all end.

Each and everyone one of faith believe thiers is the real thing.

I remember the rants about Christians that Benny use to spout off and this first post is a prime example of what he was talking about.

Personally I don't give a rip.. I just get damn tired of people telling me what God I should believe in.

That would be between me an my creator and none of anyone elses. It never stops amazing me how so many in this country cry PC as long as it doesn't affect their little world.

[Wingman]

For what it's worth...I got the email from AFA asking me to contact my senators and such to ask them to not allow the Hindu prayer. Nowhere in the email did it ask for me to go to the capital and pull a stunt.

With any group you are going to have those who represent the group badly. Every time a priest is convicted of abuse, every time a preacher cheats on his wife, every time a deacon in the church gets drunk, every time anybody associated with Christianity does something wrong, it makes another negative mark against all Christians.

Christians aren't perfect....but they should strive to grow closer to Christ every day and to live a life that is in obedience to what He teaches in the Bible.

AFA is a Christian-based group that informs its members of what's happening around the nation and tries to get people to step up and take a stand for what they believe. Issues like a pro-homosexual agenda being taught to elementary students, legislation proposed that would make speaking against the immorals of homosexuality a hate crime, pro-abortion laws, etc. Must you have a spotless record to stand up and say you don't agree with something that goes against your beliefs? If you did, none of us could do a thing but sit there with our mouths shut. When you've got power house groups like the ACLU standing up for every group under the sun except those who believe the Bible to be true, you need a group like AFA to represent the other side.

It amazes me that the groups who cry that Christians are intolerant are the very ones who won't tolerate Christians.

"You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything" says the song.