LETTER: Constitution doesn't protect atheists

[goddess40]

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/WDH06/801150676

The reason that the Congress added "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" was because of organizations and zealots who would eliminate our freedom to worship were there no laws to stop them.

The First Amendment is there to protect religion from the government, not to protect the government from religion. I quote from their Web page, "Our Constitution was very purposely written to be a godless document." They never reference the Declaration of Independence, which says that we "are endowed by (our) Creator with certain unalienable rights."

I don't even know where to begin answering this idiot.

[Evoman]

1. Is there anything written in the constition about me doing a dragon kick

to the side of a fundie skull, follow by teeth-cracking Fang Breaker Fist to the mouth?

[NMMNG]

2. I replied

But I wasn't brief.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. For some reason I am reminded of a secondary character in "Revenge of the Nerds"

An anti-nerd judge that dismisses a lawsuit by the nerds saying "The Constitution doesn't say anything about nerds."

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Well, for starters

Before the "or prohibiting the free excercise thereof" is the part about "Congress shall make no law regarding the establishment of religion." The point of that is to prevent the government from becoming a sponsor of religion and to prevent any religious group from using the government to impose and/or enforce its sectarian doctrine on a larger populace who do not adhere to such doctrine. That has the effect of protectiong atheists from government sponsored religious doctrines, in exactly the same manner as it protects Muslims or Wiccans from government sponsored Christian doctrines.

Second, the Declaration of Independence is not the Constitution. It is a piece of revolutionary rhetoric, an excuse for why a group of people are committing the heresy of rebelling against someone who traditionally ruled by Divine Right, God's appointed ruler. As such, it would have had little meaning if not cast in a religious light. Even so, the religion used by the Founders is Deistic and appeals to a generic Creator rather that to God or Jesus. It has absolutely no bearing on the framework of this country's laws and never has.

And third, there is no denying that the Constitution is a godless document. Nowhere do we see any invocation of God or Jesus. There are only two religious references to be found in the Constitution. One is the "no religious tests" clause found in Article VI. The other is a formulaic "year of the Lord" at the conclusion of the document, and even that is given equal weight to an entirely secular dating system based on the founding of the country: "and of the independence of the United States of America the twelfth (year)."

[elleng]

5. What's this business 'that the Congress addded 'or prohibiting. . ?' ?

The entire Bill of Rights was 'added' to the Constitution.

During the debates on the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents repeatedly charged that the Constitution as drafted would open the way to tyranny by the central government. Fresh in their minds was the memory of the British violation of civil rights before and during the Revolution. They demanded a "bill of rights" that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens. Several state conventions in their formal ratification of the Constitution asked for such amendments; others ratified the Constitution with the understanding that the amendments would be offered.

The Amendment is there BOTH to protect religion from the government AND to protect the government from religion.

Hi, folks! This is my first venture to this group.

[TZ]

6. Welcome to the group!.

One of the thing I think peopole forget when it comes to the constitution is they thought some of these rights were so "self-evident" that they didn't need to be spelled out..But they certainly did with the bill of rights.However what those ninnies on the right seem to not realize is that the founders were'nt omniscient and of course couldn't include everything. I believe the right to not believe in god is implicit in the freedom of relgion right. But that doesn't suit the fundies so they scream its not in the constitiution. Same as bigots who used to say the Declaration of Independance said "all MEN are created equal" and say well that says nothing about women so its OK to discriminate.
IMO, the Constitution is a wonderfully flexible document, but too many people (are you listening Chimpy) don't understand the truths/ideas included in it, the self-evident and the non-self evident

[onager]

7. James Madison certainly spelled it out...

“The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries.”

“Strongly guarded as is the separation between religion and government in the Constitution of the United States the danger of encroachment by Ecclesiastical Bodies, may be illustrated by precedents already furnished in their short history.”

“In no instance have...the churches been guardians of the liberties of the people.”

[elleng]

8. Thanks, and I agree, turtlensue;

the founders were somehow able to do it all. The words, phrases and constructions they used were done in such a way that they allowed for virtually every possibility, as they knew that they weren't omniscient.

I understand that those times were quite contentious, but I always feel that OUR times are moreso than any other!