Ben Carson Tells Atheist There’s ‘No Conflict’ Between Church And State

[rug]

by Emily Atkin
Jan 30, 2016 12:36 am

IOWA CITY, IOWA — Asked by an atheist voter about how his Christian faith would play a role in his presidency, Republican candidate Ben Carson said he believes there is inherently “no conflict” between God’s law and the laws of America.

“Fortunately, our Constitution, the supreme law of the land, was designed by men of faith, and it has a Judeo-Christian foundation,” the retired neurosurgeon told a packed room of potential caucusgoers in Iowa City on Friday afternoon. “Therefore, there is no conflict there. So it is not a problem.”

Carson’s comments came in response to a question from Justin Scott, 34, a Waterloo resident who has been traveling around the state to ask candidates about their faith. Last week, he asked Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) if he would “uphold [atheist’s] rights as American and not pander to one religious group,” referring not-so-subtly to the religious right.

Scott told ThinkProgress that he’s been “trying to raise awareness for secular voters,” who he said are concerned about the separation of church and state. He helped formed the Secular Coalition for Iowa, which attempt to raise the profile of atheist voters and ensure the secular nature of government.

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/01/30/3744537/ben-carson-atheist-voter-iowa/

https://www.secular.org/news/secular-coalition-iowa-seeks-secular-minded-iowans-caucus-night-0

[SamKnause]

1. He's wrong.

That doesn't seem to be much of a deterrent these days.

[rug]

2. He ignores that secularism in government is important for both the religious and the nonreligious.

[SamKnause]

3. Indeed he does.

[CanonRay]

4. Ben Carson apparently never picked up a history book

in his entire life.

[Cartoonist]

5. Judeo-Christian

And that's different from Sharia, how?

[rug]

6. State power.

[Cartoonist]

7. Which is what Carson and his ilk want

So what's the difference?

[rug]

8. Judeo-Christian ethics can exist independent of state power. Sharia law cannot.

[Cartoonist]

9. So the Hobby Lobby ruling is not state power?

And Scalia's recent comments about how government can favor religion (his), isn't opening the door for theocracy?

[rug]

10. It's an exercise of state power rooted in the First Amendment, not Judeo-christian ethics.

In theory, the First Amendment is content neutral.

Frankly, Scalia's personal comments are as irrelevant as they are predictable.

[underpants]

11. Therefore.... Carson has no idea what he is saying

But you've got to pander to the religious right