#separation of church and state

[liberalsarecool]

Public schools are a public investment. They are not a christian religious school indoctrinating religious opinions.

Public money does not build churches. Public policy has no influence over church doctrine.

See how the separation works?

[socialjusticeinamerica]

[odinsblog]

🗣️This is an illegitimate and deeply corrupt Supreme Court

Justice Samuel Alito spoke candidly about the ideological battle between the left and the right — discussing the difficulty of living “peacefully” with ideological opponents in the face of “fundamental” differences that “can’t be compromised.” He endorsed what his interlocutor described as a necessary fight to “return our country to a place of godliness.” And Alito offered a blunt assessment of how America’s polarization will ultimately be resolved: “One side or the other is going to win.”

Alito made these remarks in conversation at the Supreme Court Historical Society’s annual dinner on June 3, a function that is known to right-wing activists as an opportunity to buttonhole Supreme Court justices. His comments were recorded by Lauren Windsor, a liberal documentary filmmaker. Windsor attended the dinner as a dues-paying member of the society under her real name, along with a colleague. She asked questions of the justice as though she were a religious conservative.

The justice’s unguarded comments highlight the degree to which Alito makes little effort to present himself as a neutral umpire calling judicial balls and strikes, but rather as a partisan member of a hard-right judicial faction that’s empowered to make life-altering decisions for every American.

(continue reading)

[canadianabroadvery]

[tired-pidgeon]

There’s nothing Christian about Christian nationalism.

It is a movement that seeks to promote the Kingdom of God through political, human power, which is the opposite of how it is supposed to spread.

I mean, not even the Big J Himself went that route. He had popularity. The people wanted to make Him a king. He could’ve taken that opportunity and reigned divinely, setting up a theocracy and establishing His kingdom on earth. This is the current goal of Christian Nationalism.

But CN fails to remember what Jesus did when the people tried to crown Him: He slipped off into the crowd and hid Himself.

He didn’t want that power.

Why do CNs ignore Jesus and pursue it then?

I am not a CN, so I can only speculate, but I think it is for selfish reasons. CNs say they are following God’s will, but God’s will has already been made clear. No, the Christian Nationalist wants power to shape the world into something that’s comfortable and convenient for themselves. (Ok, that’s human nature, and we all want that. But I dislike how CNs hide under a religious pretense to do so)

Let’s look instead at what Jesus does to advance God’s kingdom:

Eats with sinners

Heals the sick, relieving them of their suffering

Disciples the disciples

Feeds the hungry

Comforts the mourning

Corrects the hypocrites

Teaches God’s will

Washes feet

Lays down his life and dies for the sake of others

Jesus spent His life loving others. He died loving others. He calls us to keep loving others.

Christian nationalism turns Christ’s model upside down. There’s no love. There’s no comfort. There’s no good news. There is conquest and tribalism and pride and “victory,” which rings hollow in light of the Glory of the Kingdom of God. It’s all about fighting and winning.

And don’t even get me started on the evil ideologies that have emerged within the Christian nationalism movement. Slavery is defended. Enthnocentrism (state-run racism) is celebrated. All other peoples who don’t fit into a Christian mold are trampled as worthless.

Jesus said to love everyone, even those who are different than us. Especially those who are different than us. Jesus also said that Christians will be known by their love, not by the political power we amass in the name of God.

You want to prove you’re a Christian? Go out and love others, seeking no glory or power for yourself. That is where Christ will be found, not in Congress or the Constitution.

Our commands are to love God and love our neighbors (of any race, religion, sexuality, etc.). That’s it.

[polyamorouspunk]

IF CUTTING OFF THE HEAD DOESN’T WORK BURN THE WHOLE THING!

[porterdavis]

Is this what you want?

Whatever happened to separation of church and state?

[todaysdocument]

Memorandum Opinion - Madalyn Murray O'Hair v. Thomas O. Paine.

Record Group 21: Records of District Courts of the United StatesSeries: Civil Case FilesFile Unit: 69CA109: Madalyn Murray O'Hair and Richard F. O'Hair v. Thomas O. Paine

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

AUSTIN DIVISION

Filed Dec 1 1969 Dan W. Benedict, Clerk

by W E Lyons Deputy

MADALYN MURRAY O'HAIR, ET AL. (brackets)

VS. (brackets)

THOMAS O. PAINE, ET AL. (brackets)

CIVIL ACTION NO. A-69-CA-109

MEMORANDUM OPINION

This is an action brought by Madalyn Murray O'Hair,

Richard F. O'Hair and the Society of Separationists, Inc., against

Thomas O. Paine, individually and as Administrator of the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The plaintiffs are

seeking an order enjoining NASA from (1) doing any act whatsoever

which abridges the plaintiffs' freedom from religion or establishes

Christianity as the official religion of the United States, and

(2) enforcing any policy or regulation which has been heretofore

promulgated and which has such above effect. The plaintiffs

also seek a temporary restraining order enjoining the defendants'

"from doing any act whatsoever which restricts or abridges plaintiffs'

freedom from religion and specifically enjoining NASA and its

administrator and and personnel from further directing or permitting

religious activities, or ceremonies and especially the reading

of the sectarian Christian religion Bible and from prayer reci-

tation in space and in relation to all future space flight activity."

Jurisdication of the case is founded upon 28 U.S.C. 1346 (a) (2).

Upon request of the plaintiffs, a three-judge court was

convened in accordance with Jackson v. Choate, (name is underlined) 404 F.2d 910

(5 Cir., 1968). That Court, consisting of the United States Circuit

Judge Homer Thornberry, United States District Judge Adrian A. Spears,

and United States District Judge Jack Roberts, determined that this

case was not properly a three-judge matter. Sardino v. Federal Re-

serve Bank of New York, 361 F.2d 106 (2 Cir. 1966); Pennsylvania

Public Utility Commission v. Pennsylvania Railroad Co., 383 U.S. 281

(1965). The case was accordingly remanded to Judge Roberts of

decision.

The various plaintiffs are atheists, deists, and believers

in the complete separation of church and state. They have asserted

the right to bring suit in two separate grounds: (1) taxpayer status; [complete document and transcription at link]

[sixbucks]

The border I want to close is the one between church and state.

[liberalsarecool]

Conservative churches exploit their tax-free status.

[socialjusticeinamerica]

[canadianabroadvery]

[delicatehologramballoon]

[porterdavis]

Fair is fair

In a letter to the editor of The Washington Post, Larry McClemons of Annandale, Va., took issue with Oklahoma’s new edict that the Bible be taught in every classroom: “Perhaps, in a show of fairness, these state officials could mandate the teaching of algebra in churches.” (Arthur Rothstein, San Francisco)