Something caught my eye today. An Illinois State Representative said that it was dangerous for children to even know that a philosophy like atheism even exists.
The audio clip is outrageous and worth listening to. How does someone like this ever get elected to a public office? The representative told the atheist, who was testifying before an Illinois House committee, that he had no right to be there because he did not believe in God.
The atheist in question, Rob Sherman, was testifying against the Illinois governor's plan to donate state money to a Baptist church. The representative, Monique Davis, thought that the money should be given to the church because the people in Illinois believe in God.
This is absolutely ridiculous. The First Amendment and U.S. legal precedent is very clear that state and church should not be mixed. Jesus himself said "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21). That means separation of church and state.
Davis was persecuting this man based on his beliefs. That is fundamentally wrong. Some of the religious wackos might argue that atheism is not a belief but this is stupid too. Atheists believe that God does not exist. That's a belief. Beliefs are subject to interpretation by the believer and not by anyone else.
Davis also claimed that Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, was founded on God. Well, the United States was not. The United States was founded on freedom of religion and freedom to believe whatever you want to believe, whether it be flying monkeys and Sasquatch or a God who favors revenge, fear and suffering. Many of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin to name two, were essentially atheists.
This country was founded to prevent people like Davis from forcing their own Gods on the rest of the people. That is our inalienable right. Perhaps someone should give Davis a lesson on our true history rather than the one she learned in church.
I swear, you and God need to sit down and talk. You are starting to remind me of black people. Slavery this and slavery that. Thats all you hear from black people. With you its anti god this and anti god that. Is your life so empty that all you have to do is bash people who believe in god?
ReplyDeleteThe idea of giving 814 billion dollars to other people out side the USA is ok but you are an idiot if you believe in god?
I know your post wasn't bashing on religion, just someone that is extreme. But if it where a story about feeding hungry in china you wouldn't bat an eye over it. Even though people in china want us dead.
Out of all the news out there all you could find to blog about was God? Nothing else stands out, just news about god?
Two firefighters where killed in Ohio today, a family died in another fire,B-1 bomber burns on a runway and not to mention all of the loacl news media lies you could talk about. What did god ever do to you? What do you hate god!
Remember what I said about all liberals being screwed up in the head? Think about it!
I'm not bashing people who believe in God. I'm bashing people who try to take away our inalienable rights, like our right to bear arms. Next thing you know, this person is going to want to ban guns because there were no guns mentioned in the Bible.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I don't think all black people talk about slavery. Very few if any that I've ever met do. You are stereotyping.
I forgot to read the rest... People in China do not want us dead! People in China are actually quite friendly and like Americans. You are referring to politics which doesn't always reflect real life.
ReplyDeleteAnd if Jesus had $814 billion, what would he do with it? Build bombs to kill Chinese people who like us or feed hungry people? WWJD, baby! WWJD!
It is mentioned in the bible to take care of your self then help others not to break yourself to help others. Of course you'll come back with your interpretation of the bible. It's ok old buddy, its your right to hate god if you want and your eternal life to waist.
ReplyDeletei didn't read anything in this blog that said the writer "hated God". he's arguing separation of church and state. Personally, i do believe in God, and i am a christian. the God i believe in is not vengeful or wrathful - he is a kind and loving God - and that's in the bible as well.
ReplyDeletei agree that the state money should not be given to the church - any church. if they have that much money to give away, why don't they donate it to local homeless shelters, or to the shelters for those getting away from domestic violence. there are many other programs that would benefit a windfall that have nothing to do with any church or religion.