Constructive gadfly
Published on March 3, 2005 By stevendedalus In Religion

There is no denying that this country is God-fearing, loving, and that it is prefaced on religious tolerance. Whether one endorses the Ten Commandments or not, the law has transcended time and is a veritable symbol of law and order. Although it should not be used whimsically, distastefully and unilaterally zealous as did the Kentucky judge, it is not simply a bastion of the Judea-Christian belief , but universally accepted principles — but for a few items that I had pointed out in an earlier blog .

1. I am the Lord, thy God, who has brought thee out of bondage so that thou shalt comprehend the meaning of freedom under law.

2. Thou shalt extend credence to Me as the sole author of Nature’s elements that have consummated in humanity.

3. Thou shalt not idolize the governance of men, or cults that do not reflect reverence for humanity.

4. Thou shalt not take the name of thy God in vain, nor mock divine intentions.

5. Preserve the Sabbath to worship thy God and in thanks for the gifts of life.

6. Honor thy parents and protect them in their old age.

7. Honor thy belovéd and thus not commit adultery.

8. Thou shalt not kill, nor steal.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness.

10. Thou shalt not covet any other’s property, nor lust after any person.

Of course there will always be the reflective and the iconoclast as well in the midst of a complex society that preclude hard and fast rules. This is as it should be, but that does not preclude their having respect for the other, just as the others who believe must show respect for those who do not. The in-your-face trend of believers should be curtailed as well as the non-believers’ in-your-face opposition. There cannot be a rash movement to splash the Commandments all over town, for what then is the curtailment of Wal-Mart’s displaying the Ten Commandments at every check-out counter? Schools have their own rules of behavior and do not need the Commandments displayed in every classroom as are the portraits of Washington and Lincoln, which suffice as traditional reminders of historical presidential leadership and decency; for what is to prevent those enthusiasts of Reagan or Kennedy mandating their portraits? A school district is free to mandate a hall of presidents in the lobbies of its schools but all portraits should be displayed.

However, this is not the same as suggesting that Islamic Laws equally be displayed than to expect that the Ten Commandments be displayed in a Mosque. “When in Rome …” applies here despite the principle of tolerance for other faiths; besides, the pertinent argument is that of the symbolic foundation of a people who arrived here first.

Appropriate reverence is not to be scoffed at; religious zeal, however, should be constrained in public places. An accepted traditional festivity such as Christmas that has been firmly implanted commercially in the American psyche should be thought of , however offensive to some, as no more than the glittering fanfare of Oscar night whereby even the atheist may kneel to the goddess Hilary Swank.

 

Copyright © 2005 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: March 3, 2005.

http://stevendedalus.joeuser.com

 

 


Comments
on Mar 05, 2005
I consider myself an agnostic theist and I have the up most respect for a persons beliefs but not allowing public property and monies to be used to get people to believe in a particular religion is not religious persecution. In fact calling it that is an insult to true religious persecution. There is no doubt that organized religion has done many wonderful things in this country. However it has also caused some harm to our society. This is because it is a large organization that needs money to have power to get more believers.

When I leave the parking lot of my mother’s church there is a sign that says, “You are now entering the battleground”. The good intention of saving souls happens to coincide with the fact that believers are a religions fuel. The more people that come to a faith the more legitimacy it has, and that makes it more appealing. You think, how can that many people be wrong. To those who believe in a creator picking the right religion seems like the ultimate all in bet and the odds are often the deciding factor.
on Mar 06, 2005
I agree with everything you say up until:
'There is no denying that this country is God-fearing, loving, and that it is prefaced on religious tolerance.'
Why not?
on Mar 08, 2005

Furry: In theory only!

Stubby:

The in-your-face trend of believers should be curtailed as well as the non-believers’ in-your-face opposition. Live and let live but always with a sense of charity.

on Mar 08, 2005
Being a Christian means your supposed to be in the face of non-believers. The bible is very clear about this. “You are now interring the battleground”. Christians who don’t try to convert people aren’t following the Bibles teachings.

I have never seen or heard of an Atheist or Agnostic who was actively trying to get people to stop believing in God. Just trying to stop the church from gaining influence over there lives.

There are Churches everywhere if that’s what you need it’s not hard to find.
on Mar 09, 2005
Atheism and Agnosticism belong to philosophy: religion to them should be irrelevant. Though I object to under God in the pledge and should be replaced by under democratic principles or the Constitution, it is useless to try to undercut the tyranny of the majority who care only for words and phrasing,not reason.
on Mar 09, 2005
Christians are combining freedom of religion and free speech to say they have the right to sell you a way of life. Not wanting or allowing them to do this is not religious oppression. What they are doing is not the same at all as what the people who want complete separation of church and state are doing. Christians believe this country was divinely inspired and that people cannot make enlightened moral decisions without God in their hearts. You wrote an article that in part discussed this. The fact that the founders of this country made it clear religion and politics were to remain separate is the only thing keeping this country from becoming a theocracy. Fighting to keep this “loophole” intact is the only means we have to make sure that doesn’t happen.
on Mar 30, 2005
Yes, we have today churches everywhere in true, sprawling Wal-mart tradition.