Too far?

[coco1]

Even the 10 Commandments, if diligently sought to keep them, would produce happiness and make for a model citizen, thus stablizing society. These alone would empty the prisons.

Then that makes me ask for those who do not agree with all the 10's (specificlay "false Gods") where does that leave those people? There is a reason state and church were made to be seperate, it ends up screwing over that do not believe a certain way, and that will not help free anyone from prison, if anything more people would go there while breaking laws (rebeling) to the "Everyone must follow these 10.....".

[jackwellman]

I can not understand how the prisons would be more full if "Thou shalt not murder" was obeyed by society. How could eliminating Stealing, Coveting (Jealousy), etc. make for a more unstable society. It would stablize it. These commandments don't eliminate people from those who don't believe in them...people willfully choose to eliminate themselves from these 10. My not believing in them (or believing in anything else) does not make them true or not. People are free, moral agents. They are free to choose. I did not say, nor would I say to anyone "Everyone must follow these 10...". Even though most national and state judicial systems were all inclusive of these very ten. I find that interesting, since they are still in use in most world courts (now for over 5,000 years!). You would think someone would have found fault with them by now.

I will not say "Do these 10", but I pray you would in your best interests and in the best interests of society. That isn't linking church and state, that is preserving both!

[Kyle Stark]

I mean no offense by this, but the Bible is not an argument for everything. The 10 commandments are obviously going to be something that never changes because they are the foundation of every law ever created after their beginning. Im talking about taking something that someone said in a time when bias was everywhere, and specifically written by a man whom he himself, owned slaves. Do you really think he meant equality for all? I highly doubt it. There is no interpretation necessary for the 10 commandments because they are spelled out in black and white. The laws nowadays need interpretation to fit into society, but they should be morphed in a way that benefits the way circumstances are now, not the way they were 300 years ago. If we kept all the laws the same as they were hundreds of years ago, pollution would be rampant. Even moreso than now. We create laws, programs, and organizations in order to better society and fit into the new world. New laws, and new interpretations need to be made in order to continue, and change alongside the rapidly advancing world.

Kyle Stark

[jackwellman]

When my children have told me that "they have no friends", then I can only suggest that you treat your classmates better than or at least equal to how you would like to be treated. This has had some amazing results....

You and I, my children, my co-workers, neighbors, etc, can make a positive difference in the world and make it a better place if even Christ's simple command to "treat other's how you would like to be treated". You are correct, quoting Scripture will not solve everthing, but it will make is easier to solve somethings.

I must conclude positively that I am always in awe of those who speak their mind and I believe that every human being deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and I do appreciate your comments, of which I do respect. We all need to "just talk" to each other.

[Lionroot]

This seperation, as with all the Bill or Rights, was designed to protect the citizens from the government. It has instead been missapplied to actually create the problems the ammendment was intended to prevent. The congress has created laws "respecting an establishment of religion" when it infact gets in the religion business itself through public schools.

Is there anyone that doubts the humanistic and atheistic agenda is being taught? Don't they preach that to our children, that they are the result of a happy accident, descendent from monkeys, and no different from other animals. Yes, they call it science...but is it not truly faith? OK, one may argue that they are not an "establishment of religion", but can one really deny that secular humanism is truly a religion?

[Mako]

but can one really deny that secular humanism is truly a religion?

Easy to deny - what you are calling secular humanism is actually science and science is based on conclusions formed by following the chain of evidence. Religion on the other hand is founded on myths, legends and wishes. It's conclusions are founded by the founders and leaders of that religion and evidence is skewed and twisted to make it fit the dogma...a very large difference!

[jackwellman]

Lionroot, you make an outstanding point [of which I feel 100% as such] and I believe you hit exactly on the intent of the law, when you said:

This seperation, as with all the Bill or Rights, was designed to protect the citizens from the government.

In many of the old countries [England and some European countries], many Christians were being persecuted for not following the "state" religion or official national religion, etc. In the Church of England [more like a church-state], for example, there was a great deal of corruption and doctrine radically different from that of the Bible. Hundreds were put to death.

The intent of the law was clearly that of protecting the government from infringing upon religion, not religion from infringing the state. "Seperation of church and state" does not mean separation of church from state. Reading Romans 13, I feel certain that a Christian is obligated to vote as part of god-honoring "of those who have rule over us."

I was told once that Christians shouldn't vote, since it should be separation of church and state, and I said...aren't you Irish? You know, I can remember when New York City prohibited Irish Catholics from voting....oh, and African-Americans couldn't vote either at one time, and then women had to fight for the right to vote. That should be sufficient evidence that no adult American citizen should be denied the right to vote [prisons excluded, since they are not allowed].

[Brittany]

haha. wow. it makes me laugh when people think evolution is science. go do some research people, i'm tired of seeing statements from people who don't know what they're talking about.

[thor0997]

Well in my school the football players pray.
But they almost always lose too, so religion isnt that big in my school.

[jackwellman]

Religion is not big in any schools. Praying before and after games I don't believe can affect the outcome. However, if someone doesn't believe in prayer, they shouldn't feel pressured to participate, its a free country.