Separation of Church and State - A new Vox group invite.
You are invited to join a new Vox group:
Separation of Church and State
Separation of Church and State
A group devoted to safe guarding the continued Separation of Church and State, protecting religious diversity and the right to believe or not to believe.
Fighting to keep the United States of America a Democracy and NOT a Theocracy.
Challenging the views of the powerful "Religious Right" who believe:
"Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost. As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors -- in short, over every aspect and institution of human society." - D James Kennedy spoken at the "Reclaiming America for Christ".
The "Religious Right" has virtually taken over the Republican Party and is a force to be reckoned with.
They are driving American politics, using God as a battering ram on almost every issue: crime and punishment, foreign policy, health care, taxation, energy, regulation, social services and so on.
They intend to make America a "Christian Nation" and they are continually challenging the First Amendment in regards to the Separation of Church and State.
This group supports a person's right to practice religion or not to practice religion. This group does not support the eradication of religion from public life and is against the extreme views of both the left and the right when it comes to the right to practice religion.
Support these groups who are working to keep the Separation of Church and State:
Theocracy Watch
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
First Freedom First
Talk to Action
Interfaith Alliance
Sign the petition at First Freedom First to safe guard Separation of Church and State and protect religious liberty.
This constitutional guarantee is often known as the "first freedom."
Religion is a deeply personal matter. Americans must be free to practice their religion without coercion. Government exists to provide for the general well-being of all people, and its workings must be independent of specific religious doctrines. Simply put, there must be a separation of church and state.
If we do not stand together as a nation, we stand to lose this fundamental freedom.
We, the undersigned, call upon elected and appointed officials to join us in reaffirming America's religious freedom by demonstrating a commitment to the following:
Challenging the views of the powerful "Religious Right" who believe:
"Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost. As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors -- in short, over every aspect and institution of human society." - D James Kennedy spoken at the "Reclaiming America for Christ".
The "Religious Right" has virtually taken over the Republican Party and is a force to be reckoned with.
They are driving American politics, using God as a battering ram on almost every issue: crime and punishment, foreign policy, health care, taxation, energy, regulation, social services and so on.
They intend to make America a "Christian Nation" and they are continually challenging the First Amendment in regards to the Separation of Church and State.
This group supports a person's right to practice religion or not to practice religion. This group does not support the eradication of religion from public life and is against the extreme views of both the left and the right when it comes to the right to practice religion.
Support these groups who are working to keep the Separation of Church and State:
Theocracy Watch
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
First Freedom First
Talk to Action
Interfaith Alliance
Sign the petition at First Freedom First to safe guard Separation of Church and State and protect religious liberty.
The founders of our nation believed that all Americans should have the right to worship according to their own beliefs, or not to worship at all. So strong was their commitment to religious freedom that they enshrined it in the first sentence of the Bill of Rights.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."This constitutional guarantee is often known as the "first freedom."
Religion is a deeply personal matter. Americans must be free to practice their religion without coercion. Government exists to provide for the general well-being of all people, and its workings must be independent of specific religious doctrines. Simply put, there must be a separation of church and state.
If we do not stand together as a nation, we stand to lose this fundamental freedom.
We, the undersigned, call upon elected and appointed officials to join us in reaffirming America's religious freedom by demonstrating a commitment to the following:
- Every American should have the right to make personal decisions -- about family life, reproductive health, end of life care and other matters of personal conscience.
- American tax dollars should not go to charities that discriminate in hiring based on religious belief or that promote a particular religious faith as a requirement for receiving services.
- Political candidates should not be endorsed or opposed by houses of worship.
- Public schools should teach with academic integrity and without the promotion of religious preference or belief.
- Decisions about scientific and health policies should be based on the best available scientific data, not on religious doctrine.
We join together, as the most diverse nation in the world, to commit ourselves to defending and preserving this freedom.
Comments
I am not for the eradication for religion. One of my first posts (when I joined) may have indicated that was my intention but I was a new convert from Christian to atheist and new converts can always be a bit over zealous :)
In recent times I have moved away from the likes of Hitchens and even Harris as they seem to be just as fanatical about eradicating religion, as the "Right" is about enforcing religion and I am against all types of extremism. I believe there is a place for religion and our culture would be lacking without it.
The links I have included draw on people of all faiths and those who are not of faith. This group is all about the right to practice or not to practice religion.
I believe there are such groups, you just have to look in the "Right" places.
I would hope this group would be a more middle approach which was in keeping with the ideals of the founding fathers. So hopefully this will be a rational group which also has the ability to address the extreme end of the Progressive Left.