[GCFL-discuss] Double Standard

Discussion of the Good, Clean Funnies List gcfl-discuss at gcfl.net
Sun Aug 28 15:43:24 CDT 2005


Why is is that when an atheist files a law suit against the words "under
God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, it is front page news for months, but
when a devout Christian files a law suit against the words "under God" in
the Pledge of Allegiance, the media ignores it?

I just finished reading the decision in a 4th circuit federal appeals
court case called Myers v. Loudon County Public Schools, #03-1364 for
anyone who wants to look it up at findlaw.com.

Here is a description of the plaintiff and his complaint, from the text
of the court's ruling:

"Myers belongs to the Anabaptist Mennonite faith, which condemns
the mixture of church and state. Anabaptist Mennonites are a Christian
sect that "left Central Europe in late 1600 because of religious
persecution for belief in the separation of church and state." (J.A. at
7.) According to the Mennonite Confession of Faith, "[t]he primary
allegiance of all Christians is to Christ’s kingdom, not the state or
society. Because their citizenship is in heaven, Christians are called
to resist the idolatrous temptation to give to the state the devotion
that
is owed to God." (J.A. at 7.)

Now THAT is the original meaning and intent of the separation of church
and state. When an attempt was made to insert the words "Jesus Christ"
into the preamable of Virginia's Bill for Religious Liberty, James
Madison responded "The better proof of reverence for that holy name would
be not to profane it by making it a topic of legislative discussion." The
absence of any reference to God in the United States Constitution was not
an oversight, it results from exactly the same motive.

Why is denial of God, under cover of the First Amendment, getting all the
attention, while reliance on the First Amendment to promote reverence for
God, is quietly suppressed?

Siarlys
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