Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 01-01-2003, 12:19 PM

Transcript

The Rev. Jerry Falwell of Liberty University and the Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State were guest on CNN's Crossfire on Christmas Day. Their debate ranged over a lot of issues we have discussed in this forum.

Quote:

LYNN: What's wrong with that? Why should we be paying chaplains $150,000 a year, one in the House and one in the Senate, out of taxpayer funds, when James Madison himself said he made a big mistake voting for that in the first Congress. He said it would have been much better if Americans, including members of Congress, had been asked to contribute voluntarily. That would be a good example that the Congress should have set for the rest of us.

Why do you -- are you obsessed with this idea that government has to promote your religion, Dr. Fallwell? Most of us who are deeply religious believe we're doing it fine without the help of the United States government.

(CROSSTALK)

FALWELL: I don't believe government should promote religion. That it, likewise, should not be hostile towards religion. And that is what Barry Lynn is and that is what the ACLU is. To give you an example, the University of North Carolina required its freshmen to do a study course on a pro-Islamic book before they came to school at Chapel Hill. The ACLU defended the University of North Carolina in that matter.

Had that been a Billy Graham book, an evangelical book, a Roman Catholic book required by UNC, they would not have supported. They would have opposed it because they're hostile to Christianity.

LYNN: Wait a minute. Jerry Fallwell, you are many things, but you are not a mind reader. And you do not have any idea what the ACLU of North Carolina would or wouldn't have done. The truth is, religious sensors -- excuse me. No, religious sensors attempted to take one book and censor it from the curriculum for freshman, and the courts didn't buy it and you know it.

. . .

FALWELL: The fact is, this is a nation under God, built on the Judeo Christian (UNINTELLIGIBLE) ACLU to the contrary, notwithstanding.

NOVAK: Barry Lynn, let's just say that the founding fathers, who were good, not perfect, but what they wanted, if you read their intent, read what they said, was they wanted to prevent the United States from having an established religion. What was the established religion? It was the Episcopalian religion. That's what they were worried about.

LYNN: No, I'm sorry. I got to correct your history, Bob. Because, the truth is, the framers of our Constitution had the same debate we're having right now. It's just that my side won and your side lost. What they wanted to do was to protect the integrity of religion by making sure governments wouldn't overregulate it and to protect the integrity of government by not having them make decisions that are basically theological.

That's a very simple separation. It's the most powerful idea that has perhaps ever been created in American political philosophy.

(And don't miss the Bush impersonator who follows)

Philosoft · 01-01-2003, 01:25 PM

There's so much doublespeak coming out of Falwell's trap, I need a separate brain just to hear it all.

In a nutshell: "I don't want the government to support my religion, but the government needs to recognize that my religion is the truth!"

Gah.

PandaJoe · 01-01-2003, 09:49 PM

Quote:

FALWELL: The fact is, this is a nation under God, built on the Judeo Christian (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...

BEGALA: Reverend Fallwell, you said (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

That is so perfect....

01-01-2003, 01:25 PM	#2
Philosoft Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Southeast of disorder Posts: 6,829	Oh joy. There's so much doublespeak coming out of Falwell's trap, I need a separate brain just to hear it all. In a nutshell: "I don't want the government to support my religion, but the government needs to recognize that my religion is the truth!" Gah.

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