Dune

It seems that more and more lawsuits are being filed and complaints registered about conspicuous displays of religious beliefs. Why?
Why are people so offended by seeing a religious symbol, especially if they are atheists? This doesn’t make sense. As an atheist, a religious symbol has no real meaning to me- except for art. Yes it does symbolize something that I don’t believe in, but that doesn’t make it offensive in any way.
People should not be so thin skinned about their beliefs that merely gazing upon symbology of another belief structure causes an emotional response...
It is somewhat understandable about religious displays on public property- but not really. Separation of church and state is necessary and admirable. But that only means the government cant support or promote one religion over another- it doesn’t mean that all religious symbols must be banished in all ways from the government. That would mean that the constitution and declaration of independence are unconstitutional (funny enough) since they mention God as well.
With all the outcry- it almost seems like fear of these symbols and what they represent- and that is not rational at all.

Toto

First of all, there is no mention of God in the Constitution. (Read it - don't just take some right wing commentator's word for it.)

The God in the Declaration of Independence is a generic God compatible with Deism.

Do you have an actual example of a complaint about the mere display of a religious symbol, without implied government endorsement of one religion over another? If you have a specific example, we can discuss it.

NZAmoeba

Unfortunatly, if there is a school that proudly shows off religious symbols, they will only show ONE. In extreme situtations they will forbid to show any other religious symbol other than their chosen one. This is where the problem lies, it's either all or nothing, can't have it just your way. The authority figures are not allowed to hold one religion above any other, regardless of their personal beliefs.

I think that sums it up?

Dune

So you would be fine if a puplic place was available for all religeons? Say a ground where crosses, and stars of david and whatnot could be displayed at any time?

Dune

Thanks for the correction .

So if the government says in god we trust or one nation under god it is ok becuase they are refering to a generic god?

Do you have an actual example of a complaint about the mere display of a religious symbol, without implied government endorsement of one religion over another? If you have a specific example, we can discuss it.

A cross erected in Calif. to in 1912 to mark the spot of the origional mission there is the subject of a lawsuit because it offends people who see it, as it sits on public ground.

faust

Dune:
Yes! Now my religion is centered on the great redhead who created the earth, and sends redheds to me with large buckets of wine (that may have been a bachanalian influence by heretics though) and they must lay with me.
I DEMAND YOU PAY FOR IT! freedom of religion. Don't give me that separation of C&S crap, all religions are welcome in this public space. w00t! Redheads and wine! The Goddess demands it!

Toto

These same people see crosses displayed in public all the time on private property - on churches, or as jewelry on private people. But they don't object.

The objection to a cross on public land is that it implies government endorsement of Christianity. Many of those war dead were not Christians, and their families would not want them to be memorialized with a symbol of Christianity.

Do you have a reference to the Arizona cross? I can't seem to locate anything about it.

Dune

ToungeTied.com has a reference to it. And if it is erected by private donations- what is the issue?

Ass for redheads...I dont suppose you could include some blondes?

Freedom of religeon is not pay for my religeon. If you pay for a tasteful statue of the Gread RedHead Creator- spiffy. I wouldnt mind you placing it on public land. But as long as it is sponsered by private donations that mearly use public land- and not prohibiting the use of land to other religeons?

butswana

Do some research on "In God We Trust" and "under God". They are not deistic. The driving force behind them was to promote christianity.

brighid

The problem you are going to encounter with this is that the Christian majority is going to be UP IN ARMS with such a display, or any display that isn't specifically Christian.

Do some research on the opposition by Christian groups to Wiccans, atheists, or other minority faiths giving the invocation at a public meetings, mosques going up in their areas, the harassment of pagans celebrating their religion in public, etc. You can also research how other Christian groups (such as Catholics, Mormons, Baptist) often file lawsuits because a public prayer, invocation, statue etc. disrespects their faith or isn't inclusive of other brands of Christianity.

The problem in the country isn't other faiths objecting to Christian, religious displays but the total inequity for non-Christian/non-theist members of the same society. The government has no business supporting any religion - period. This is the only way to fully protect the rights of all involved, espeically the minority. That is why this country was formed as a Democratic Republic and not a country ruled by the dictates of the majority only.

There is a reason why there are few, if any public, inclusive, religious displays: Christian organizations simply won't tolerate it.

Brighid