The morality of Christian religion & politics

[Nine of Spades]

The fact cannot be understated that faith is under attack in America. Years ago the State of Alabama tried to honor God and respect Christian principles and morality by placing a Ten Commandments monument in a courthouse. Psalms 9:17 says that all nations that forget God will be cast into hell, so naturally we Christians are obliged to publicly declare our support for our heavenly father. However, the ungodly secularists at the ACLU couldn’t tolerate such innocuous displays of faith, so they initiated a lawsuit and successfully had the said monument removed. It was a true act of sacrilege.

And it was none other than the notorious SPLC, a radical leftist smearing racket that likes to put conservative Christians on their “hate criminal” lists alongside Nazis, that wrote a report celebrating the removal of the Ten Commandments monument. Read their gushing report here: Judge Orders Removal of Ten Commandments Monument

Isn’t it sad that our nation faces so many problems such as homelessness, crime, violence, climate change, an expensive and inefficient healthcare system, etc. Yet our government is prioritizing “separation of church and state” above more pertinent problems.

Some people might argue that the Ten Commandments monument violates the ungodly US Constitution because displaying it purports to favor one religion over another. If that nonsense were true, why is the Church of Satan being allowed to display their Statue of Baphomet in public government places? Read about it here: Statue of Baphomet - Wikipedia

It appears that our government thinks it’s terrible if the Ten Commandments get displayed at a courthouse, but for some reason they think it’s okay if the Statue of Baphomet is allowed on state capitol buildings. Could it be because the ungodly secularists are in conspiracy with Satan to snuff out Christianity from public life and publicly declare their support for the Devil?

 

[Tinker Grey]

Please provide a citation that there is even one Baphomet statue where the 10 commandments aren't allowed. The statue of Baphomet is permitted because the 10 commandments are permitted.

SCOTUS has held that religious displays are permitted if all religious displays are permitted. I.e., the permission cannot be exclusive to one religion.

 

[Desk trauma]

Could it be because the ungodly secularists are in conspiracy with Satan to snuff out Christianity from public life and publicly declare their support for the Devil?

Nope.

Moving on.

 

[Nine of Spades]

Please provide a citation that there is even one Baphomet statue where the 10 commandments aren't allowed. The statue of Baphomet is permitted because the 10 commandments are permitted.

SCOTUS has held that religious displays are permitted if all religious displays are permitted. I.e., the permission cannot be exclusive to one religion.

If Jewish Americans wanted to put a Jewish Menorah statue in a courthouse, I wouldn’t have a problem with that in the least bit. Jews and Christians sort of have a shared religious heritage, so what would be the issue with Jewish religious imagery in such public places?

However, I draw the line at allowing Satanists to place Satanic statues in public, government building or not. Satan is the chief demon of hell. His goal is to destroy the faith of all believers and condemn the world. Placing a statue of Baphomet somewhere would be like erecting a statue of a Nazi Swastika. It’s that evil and shouldn’t be tolerated.

 

[Desk trauma]

However, I draw the line at allowing Satanists to place Satanic statues in public, government building or not

The law does not. All religions get the same level of access.

Do you want the government to have the ability to disallowing religious views?

 

[essentialsaltes]

The fact cannot be understated that faith is under attack in America. Years ago

It was 20 years ago.

the State of Alabama

No, it was Judge Roy Moore who did these unconstitutional things.

Yet our government is prioritizing “separation of church and state” above more pertinent problems.

Hardly. Since that time, secular principles have been eroded by various 'religious freedom restoration' laws and decisions such as the one declaring that for profit companies can have protected religious beliefs.

Some people might argue that the Ten Commandments monument violates the ungodly US Constitution

If you agree the Constitution is ungodly (or secular), what's your beef?

why is the Church of Satan being allowed to display their Statue of Baphomet in public

You know perfectly well that it is displayed only in places where other religious displays are allowed.

It appears that our government thinks it’s terrible if the Ten Commandments get displayed

It is not whether it is 'terrible' but whether it is unconstitutional. As the judgment in the case put it: "To this, the Establishment Clause says no."

Could it be because the ungodly secularists are in conspiracy with Satan to snuff out Christianity from public life and publicly declare their support for the Devil?

I know you enjoy your persecution complex, but this conspiracy of your is laughable.

 

[essentialsaltes]

However, I draw the line at allowing Satanists to place Satanic statues in public

The constitution doesn't draw that line, so you'll just have to lump it.

 

[Nine of Spades]

Do you want the government to have the ability to disallowing religious views?

Yes, the practice of Satanism should be illegal. So should heathen witchcraft religions like Wicca. But I’m definitely okay with non-Christian religions such as Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism being allowed.

 

[Paulos23]

If Jewish Americans wanted to put a Jewish Menorah statue in a courthouse, I wouldn’t have a problem with that in the least bit. Jews and Christians sort of have a shared religious heritage, so what would be the issue with Jewish religious imagery in such public places?

However, I draw the line at allowing Satanists to place Satanic statues in public, government building or not. Satan is the chief demon of hell. His goal is to destroy the faith of all believers and condemn the world. Placing a statue of Baphomet somewhere would be like erecting a statue of a Nazi Swastika. It’s that evil and shouldn’t be tolerated.

Why should the line be drawn there? Isn't the Satanists just another religion? Why should the Jews get a status but the Satanists, or the Hindus, or the Muslims, not get one?

Where is that in the Constitution?

 

[Paulos23]

Yes, the practice of Satanism should be illegal. So should heathen witchcraft religions like Wicca. But I’m definitely okay with non-Christian religions such as Judaism and Hinduism being allowed.

Might as well work towards striking down the First Amendment Establishment clause.

 

[Desk trauma]

Yes, the practice of Satanism should be illegal. So should heathen witchcraft religions like Wicca.

How would you have the government determine and rule on matters of doctrine being legal?

But I’m definitely okay with non-Christian religions such as Judaism and Hinduism being allowed.

How magnanimous.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Yes, the practice of Satanism should be illegal. So should heathen witchcraft religions like Wicca. But I’m definitely okay with non-Christian religions such as Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism being allowed.

Why?

It's just a religion, not unlike yours.

The Constitution makes no distinction between the various kinds of religion. If non-Christian religions like Hinduism are legal, then so is Wicca. If non-Islamic religions like Judaism are legal then so is Christianity.

 

[Nine of Spades]

Why?

It's just a religion, not unlike yours.

The Constitution makes no distinction between the various kinds of religion. If non-Christian religions like Hinduism are legal, then so is Wicca. If non-Islamic religions like Judaism are legal then so is Christianity.

Exodus 22:18 condemns the practice of witchcraft in the strongest possible terms. Therefore, Wicca must be made illegal.

If you think Satanism is just another religion like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism, would you also think that a religion dedicated to the worship of Adolf Hitler and adherence to Nazi principles is “just another religion”? Such a religion actually exists. It’s called Creativity. You can read about it here: Creativity (religion) - Wikipedia Do you really think Nazi religions should be legal?

By the way, this isn’t a Godwin’s law fallacy. Satan is even more evil than Hitler. My analogy is appropriate.

 

[Ophiolite]

The fact cannot be understated that faith is under attack in America. Years ago the State of Alabama tried to honor God and respect Christian principles and morality by placing a Ten Commandments monument in a courthouse. Psalms 9:17 says that all nations that forget God will be cast into hell, so naturally we Christians are obliged to publicly declare our support for our heavenly father. However, the ungodly secularists at the ACLU couldn’t tolerate such innocuous displays of faith, so they initiated a lawsuit and successfully had the said monument removed. It was a true act of sacrilege.

And it was none other than the notorious SPLC, a radical leftist smearing racket that likes to put conservative Christians on their “hate criminal” lists alongside Nazis, that wrote a report celebrating the removal of the Ten Commandments monument. Read their gushing report here: Judge Orders Removal of Ten Commandments Monument

Isn’t it sad that our nation faces so many problems such as homelessness, crime, violence, climate change, an expensive and inefficient healthcare system, etc. Yet our government is prioritizing “separation of church and state” above more pertinent problems.

Some people might argue that the Ten Commandments monument violates the ungodly US Constitution because displaying it purports to favor one religion over another. If that nonsense were true, why is the Church of Satan being allowed to display their Statue of Baphomet in public government places? Read about it here: Statue of Baphomet - Wikipedia

It appears that our government thinks it’s terrible if the Ten Commandments get displayed at a courthouse, but for some reason they think it’s okay if the Statue of Baphomet is allowed on state capitol buildings. Could it be because the ungodly secularists are in conspiracy with Satan to snuff out Christianity from public life and publicly declare their support for the Devil?

When you pepper a post with emotive words and phrases it renders unconvincing any suggestion that the post is intended as an objective evaluation of facts. Rather it comes across as a biased, agenda driven diatribe. Of course, if that is what you were aiming for, you've nailed it.

 

[Desk trauma]

If you think Satanism is just another religion like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism, would you also think that a religion dedicated to the worship of Adolf Hitler and adherence to Nazi principles is “just another religion”? Such a religion actually exists. It’s called Creativity. You can read about it here: Creativity (religion) - Wikipedia Do you really think Nazi religions should be legal?

Yes.

 

[Hans Blaster]

The fact cannot be understated that faith is under attack in America.

Since this is the ethics board, a counter-question: Is it ethical to claim as facts things that aren't?

Years ago the State of Alabama tried to honor God and respect Christian principles and morality by placing a Ten Commandments monument in a courthouse. Psalms 9:17 says that all nations that forget God will be cast into hell, so naturally we Christians are obliged to publicly declare our support for our heavenly father. However, the ungodly secularists at the ACLU couldn’t tolerate such innocuous displays of faith, so they initiated a lawsuit and successfully had the said monument removed. It was a true act of sacrilege.

As noted above, this was the work of one man, Roy Moore, a notorious ignorer of the Constitution, who was *removed* from his office as head of the state's supreme court for these actions. The Constitution does not require anyone to hold to any laws of any gods or religions, only the laws passed by the elected officials of the nation, states, and lower governments.

And it was none other than the notorious SPLC, a radical leftist smearing racket that likes to put conservative Christians on their “hate criminal” lists alongside Nazis, that wrote a report celebrating the removal of the Ten Commandments monument. Read their gushing report here: Judge Orders Removal of Ten Commandments Monument

The SPLC is notorious for its work on uncovering, documenting, and legally challenging *hate* groups, like the KKK. Is it ethical to attack them?

Isn’t it sad that our nation faces so many problems such as homelessness, crime, violence, climate change, an expensive and inefficient healthcare system, etc. Yet our government is prioritizing “separation of church and state” above more pertinent problems.

Is our government not capably of doing more than one thing at a time (and various levels and branches of government at that)? You present several problems that you think are higher priority. Do you not think that government action can work on all of them at the same time? (Plus, the government doesn't actually put that much effort into keeping religion and government separate and most of that action is forced upon by the courts.)

Some people might argue that the Ten Commandments monument violates the ungodly US Constitution because displaying it purports to favor one religion over another. If that nonsense were true, why is the Church of Satan being allowed to display their Statue of Baphomet in public government places? Read about it here: Statue of Baphomet - Wikipedia

It appears that our government thinks it’s terrible if the Ten Commandments get displayed at a courthouse, but for some reason they think it’s okay if the Statue of Baphomet is allowed on state capitol buildings.

I'm glad that you correctly identified the US Constitution as being godless as it doesn't recognize any religion or belief. As also noted in the replies above, other religious monuments are only allowed on govt property as part of open groupings where any religion can contribute. Again, since the law may not favor any religion, if you want a public space to display your monument, then others will also get their chance as well.

Could it be because the ungodly secularists are in conspiracy with Satan to snuff out Christianity from public life and publicly declare their support for the Devil?

"Ungodly" secularists are not in league with Satan as we don't believe in "Satan" or "the Devil" and we do want religion off of government property.

 

[Tinker Grey]

It's worth quoting C. S. Lewis on this from Mere Christianity:

The Christian conception of marriage is one: the other is the quite different question - how far Christians, if they are voters or Members of Parliament, ought to try to force their views of marriage on the rest of the community by embodying them in the divorce laws. A great many people seem to think that if you are a Christian yourself you should try to make divorce difficult for every one. I do not think that. At least I know I should be very angry if the Mohammendans tried to prevent the rest of us from drinking wine.

My own view is that the Churches should frankly recognise that the majority of the British people are not Christians and, therefore, cannot be expected to live Christian lives. There ought to be two distinct kinds of marriage: one governed by the State with rules enforced on all citizens, and the other governed by the Church with rules enforced by her on her own members. The distinction ought be to quite sharp, so that a man know which couples are married in a Christian sense and which are not.

(Found the text here: C.S. Lewis Vs Christianism I haven't found chapter and page reference.)

I wouldn't want this topic to devolve into marriage issues. But Lewis here is making it clear that state concerns ought not be bound up in religious ones. Note, too, the statement about Mohammendans. The point is that we would not want other religions dictating our behavior, therefore you should not try to use gov't to enforce your religious beliefs. As Lewis would say: Do as you would be done by.

ETA: Found this: (from Mere Christianity, the chapter on “Christian Marriage”, c 1952, 1980 by C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd., Harpercollins Edition, 2002, p112)

 

[essentialsaltes]

Do you really think Nazi religions should be legal?

Also worthwhile to quote Thomas Jefferson:

The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

It's none of my business if people want to worship Jesus or Aqua Buddha. It's none of your business. And, by design and construction, it is none of the government's business.

 

[Strathos]

If Jewish Americans wanted to put a Jewish Menorah statue in a courthouse, I wouldn’t have a problem with that in the least bit. Jews and Christians sort of have a shared religious heritage, so what would be the issue with Jewish religious imagery in such public places?

However, I draw the line at allowing Satanists to place Satanic statues in public, government building or not. Satan is the chief demon of hell. His goal is to destroy the faith of all believers and condemn the world. Placing a statue of Baphomet somewhere would be like erecting a statue of a Nazi Swastika. It’s that evil and shouldn’t be tolerated.

What you need to understand about most modern Satanists is that they don't really believe in Satan. They are essentially just internet trolls in real life - they are trying to provoke people and get a reaction. The more you complain about them, the happier they are.

Fun fact: "Baphomet" isn't even the name of a demon. It's a corruption of the word "Muhammad", and originated during the Crusades where Christians heard Muslims praying and thought that they worshipped a god called "Baphomet".

 

[dlamberth]

The fact cannot be understated that faith is under attack in America

I don't think "faith" is under attack at all. What I think is happening is that people are moving from the dominance of Christian beliefs to other spiritual trajectories.