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Recorded in May 2007, Delaware Senator and Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden discusses the role of religion in American society, and gives his thoughts on the separation between church and state.
Rep. Chet Edwards – "I believe perhaps America's greatest single contribution to the world from our experiment in democracy is our model of religious freedom and tolerance. The foundation of that religious freedom is the principle of separation of church and state, imbedded in the first 16 words of our Bill of Rights: 'Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.' In his letter to the Danbury Baptists of Connecticut in 1802, Thomas Jefferson expressed his belief that the principle of church-state separation is one of the most sacred of our founding principles. Unfortunately, many Americans today have come to perceive that separation of church and state implies disrespect for religion. Nothing could be further from the truth as Jefferson stated over a century ago."
By Jonathan Gallagher, Ph.D. – "For a country to move from general tolerance to extreme intolerance in just a few short years speaks of the power of religion, and its ready exploitation by those seeking political authority and control. The fuel is human competition. For where there is enough food, land, water and other resources, the need to fight other communities is much reduced. But as the world becomes increasingly overpopulated, then such scenarios can only increase. Religion is so close to the heart of how any society defines itself that those seeking political power and worldly goals will readily use such a potent weapon. The exploitation of religious belief is not new—witness the jihads and crusades from history—but its greatly increased impact and extent will be the dominant factors for the foreseeable future."
By Danielle Peabody – "If society expects to reap the benefits of educational improvements, society needs to be willing to step in and contribute its time, talent, and support to making education work. It is not something that schools alone can be expected to achieve – parents, neighbors, taxpayers, and future employers have the opportunity to take an active involvement at the local level through their volunteer efforts and supportive work. This is not so much an issue of money as it is a dedication to make sure that society will benefit from education and that education will benefit from society."
Spectrum Magazine has just interviewed Barry Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Lynn is an attorney, activist, and ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.
Filed 8/18/08 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA NORTH COAST WOMEN'S CARE ) MEDICAL GROUP, INC., et al., ) ) Petitioners, ) ) S142892 v. ) ) Ct.App. 4/1 D045438 SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, ) ) San Diego County Respondent; ) Super. Ct. No. GIC770165 _____________________________________ ) ) GUADALUPE T. BENITEZ, ) ) Real Party in Interest. ) _____________________________________ […]
Do the rights of religious freedom and free speech, as guaranteed in both the federal and the California Constitutions, exempt a medical clinic's physicians from complying with the California Unruh Civil Rights Act's prohibition against discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation? The California Supreme Court says "No."
This overturned the decision the judges made in February requiring homeschooling parents to possess credentials. In their decision, they stated, "It is important to recognize that it is not for us to consider, as a matter of policy, whether homeschooling should be permitted in California . That job is for the Legislature. It is not the duty of the courts to make the law; we endeavor to interpret it."
In a year when religious views seem to be shaping public discourse and ultimately impacting the law, this short excerpt from a classic religious work seems particularly relevant. ReligiousLiberty.TV publishes articles from a wide variety of political viewpoints and faith perspectives. Freedom can be celebrated from a secular perspective as well from a religious perspective. Your thoughts and comments are […]
Human rights concerns are underlying the pageantry of the Beijing Olympics where persecution against certain religious groups continues. Read the full article by Clifford Coonan at http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news-and-features/bush-steps-up-pressure-on-china-with-call-for-religious-freedom-890295.html Here are some excerpts from this article: President George Bush attended a Christian service in Beijing yesterday to call for greater religious freedom in China but, in an indication of how religious persecution […]