And now the news rant...

[kierthos]

I've determined what I want for my birthday (July 25th, send money). I want freedom from religion.

Not freedom of religion, which we already have (ostensibly, as long as you're Christian and Republican), but freedom from religion.

You see, our country was founded by many peoples and on many principles. One of those peoples were the Puritans, who fled England in large numbers after the restoration of Charles II. They wanted the freedom to practice their religion. So did everyone else who came to this country. And, by and large, over the years, religious freedom has worked out fairly well.

But I want freedom from religion. I want politicians to stop referring to God. I want school boards to not cave in to Creationists and Bible-thumpers. I want courthouses to stop displaying the Ten Commandments. We have a seperation of Church and State so that there is no state religion and that everyone will feel free to practice whatever religion devotions they follow. (About the only side-effect of this is the neo-pagan tree-hugging crystal worshipping vegans, but I already hate them because they keep bugging me when I'm eating cheeseburgers.) I want a President who does not rely on a book whose text is several hundred years to a couple thousand years old to determine what science is allowed and what isn't. I also want a President who doesn't have his head up his ass, but we haven't managed that one for a while yet. I want "In God We Trust" off the fucking money. At this point, it should say "In Alan Greenspan We Trust" anyways. I don't trust God with my money, after all. I mean, look at Sodom and Gomorrah. The guy has emotional problems, and he's probably an impulse buyer.

I want a President who doesn't go to church every Sunday. I mean, let's face it, did he go to church every Sunday before becoming President? Probably not. But it's a publicity thing. He has to go to church because people expect him to. I want a President who sleeps a bit late on Sunday and then catches a football game. I want a President who loses money to Secret Service agents on Superbowl bets. I want a President who won't alienate every other religion every time he opens his mouth and shoves his foot in it. I also want the terrorists to stop bullshitting about it being about religion and just come out and say "Yeah, we hate America. Not because you're Christians. Because you are meddling fucks who can't take a hint." Mind you, I also want many of those same terrorists dead, but I'd like them to own up to the truth before the bombs land.

I also want the Director's Cut of Blade Runner on DVD. That's the only thing I'm likely to get.

Comments

[mierandra.livejournal.com]

Human morality of all flavors is largely determined from religious and cultural influence. Unless you want a computer running your government instead of a person, you're asking the impossible.

[egearman.livejournal.com]

Yes, but a morality influenced by the spirit of what is written down in the various religious texts rather than by the letter of those texts would be preferable.

[kierthos.livejournal.com]

Actually, I want me running the government, but that's a side topic.

What I want is for people to realize that the seperation of church and state exists. The government can't outlaw religions and can't create a state religion. Likewise the church cannot force religious doctrine on anything in the government or that is government supported. So we should not have church groups lobbying to have creationism added to the curricula of publicly funded schools. If they want that, let 'em open more parochial schools.

Also, I want the government (especially the current one) to stop using God as a justification for their actions. I don't want scientific research to stop receiving funding because some pseudo-religious jackass-in-chief thinks that God thinks it's bad. Of course, he (Bush) can't even get the scientific shit-sans-God right, either, given his statements on the Kyoto treaty, and numerous other things.

[have-you-seen.livejournal.com]

Funny thing is, we have a government religion and yet government doesn't use any deity as an excuse or a reason. Deities are not even mentioned in congress (I have no idea if we call it that too in English) afaik. USA just is weird. :P

[the-corruption.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I have to tell ya, you're about 2 steps away from being one of those neo-pagan tree-hugging crystal worshipping vegans yourself. It's like you stole a line directly out of their playbook.

Let's boil this down to the real problem, religion pisses you off. That much is clear. So GOOD for you, be pissed off, and self-righteous, (much like myself, I for one fully enjoy being self-righteous) you are free to do so.

I don't know what copy of the constitution YOU'RE reading, but I didn't see anything about seperation of church and state in mine? There's a line in the articles of confederation about that, but nada in the constitution or bill of rights.?

I'd also like to mention that I've never seen a guarantee anywhere that proctects anyone from things that piss them off. There is no "Freedom from other people's personal lives pissing you off" clause?

We christians have these things called "virtues", and one of those is called "humility". You should Google it sometime, if for no other reason that to help you understand why I won't agree with you.

Oh, and one other thing, not too keen on freedom of speach there, are ya? Politicians can't talk about religion? Schools can't teach creationism? Not shooting for your own agenda there, are ya? I don't see why, personally. I think darwinism stands pretty strongly next to creationism. Of course, darwinism isn't perfect either, but just because it's flawed doesn't mean it shouldn't be taught.

Yea, because like most religion, science is flawed too. Hell, here recently it's become it's OWN religion. Otherwise I just can't parse some european climatologist trying to tell me that global warming is causing the drop in winter temperatures in the northern hemisphere and the subsequent increase in snowfall. THAT, my friend, takes FAITH.

[kierthos.livejournal.com]

Of course I'm putting forth my own agenda. It's my rant.

Look, can you tell me you're comfortable with people forcing religious curricula into public schools? It happened in Kansas. (Actually, it seems to be cyclical in Kansas.)

Look, according to every pass receiver in pro football, it's Mom and God that helped him catch the winning touchdown pass (not necessarily in that order), and I really don't mind that. I do mind when politicans put forth religious-based or influenced legislation. I mind very much when it's taught in non-religious schools. I mean, let's face it, I don't expect Catholic schools to teach evolution. Why then should public schools teach creationism (or intelligent design or whatever it's called this week)?

Oh, and I agree with you on meteorology. That shit is a religion.

[the-corruption.livejournal.com]

I'll start this with a real confession: I don't give a flying monkey-fuck what they teach in public schools, I (we) WILL be HOME SCHOOLING Chloé. So I don't care if they teach Scientology, to be perfectly honest.

But past that, lets pull the politics out of this and look at what REALLY happens down here on earth. OK, let's remember back to when you're 10 years old again, , what was it that a teacher "taught" you that all-encompassingly changed your life, that by happenstance (or congressional mandate) was diametrically opposed to what your parents believed? I can't think of a single bloody thing. Let's face facts, kids don't place that much focus or faith in their teachers. Dr. Bohac (my 8th grade teacher) could have told me God was dead and showed me the coffin, and I would have arrogantly called her a communist to her face (I started being a right-wing crazy early on).

Teachers teaching creationism is NOT, and I repeat is NOT going to turn our children into droves and droves of little catholics, no matter WHAT they try. Realistically, teaching something that could be construed as either opposing what the parents are demonstrating to their kids at home, or just generally unpopular dogma doesn't covert ANY little kids.

Well, maybe one or two kids will, but hey, Darwinism is supposed to "take care" of kids like that anyways, right? The kid that eats too many jars of paste doesn't live long enough to have kids of his own.

I think teachers are supposed to teach kids about the things out here in the real world,

[have-you-seen.livejournal.com]

Omgs... can I steal that icon? I will even credit if it was made by you. It is most excellent.

[the-corruption.livejournal.com]

Sure! Feel free.

I stole it from someone myself. Someone on a discussion board far far away.