The enemy within: evangelical fundamentalism in US armed forces

[The WosMan]

Originally Posted by Skybird

And you seem to forget that the first amandement not only means not to make politics against free religion, but also to make laws in favour of a religion. Already the first settlers on Rhode Island, Quakers who were persecuted by the British crown, cared about the separation between state and religion, probabaly coming from their experiences with the crown, and the tradition of their services which are more unritual and more contemplative than those services of most other christian churches.

The first amendement to the US constitution does not only mean the right to demand the state not interfering with the free practicing of religion - it also means, vice versa, that the state should not intervene in religion's favour. Thus it describes a right as well as a limit of behavior. It prohibits the state to regulate or limit religion. It also prohibits that the state should help religion.

I could hardly remember any book, article, essay, statement, that would have expressed that the separation of state and church is not an intended reality in the US. It is a nation basing on the canon of values deriving from the christian-Judaic tradition - but it is no theocracy, although there are fundamentalists who would like to turn it into one - in the name of their own views. This is what needs to be fought against - not against but on the basis of the constitutional order, and it's defense.

A general view on those parts of US history that are relevant for this discussion, with some interesting details, ranging from the relation between state and private initiative concerning wellfare, over the fear of a wave of Catholic immigration in the 19th century and the importance of Jefferson, to the developement of the school system over the nation's history:

http://www.ibka.org/en/articles/ag02/kirkhart.html

The author is American, and lives in America. What he says very much is what I remember to know about the issues, so I support his evaluation.

See I make a simple statement and you jump down my throat. This is why there is such a problem because if someone even says one thing that supports religion another person gets all jumpy and offended. Cool down, have a drink. It's not even your country so why the hell are you so worried about it. There are better things to do in life then get yourself all worked up over some stupid thing that is being blown out of proportion half way across the world, especially since radical muslims are taking your countries in Europe over right from under your noses.

Are you angry at the world or something? I can tell you that Christians in this country have almost zero clout when it comes to anything anymore. If these evangelicals were so horrible and evil and insane then they would command the military to come out and shoot the town leader or head of a school district every year when some moron in control decides you can't say Merry Christmas to someone because it may offend them. You have to say "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" and then the local church can't even put up a nativity scene or some veterans cemetary in San Diego has to take down a cross. Where are these militant evangelicals at when it comes to this stuff? They must be out there strapping bombs to themselves ready to blow people up just like in Europe when some guy draws a comic and the muslims flip out and kill people.