-=> Quoting Keith Knapp to David Hartung <=-
 DH> I have yet to see a case where the state has established a religion,
 DH> although there have been numerous cases recently where the state has
 DH> limited the practice of Christianity(see previous post).
 KK> You must have missed the "balanced treatment" cases of the late 70s
 KK> and early 80s, where creationists got laws passed mandating the
 KK> teaching of "creation science" in public school science classes.
 KK> When this was challenged in Arkansas, it became obvious that
 KK> "creation science" not only was not science by its own definition,
 KK> but that it was nothing more than Genesis 1-11 with all the religious
 KK> words removed.  The court showed that the people who wrote and
 KK> supported the law believed that evolutionary science was a plot
 KK> by Satan to undermine God's moral authority, and that one of them
 KK> pointed out in private correspondence that his real aim was to
 KK> "kill evolution."  In short, they were trying to make the views
 KK> and values of a very specific sect into the law of the land.
 The teaching of creationism, along with evolution merely teaches a
 variety of theories, it does not establish a state faith.
 DH> RP>   "We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not 
pon
 DH> RP>   the power of government, far from it.  We have staked the future 
f
 DH> RP>   all of our political institutions...upon the capacity of each and 
all
 DH> RP>   of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of 
God."
 
 DH> RP>      - James Madison, "Father" of the Constitution
 
 DH> KK> Would you kindly show me those places in the Constitution where
 DH> KK> the Ten Commandments are listed or incorporated?
 
 DH> If you will study the Constitution, and our legal system, you will find
 DH> that at least part of their basis are the Ten Commandments, ie laws
 DH> against theft vs the commandment against stealing.
 KK> Any reasoably sane country would have something like that.
 This being the case, what would be the problem with the display of such
 in public buildings?
 david.hartung@mcione.com
 Ilks of Metropolitan Walls/LENS
 Proud member of White House Enemies database
... The Bible is the bread of life that never becomes stale.
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