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> American Theocracy, Are we headed there?
NiteGuy
post May 7 2005, 10:50 AM
Post #1


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I've been more than a little surprised, and bemused at some of the news stories I've been seeing lately. To wit:

The Alabama judge who refused to remove a monument to the Ten Commandments on his courthouse lobby.

The Right-Wing showing at the Terri Schiavo circus, and the ability of the religious right to force politicians to submit legislation in an attempt to overturn a legally rendered decision.

A fundamentalist Kansas school board is attempting to bring Creationism into science classes: Link
QUOTE
"Evolution is a great theory, but it is flawed," said (Kathy) Martin, 59, a retired science and elementary school teacher who is presiding over the hearings. "There are alternatives. Children need to hear them…. We can't ignore that our nation is based on Christianity — not science."

The hearings in Topeka, scheduled to last several days, are focusing on two proposals. The first recommends that students continue to be taught the theory of evolution because it is key to understanding biology. The other proposes that Kansas alter the definition of science, not limiting it to theories based on natural explanations.


In Tennessee, one County Commissioner wants to ban Gays from his county altogether. Link
QUOTE
The county that was the site of the Scopes "Monkey Trial" over the teaching of evolution is asking lawmakers to amend state law so the county can charge homosexuals with crimes against nature.

Commissioner J.C. Fugate, who introduced the measure, also asked the county attorney to find a way to enact an ordinance banning homosexuals from living in the county.

"We need to keep them out of here," Fugate said.


And finally, this story from North Carolina, where a Baptist minister has ex-communicated nine Democratic members of his church for failing to vote for Bush during the last election: Link
QUOTE
Some in Pastor Chan Chandler's flock wish he had a little less zeal for the GOP. Members of the small East Waynesville Baptist Church say Chandler led an effort to kick out congregants who didn't support President Bush. Nine members were voted out at a Monday church meeting in this mountain town, about 120 miles west of Charlotte. ~

During the presidential election last year, Chandler told the congregation that anyone who planned to vote for Democratic Sen. John Kerry should either leave the church or repent, said former member Lorene Sutton.


I believe that we are seeing a dangerous trend in this country by the more radical fundamentalist elements of our churches, religious leaders and politicians. An out and out attempt to overturn or just plain disregard the idea of Church-State separation in this country.

Yes I know that philosphically speaking, none of these stories actually deals with Congress establishing a religion. However, it seems that some are rather indifferent at best, and encouraging at worst, of individual counties or states, and in some cases even the federal government (faith-based programs) pushing the envelope as far as it can be pushed. Left alone, or cheered from the sidelines by fundamentalist politicians, can an American Theocracy be far behind?

Questions for Debate:

1. Is the upsurge of stories like this due to the belief by fundamentalists that they are "owed" something by the politicians they supported?

2. Is all of this leading up to a wholesale war by fundamentalists on the institutions of government and society, or are these merely isolated incidents?

3. What does this say for the idea of a separation of church and state in this country, when secular institutions and are coming under a more direct attack, both locally and at the federal level?
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Posts in this topic
NiteGuy   American Theocracy   May 7 2005, 10:50 AM
ralou   1. Is the upsurge of stories like this due to the ...   May 7 2005, 02:46 PM
Goldblum   1. I don't think it has anything to do with t...   May 7 2005, 04:01 PM
Erasmussimo   First off, I fear that your questions are of so ge...   May 7 2005, 04:05 PM
psyclist   I too believe the line separating church and s...   May 8 2005, 01:10 AM
turnea   1. Is the upsurge of stories like this due to the ...   May 7 2005, 04:08 PM
Hugo   This simply counters the attack of sacred instit...   May 7 2005, 04:28 PM
Erasmussimo   Hugo, could you list for me any examples of ...   May 7 2005, 04:54 PM
Hugo   Hugo, could you list for me any examples of ...   May 7 2005, 05:38 PM
Erasmussimo   Let us simply take one example; the public schoo...   May 7 2005, 06:01 PM
Hugo   Let us simply take one example; the public schoo...   May 7 2005, 06:12 PM
Erasmussimo   You seem to be arguing that government funding of...   May 7 2005, 06:22 PM
Hugo   You seem to be arguing that government funding of...   May 7 2005, 06:29 PM
Erasmussimo   OK, well I certainly won't argue with that. ...   May 7 2005, 06:51 PM
Hugo   OK, well I certainly won't argue with that. ...   May 7 2005, 07:29 PM
Erasmussimo   Can you give me an example -- other than public ...   May 7 2005, 07:52 PM
Hugo   Can you give me an example -- other than public ...   May 7 2005, 11:48 PM
Erasmussimo   Hugo, your comments teem with vague accusatory phr...   May 8 2005, 04:12 AM
ralou   Hugo, could you list for me any examples of ...   May 8 2005, 08:29 PM
Jaime   Hugo & Erasmussimo, perhaps one of you should ...   May 7 2005, 06:52 PM
Erasmussimo   Yes, I'm trying to get back to the topic, an...   May 7 2005, 07:02 PM
Victoria Silverwolf   1. Certainly, some members of the Religious Right...   May 8 2005, 05:12 AM
Hugo   If teacher's unions were the only impediment t...   May 8 2005, 03:47 PM
Erasmussimo   I disagree. I know plenty of liberals who are op...   May 8 2005, 04:38 PM
Hugo   One huge red herring on the pharmacist issue. Whic...   May 8 2005, 04:53 PM
Erasmussimo   I didn't say "monopoly", I said ...   May 8 2005, 05:41 PM
Lin731   Ummm Hugo, The last time I looked the drug stor...   May 8 2005, 09:10 PM
Aquilla   This is a debate topic I've been considering s...   May 8 2005, 09:55 PM
Erasmussimo   If this is the best example of government suppre...   May 8 2005, 10:41 PM
Aquilla   If this is the best example of government suppre...   May 8 2005, 11:05 PM
Erasmussimo   Nor did I. Note the "If". Oh, Rhett...   May 9 2005, 01:10 AM
hayleyanne   Well said Aquilla, I agree wholeheartedly. Two...   May 9 2005, 12:58 AM
Hugo   Once again, folks, it matters not if you believe r...   May 9 2005, 05:11 PM
Erasmussimo   So you agree that infringements on such exercises...   May 9 2005, 05:40 PM
Hugo   As you well know, we have a huge disagreement. W...   May 9 2005, 05:54 PM
Erasmussimo   Hugo, I agree with your observation that the deter...   May 9 2005, 06:22 PM
Hugo   It is hard to debate this in typical free market...   May 9 2005, 06:59 PM
Erasmussimo   Here we come to a fundamental assumption underly...   May 9 2005, 08:06 PM
carlitoswhey   Ah yes, "nooks and crannies" like the D...   May 9 2005, 09:15 PM
Erasmussimo   There's a mountain of insinuation here sittin...   May 9 2005, 09:37 PM
carlitoswhey   There's a mountain of insinuation here sittin...   May 9 2005, 09:53 PM
Erasmussimo   There's a mountain of insinuation here sittin...   May 9 2005, 10:14 PM
carlitoswhey   There's a mountain of insinuation here sittin...   May 10 2005, 02:50 AM
carlitoswhey   Not that you asked me, but since I'm having a...   May 9 2005, 05:55 PM
Jaime   Keep inflammatory comments out of AD. If you do ...   May 9 2005, 05:56 PM
AuthorMusician   1. Is the upsurge of stories like this due to the ...   May 9 2005, 06:39 PM
DaffyGrl   1. Is the upsurge of stories like this due to the ...   May 9 2005, 06:41 PM
Jaime   CLOSED. We've mod noted this thread enough. T...   May 10 2005, 03:24 AM


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