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[NiteGuy]

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

"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

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

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?