This is so crazy

[DigitalShadow]

Originally Posted by millionaire13

What do your tax dollars go to that you consider "religious brainwashing?" I would be okay with removing tax exempt status if I also didn't have to fund Planned Parenthood, ACLU, and other such organizations that taxpayers should not be funding. I would like to see us move to a fair tax system.

First of all, I was not being literal, a point which you and what seems like everyone but MoE have not picked up on despite my attempting to clear that up 3 times in this thread. Second, what would a "fair" tax system be? You contribute a miniscule fraction of the total tax money collected, yet you wish to make far reaching demands about how ALL taxes are spent, how do you consider that remotely fair?

Originally Posted by millionaire13

I think one thing that many are forgetting is that this great nation that has allowed us more freedoms and a higher standard of living than any nation in history was founded on Judeo-Christian values. While it is not perfect, it has worked better than any other system on the planet and has made the United States the envy of the world. Why would we want to turn our back on this?

The people who founded it were mostly Judeo-Christian, but that does not mean this country was founded exclusively on "Judeo-Christian values." This country was founded on freedom. Freedom of thought, freedom to criticize, freedom of religion and freedom from religion. The real question is why would you want to turn your back on this.

Originally Posted by millionaire13

"Separation of Church and State" is not part of the Constitution and does not mean there should be no mingling of government and churches. It really is impossible to completely separate the two as our values tend to be based on religion and our laws reflect these values. If we read our American history (which unfortunately most of us don't and it is not being taught in our public schools) we know that the framers opposed a national enforced religion ... like they had in England ... not the removal of all religion and acknowledgment of God from the public forum. Madison and Jefferson probably had the most secular or "liberal" view but also acknowledged that faith was a predicate to liberty. Jefferson wrote, "that human beings have certain unalienable rights endowed by God. Rights are not conferred on us by a monarch or the state". He also wrote, "can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God?"

So the framers thought that we should acknowledge God, but not be forced into a state religion or be punished for the way we worship.

As you pointed out, the framers knew all too well the tyranny that religion can bring when it is allowed to mingle with government and that people should be free to worship whatever God (if any) they please. No one I know (including me) wants to take God out of the public forum, but religion has no place in government and government has no place in religion.

Originally Posted by millionaire13

I do have some questions for you from an Atheist perspective. I mean no disrespect, but really want to know your opinion.

No disrespect taken. I would be happy to answer your questions to the best of my ability and hopefully clear up a few misconceptions you may have about atheists.

Originally Posted by millionaire13

I believe that my values are based on my faith and belief in God. If you don't believe in God, on what do you base your values?

My values are mostly based on my culture and my upbringing just as yours are. Religion happens to be a main part of your culture and upbringing, but not a part of mine, that is the only difference.

Originally Posted by millionaire13

What do you value?

I value life. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to experience it for whatever reason and I wouldn't want to take away that experience from anyone else. I also value my freedom and when people treat me with respect. Likewise, I would not want to take away anyone else's freedom and treat people with the respect and kindness I would like them to give me. I don't have any hopes that I will be rewarded for my good deeds after I die, or be judged for all the bad deeds. I am not kind to people out of fear of going to hell or promises of going to heaven, I find that it is often its own reward.

Originally Posted by millionaire13

In your life, what evidence have you seen to make you believe there is no God?

Interesting question, but to me the more important question is "In my life, what evidence have I seen to make me believe there is a God?" After all, you wouldn't incredulously ask someone "What evidence have you seen to make you believe there are no unicorns in this world?" Obviously no one can see every spot on the planet and be certain that unicorns are no where to be found, so it is usually far more useful to define your beliefs based on what you have evidence for, not simply believe in anything you can't find enough evidence against.

Going back to the question, I would answer by saying that I simply haven't found evidence for the existence of any God or Gods.

Originally Posted by millionaire13

Have you ever gone looking for God, just to see if you can find him?

Yes, quite honestly and seriously I have. I think anyone who is familiar with my early posts at this forum would tell you that I am honestly seeking the truth in the best way I know how.

Originally Posted by millionaire13

Do you think our country would be a better place if the majority did not believe in God? If so, how? Just curious.

That is a difficult question to answer and depending on the circumstances would have very different answers. I don't think the country would be a better place if the majority suddenly stopped believing in God, but I don't believe it would be a worse place either. I also don't think that belief in God was critical to the success of our country (let's just agree to disagree on this, we can argue all day but no one can know for sure so it's rather pointless).

I hope I answered your questions to your satisfaction, if not perhaps we should start another thread on atheism and morality? I'm sure Godless and Elphaba would be happy to jump in and offer opinions as well.

[Maya]

If I were and american would I have a constitutional right to have my kids in a reedligiopus sxchool?? Would I have to bad out a lot of $ for this right?