True Religion, Real Religion. (America, church, atheist, faith, God)

[Bright-ness' Shadow]

Once the state says religion is to be preferred over nonreligion, [it has] to define what religion means. You then have to define what is true religion and what is real religion - Alan Dershowitz, Shouting Fire: Civil Liberties in a Turbulent Age

August 27, 1987, Robert I. Sherman and then Vice President, George Bush

Sherman: What will you do to win the votes of the Americans who are Atheists?

Bush: I guess I'm pretty weak in the Atheist community. Faith in god is important to me.

Sherman: Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are Atheists?

Bush: No, I don't know that Atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.

Sherman (somewhat taken aback): Do you support as a sound constitutional principle the separation of state and church?

Bush: Yes, I support the separation of church and state. I'm just not very high on Atheists.

Is there anyone who can insist that their religion qualifies, in law, as better that Atheism?

[Seyorni]

And this is remarkable why?

We all know where Bush's head's at.

[Darkdale]

I think my religion has a better worldview than most atheist philosophies... and I can insist upon it... but I certainly ain't looking to force anyone to agree with me; I'm not looking for anyone to join my religion that isn't the type to do so.

[Sunstone]

Well, we all think our own views are right for us. It takes something more, however, to recognize that someone else's views might be right for them.

[Mike182]

Originally Posted by Pah

Is there anyone who can insist that their religion qualifies, in law, as better that Atheism?

i can safely say that my religious status is right for me, and i would not be happy any other way - but i would not be able to say ANY religious status is better

i did not know george bush was like this! i knew he was an ignorant little tit, but not to this extent surely

the definition of a patriot has nothing to do with religious status UNLESS the state wants to unify everyone under one religion

C_P

[Mr Spinkles]

Part of me wonders if Bush Sr. really understood the significance of what he was saying....but then I suppose that's just wishful thinking.

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by Pah

Once the state says religion is to be preferred over nonreligion, [it has] to define what religion means. You then have to define what is true religion and what is real religion

Perhaps this is off topic, but I what this statement reminded me of is when the state of Texas tried to get Unitarian Universalism declared a non-religion. So it is true, when the state prefers religion to nonreligion, it then proceeds to define what is a religion and what is not. (Texas lost, btw.)

[AtheistAJ]

I have long knew that comment by zealot Bush Sr; but following the long time US national law "innocent until proven guilty", US as a secular nation should officially be an atheist country until some god is proven existent. I would dismiss any religion as unlikely, due to lack of factual evidence, with disproving factual evidence and testimonial contradiction until then.

[Mr Spinkles]

Originally Posted by AtheistAJ

but following the long time US national law "innocent until proven guilty", US as a secular nation should officially be an atheist country until some god is proven existent.

I could not possibly disagree more. Our government should not have any official stance on these matters.