Like they'd actually have taken the prayer out...

[conuly]

This late in the game, that'd be admitting that God does not sanction this election.

Unless he does. Or doesn't exist. Or whatever. But any god who'd sanction Bush as president is not the god for me.

Comments

[ironychan.livejournal.com]

He's not forcing anybody to participate. Freedom of religion means that people can't force their relgion on others - it doesn't mean that just because you're a public figure, you're forbidden from expressing it. If Newdow was going to be forced to join in the prayers if he went, then he'd have a legitimate complaint. But nobody's doing that.

If you want to gripe about state-sponsored religion, how about the words 'in God we trust' on the dollar? Only complaining about that is kinda stupid, too. Canadian currency all says "Elizabeth II - Dei Gratia Regina" and it's never bothered me.

[ironychan.livejournal.com]

Aaaaand I think I'm going to stop right here before we end up on otf_wank. Thanks for an interesting argument.

And... er... that wasn't supposed to sound sarcastic.

[conuly]

That's not likely to happen, is it?

[conuly]

Freedom of religion means that people can't force their relgion on others - it doesn't mean that just because you're a public figure, you're forbidden from expressing it.

Nobody's stopping him from praying in his church, his home, his free time. However, freedom of religion means that "Congress shall make no law establishing a religion or prohibiting the free practice thereof". Something like that. Congress in this case has often been interpreted to mean "government in general". That's why you can't have an official prayer in public schools (though you can pray in groups or alone if you wish, so long as it's student-led). That's why we shouldn't have clergy at his inaugaration. It's not about his freedom of religion, it's about keeping the church out of the state.

[ironychan.livejournal.com]

Sorry, did I miss the bit where it said they were making a law requiring this at all inaugurations?

[conuly]

Did you miss the bit where it shouldn't happen at any inaugurations? It's not "his party". That's the party he's having afterwards.