[BXHammer]

The U.S. House passed an amendment to a bill today that would give states the right to choose whether to post the Ten Commandments in their schools. Just recently (and I can't remember the city) a group of Christian parents were outraged when a teacher had her students construct Hindu prayer talismans. How can Christians be so selective when it comes to separation of church and state?

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[David25914]

And does anyone believe that posting the Ten Commandments in school will stop even one act of violence?

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[Al]

The separation of Church and State doctrine was included in the U.S. Constitution to prevent the English monarchy from imposing state-ordered religious observances on the common people. The intent was to allow freedom of choice - not to cause the absence of religion. The Congress and Senate open daily with prayer. The President and Cabinet, etc., are sworn into office on the Bible. The underlying operative fact is that the United States was formed in the Christian context of freedom to worship God without influence of authority. Perhaps all of the so-called civil rights upholders who have championed the banning of Christianity from various public places, schools, etc. would do well to ponder this in their hearts. Maybe the civil rights of Christian believers have been grossly denied.

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[Reed30123]

Christianity is merely one faith of thousands that have existed over time. To permit organized Judeo-Christian prayer or the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools (to cite a couple of examples) would be an affront to those who believe differently than you do. The only way to ensure civil rights vis-a-vis religion is to have the state neutral on such matters.

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[M-Kemper22534]

Most Christians cannot and will not see why it is not right to post the Ten Commandments in a public school. They don't see any problem with forcing their religious beliefs on everyone else. (The case about the Hindu talismen shows very clearly their reaction when someone else's beliefs are shown to their children). The First Amendment's clause on 'seperation of church and state' was designed to prohibit the national government from instituting a state religion. The Supreme Court in past rulings have stated that the Ten Commandments are inherently religious in nature. Unless the Supreme Court reverses its previous rulings, this new law should be struck down. And, for the record, I don't think that posting the Ten Commandments in school will stop anyone from a repeat of Columbine. If a child has enough problems that he/she would even consider doing this kind of act, there are problems much deeper than what could be solved by seeing the Ten Commandments posted on the wall.

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[Andrew]

If the framers of the Constitution had wanted this to be a Christian country, they could - and would - have done so. However, they deliberately preserved our right to practice any religion, not merely our right to practice any brand of Christianity. You make a good point that the separation of church and state was in response to the British state-sanctioned religion. How is posting Christian symbols in government buildings different from the British practice the framers of the Constitutition found objectionable?

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[Cal21457]

I really don't believe that posting the Ten Commandments violates the establishment clause of the constitution. What disturbs me is that certain commandments, if they were the law of the land, would seem to violate the constitution. For instance, taking the name of God in vain. Cursing is not a form of protected speach, but questioning the nature or existence of God is. How about honor thy father and mother? Certainly good advice, but the constitution says we can ignore them and say whatever we want about them as long as it is not lible or slander. Then there is the one about keeping the Lord's day holy. I know some states and cities have blue laws, but the Federal government can't make us all participate in that silliness. So, since some of the Ten Commandments are unconstitutional, (unAmerican?) should we really be advocating them in public school. Seems almost like treason.

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