...   
      
   BK>>The values of the American people are best expressed by the   
   BK>>main body of the constitution's banning of religious tests for   
   BK>>office, and the first amendment's requirement that the govt not   
   BK>>promote religion.   
      
    LL> Not promote a *specific* religion.  Big difference.   
      
    Not promote religion at all. That is why it does not prohibit   
    support of "the establishment of religion", but "an   
    establishment of religion". IOW, if it's religious the govt   
    can't promote it.   
      
    ...   
      
    LL> "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of   
    LL> religion, or prohibiting the free expression thereof."   
    LL> What does that mean?  In one sense, Congress shall not   
    LL> establish a state church, or state religion.  In another   
      
    Wrong. Congress shall not even promote anything established by   
    religion. That's the difference between "the establishment" and   
    "an establishment".   
      
    LL> sense, the amendment prohibits the Congress from making any   
    LL> law which would interfere with the beliefs held by anyone,   
    LL> regardless of what those beliefs might be.   
      
    True. Up to the point where those beliefs affect others, that   
    is.   
      
    LL> In regards to the presidency (and members of Congress,   
    LL> etc.), Article VI stipulates that "no Religious Test shall   
    LL> ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public   
    LL> Trust under the United States."   
      
    LL> Why did the Framers of the Constitution include that   
    LL> clause?  Because Christians loved to fight amongst   
    LL> themselves.  And the only way to get them to agree on   
    LL> anything was to let everybody play.   
      
    Let everybody play means even unbelievers. The framers knew that   
    any church control will, sooner or later, corrupt the   
    government. And govt support of religion will, sooner or later,   
    corrupt the religion.   
      
    LL> It can be argued that any belief (including atheism) is a   
    LL> religion. In fact, that is often the argument used by many   
    LL> theologians.  However, not all governments (such as the   
    LL> government of Indonesia) view atheism as a religion.  I'll   
    LL> give you an example -   
      
    True, but irrelevant to this discussion.   
      
    ...   
      
    LL> etc., same thing.  However, atheism was not noted as being   
    LL> a religion, so their religion reverted to the default   
    LL> religion - Islam.  Which explains why there are so many   
    LL> Muslims in Indonesia.   
      
    Since Obama's mother was an atheist, that explains why it's so   
    noted on his school records.   
      
   BOB KLAHN bob.klahn@sev.org   http://home.toltbbs.com/bobklahn   
      
   ... Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets, anyway?!   
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