Vanni Fucci said:
So what then of people that do not believe in God, or believe in some other deity? Are they to be excluded from our legal system? Is not the separation of church and state a worthy goal?
As I'm sure you see, I was simply providing an alternative point of view, as I'm convinced your statement wasn't accurate.
Those who don't believe or believe in different gods are afforded the same rights.
Is the separation of church and state a worthy goal? Personally I think it depends.
In Canada we would say it was wrong for the government to dictate what religion we belong to. In reality we seem to believe in the first amendment of the US Constitution when it comes to religion.
“Bill of Rights
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
We would expect our government to not create laws establishing religion. But I think it is wrong for the government to decide to fund schools and then later tell the schools they can't teach religion to children, because the state pays for the schools, and church and state must remain separate.
I suppose this is one of the reasons I consider myself a conservative. I think that the public school system has gone too far with removing religion classes from school. What really should have happened is the government should have gotten out of direct funding to the schools. If half of an imagination was used, we could find a better way.
Congratulations on becoming a moderator!