Would a resolution for Secular Humanism violate the Constitution? No need to answer - I've been reading Daniel Conkle's book, and not only am I enjoying it, I'm learning that this question cannot have a simple answer.
S Richard Dougherty wrote: > Well, maybe you will; see below. Congress does this sort of thing > regularly. (Haven't seen one for atheists yet, but I can't keep up.) > > Marty: Do you think the "whereas" you cited that was left out was > omitted because it was too over the top, or because the wording of it > might actually divide Christians? (I'm thinking of the specific > reference to the Bible especially.) > > Richard J. Dougherty > > Resolution on Buddhism (Vietnam): > http://usinfo.state.gov/dhr/Archive/2003/Dec/01-499319.html > > Resolution on Judaism: > http://www.350th.org/commission/Jewish%20350th%20Res%20passes%20Joint%2011-24.pdf > > Resolution on Islam: > http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&x=20071003165444mlenuhret0.9762384&m=October > > <http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&x=20071003165444mlenuhret0.9762384&m=October> > On Ramadan: > http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=14293 > > -----Original Message----- > From: "Jean Dudley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent 12/15/2007 11:12:13 PM > To: "Law & Religion issues for Law Academics" <religionlaw@lists.ucla.edu> > Subject: Re: alarming new law? > > It's not a law, it's a "non-binding resolution". Legally, it's > pabulum. Still, it's a waste of the House's time, IMO. What effects > it has on society at large is up for speculation. I see it as > indicative of a wider mindset that Christians are "persecuted" here > and the world over. Of course they are; As are Jews, Muslims, > Atheists, Buddhists, and every other cultural subset. Susan, you and > I will not live to see a resolution like this passed for any other > religion in the good ol' US of A. > > Jean > On Dec 15, 2007, at Sat, Dec 15, 8:49 PM, Susan Freiman wrote: > >> This just came to me from an atheists' list. Is it true? >> >> Susan >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` >> >> *PRESS RELEASE* >> *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* >> *The Council for Secular Humanism Chides Congress for Disrespecting >> Religions >> * >> (December 14, 2007) -- Experts from the Council for Secular Humanism >> noted with alarm the passage of H. Res. 847 in the House of >> Representatives. This unnecessary, unwarranted, and bigoted law, >> under the misleading title "Recognizing the Importance of Christm as >> and the Christian Faith" passed the House with overwhelming >> bipartisan support It effectively undermines the sort of religious >> tolerance necessary in these changing times. >> >> Just days ago in the midst of the Jewish Festival of Lights, four >> Jewish men in New York City were attacked on the subway for replying >> to a group of ten people who wished them a "Merry Christmas" with a >> similar greeting: "Happy Hanukkah. For this, these men were first >> insulted, then beaten. It was a Muslim man who came to their physical >> defense. The actions of the Congress, by passing the resolution and >> thus expressing preference to the Christian faith over all the others >> represented by the diverse population of these United States , >> encourages this sort of behavior. >> >> The First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty, and of the >> nonestablishment of religion, was devised to create a secular state >> in which all religions would be equally tolerated and none given >> preference. The language of the House resolution effectively >> undermines the design of the Founders, and creates an atmosphere >> where non-Christians will continue to be targeted, treated like >> second-class citizens, and even become victims of violence like those >> four Jewish subway riders in New York . >> >> Paul Kurtz , CSH chair, stated, "It is deplorable that in this day >> and age and in light of violence against religious minorities here in >> the United States that the Congress would stoke those flames with >> preferential language in support of a single religion." David >> Koepsell , CSH's executive director, noted, "Te First Amendment >> Guarantee was designed to prevent the sort of religious intolerance >> that resulted in violence in Europe, and our Congress should respect >> the intent of the Founders." >> >> We call on the Congress to reject this resolution, to stand up for >> religious freedom, secularism, and pluralism, and to foster a climate >> in which all believers and nonbelievers alike are treated equally. >> __._,_.___ >> _______________________________________________ >> To post, send message to Religionlaw@lists.ucla.edu >> <mailto:Religionlaw@lists.ucla.edu> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change options, or get password, see >> http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/religionlaw >> >> Please note that messages sent to this large list cannot be viewed as >> private. Anyone can subscribe to the list and read messages that are >> posted; people can read the Web archives; and list members can >> (rightly or wrongly) forward the messages to others. > > _______________________________________________ > To post, send message to Religionlaw@lists.ucla.edu > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change options, or get password, see > http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/religionlaw > Please note that messages sent to this large list cannot be viewed as > private. Anyone can subscribe to the list and read messages that are posted; > people can read the Web archives; and list members can (rightly or wrongly) > forward the messages to others. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > To post, send message to Religionlaw@lists.ucla.edu > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change options, or get password, see > http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/religionlaw > > Please note that messages sent to this large list cannot be viewed as > private. Anyone can subscribe to the list and read messages that are posted; > people can read the Web archives; and list members can (rightly or wrongly) > forward the messages to others. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.2/1184 - Release Date: 12/14/2007 > 11:29 AM > _______________________________________________ To post, send message to Religionlaw@lists.ucla.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change options, or get password, see http://lists.ucla.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/religionlaw Please note that messages sent to this large list cannot be viewed as private. Anyone can subscribe to the list and read messages that are posted; people can read the Web archives; and list members can (rightly or wrongly) forward the messages to others.
