One small clarification; the good professor mentions Roger Williams' followers, whipped and jailed in Virginia. It's ironic to remember that Roger Williams himself defended a woman against her husband for "soul freedom", founded the first Baptist Church in America in Providence, RI--and later left it because they had become too dogmatic. He'd be spinning in his grave if he hadn't been consumed by the apple tree root, now on display in the basement of the John Brown house in Providence.
The good professor brings up some very good points. One I'd like to add is a reminder of the infamous words of Jerry Falwell on Sept 13, 2001: "I really believe that the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who try to secularize America...I point the thing in their face and say you helped this happen." As a self-identified Pagan, lesbian, feminist, who supports the ACLU and is pro-choice, I take umbrage at his words. Finally, one question: Just *which* 'almighty God' do they depend on to keep them safe? Me, I'd nominate Celtic war and death goddess The Morrigan. The war-dead are her offerings, and her worship is war. We've got a head start with her, at least. Just say'in. Jean Dudley. On Dec 3, 2008, at Wed, Dec 3, 5:43 AM, Paul Finkelman wrote: > The really interesting aspect of this is the way in undermines > religion for those who take it seriously. Does this mean that IF > there is a terrorist attack in KY that God no longer cares about > Kentucky? GW Bush was arguably the most religious president to > ever sit in the office; lof of good it did us on Sept. 11. > > This reminds me of when I first moved to Oklahoma, in the summer of > 1999; there was a serious drought in the state. The Governor did > not ask the people to conserve water or stop washing their cars or > watering their lawns every day. Instead, he asked everyone to > reserve the following Sunday to "pray for rain" at their church. I > suppose that exempted Jews, Seventh Adventists, Moslems, and some > others from worrying about the problem > > Alas, it also gave of fabulous proof of the efficacy of prayer. > They all prayed on Sunday and guess what -- > It did not rain for weeks or maybe even months. > > So much for the power of prayer when the government tried to > commandeer religion for its own political ends. The Baptists -- of > all faiths -- those who started with Roger WIlliams and were > whipped and jailed in post-Revolutionary Virginia -- should have > the good sense NOT to corrupt their faith by allowing politicians > to score points. > > ---- > Paul Finkelman > President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law > Albany Law School > 80 New Scotland Avenue > Albany, NY 12208 > > 518-445-3386 (p) > 518-445-3363 (f) > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > www.paulfinkelman.com > > --- On Wed, 12/3/08, Joel Sogol <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Joel Sogol <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Atheists want God out of security - Security- msnbc.com > To: "Religionlaw" <religionlaw@lists.ucla.edu> > Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2008, 7:01 AM > > http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28029857/ > _______________________________________________ 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. _______________________________________________ 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.
