Thou Shalt (or Shalt Not) Display the Ten Commandments

[Theophylact]

A slide show.

[Epidemic]

Does this mean that art galleries and museums are no longer allowed to display religious icons. They are after all publically funded and for all people?

Mind you I vote to have the thing removed from the church.

But the simple fact remains that If this is not allowed I do believe that the bible that people swear on should be removed as well as the ending of the swearing in process.

[J-Excel]

Originally posted by Epidemic
I do believe that the bible that people swear on should be removed as well.

Good idea. Swearing on the bible serves no purpose. If you follow what the bible says presumably you wouldn't lie, therefore no reason to swear on the bible. If you don't follow the bible then swearing on the bible has no meaning.

[osprey4]

In fact, the Bible says not to swear...

James 5:12
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

I've heard that Nuns are not required to swear on the Bible in court.

Hmm, if I remember correctly, one of the reasons settlers came to America was religous freedom, not to be religion free.

[Good Companion]

There's more to this story. Justice Roy Moore is a very conservative "religious right" type. He's publicly said that he will not remove his display regardless of what the federal courts say.

[J-Excel]

He's a fundamentalist/zealot/fanatic, and one of the reasons we have separation of church and state in this country. Having this nut-bag carry the flag for the right to display religious artifacts on government property is kind of like having Kavorkian carry the flag for the right of euthanasia.

[Brangwen]

Excellent topic for discussion.

I must return to a few well written treatises to accurately express the role of religion in our government. I do not believe the "Founding Fathers" intended a religiously sterile landscape when the "separation of Church and State" doctrine was established. Clearly, from the prayer that opens a session of Congress to the swearing of witnesses ("so help you G-d" to speak the truth) there are many indicia that religion was not to be banned from governmental functions and institutions.

This is a great topic, and one I will not attempt to address without the aforementioned preparation. I suppose I can at this moment only thank Theophylact for posting it. I'll be back.

Brangwen