Quote:
Originally posted by Happy Monkey
If you run into those people, ignore them. But please try not to ignore people who don't share your faith, and therefore don't want to be bound by the aspects of morality that are justified only by your faith. Just as the US government doesn't require all food to be Kosher, it should not support the religious strictures against homosexuality (to mention one current event). People within a religion can subject themselves to that religion's rules, but the religion must not attempt to force it's rules on others.
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It should be noted again that I don't care who diddles whom, and don't think government services, housing etc. should be denied to citizens based on whom they diddle. [/disclaimer]
Religion is an integral part of each individual (in some cases, the lack of religion is that person's religion). You can't separate it from the rest of your life, like it's a hobby. Well for some people it is. Like TV preachers.
At any rate, when you have a nation of people with religious beliefs of one flavor or another, those beliefs are going to play a role in public policy. I side with the people who think that "separation of church and state" was intended to prevent the govt. from setting up a state religion. All of our laws either have roots in the judeo-christian ethic, or are mirrored by similar concepts from that ethic, whether or not they were implemented with a religious intent. The notion of an American government that is completely devoid of
any religious influence is a myth. In fact, a pure democracy would be impossible to attain. Religion are us, we is religion.