Donald Trump wants churches to speak freely about politics without concern about losing their tax-free status. Will he apply this to all religious institutions, or only those he favors, like churches, but not mosques?
He is right that churches should have freedom of speech, but he is wrong that their freedom of speech should be subsidized by the taxpayers.
See “How Trump Would Corrupt the Pulpit”, Steven Waldman, New York Times, 2017-02-02.
Interestingly, he was speaking at an “unconstitutional” gathering: the National Prayer Breakfast. Isn’t this a religious test for public office? Doesn’t this kind of make those who don’t attend look irreligious?
See also http://magree.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-united-states-is-not-christian.html.
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Thursday, February 02, 2017
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
How do you spell terrorist? C-O-W-A-R-D
A terrorist is a coward who is willing to kill defenseless people because of some grudge he has.
In Nairobi, Kenya, a coward is a member of Al Shabab walking into a shopping mall and killing unarmed men, women and children because he has a grievance with the government of those unarmed people. Ironically Al Shabab claimed that women were not part of the attackers because they shelter their women.
All over the Middle East, a coward is a member of some sub-group of a religious sect that doesn't like even the existence of a competing sect, be it Shia, Sunni, or Christian. This coward believes it is OK to drive a car bomb into a mosque or church killing dozens if not hundreds of unarmed men, women, and children.
A coward is member of a faction or a government who is willing to shell or gas an area where some opposing fighters may be. It doesn't matter if men, women, and children who are not opposing fighters are killed or injured.
A coward is a member of a government who is willing to send drones to bomb suspected terrorists regardless of how many women and children might be in the strike zone.
A coward is a member of government who is willing to send shells or missiles into a populated area to dissuade another government to not do something or other. Men, women, and children will be killed who have little or no say in what that government does.
A coward is a member of a government who is willing to send nuclear missiles to destroy a city of another government because the first government has some dispute with the second government. Again, men, women, and children will be killed who have little or no say in what the second government does.
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
In Nairobi, Kenya, a coward is a member of Al Shabab walking into a shopping mall and killing unarmed men, women and children because he has a grievance with the government of those unarmed people. Ironically Al Shabab claimed that women were not part of the attackers because they shelter their women.
All over the Middle East, a coward is a member of some sub-group of a religious sect that doesn't like even the existence of a competing sect, be it Shia, Sunni, or Christian. This coward believes it is OK to drive a car bomb into a mosque or church killing dozens if not hundreds of unarmed men, women, and children.
A coward is member of a faction or a government who is willing to shell or gas an area where some opposing fighters may be. It doesn't matter if men, women, and children who are not opposing fighters are killed or injured.
A coward is a member of a government who is willing to send drones to bomb suspected terrorists regardless of how many women and children might be in the strike zone.
A coward is a member of government who is willing to send shells or missiles into a populated area to dissuade another government to not do something or other. Men, women, and children will be killed who have little or no say in what that government does.
A coward is a member of a government who is willing to send nuclear missiles to destroy a city of another government because the first government has some dispute with the second government. Again, men, women, and children will be killed who have little or no say in what the second government does.
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?
Sunday, March 03, 2013
An expected by-product of rigid thinking
When I wrote "Quote of the day - Separation of church and state" I thought about how many groups with rigid thinking believe those who believe differently also have rigid thinking. All the foo-foos, who have very strict ideas about being a real foo-foo, believe that all the oof-oofs have rigid thinking, even though the oof-oofs have a wide range of beliefs.
Some of the Lake Superior Freethinkers are what I call evangelical atheists and are ready to knock any church dogma with sweeping generalizations. Many church dogmatists are ready to knock Freethinkers and atheists with sweeping generalizations. The truth is that many church members and many Freethinkers have a more generous view of those with different views.
Some of the Lake Superior Freethinkers are what I call evangelical atheists and are ready to knock any church dogma with sweeping generalizations. Many church dogmatists are ready to knock Freethinkers and atheists with sweeping generalizations. The truth is that many church members and many Freethinkers have a more generous view of those with different views.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
How I nearly spoiled our Christmas
We sang in the early Christmas Eve service last night and had the soup and bread dinner between the services. The dinner almost didn't happen because nobody had been appointed to take charge of it. My wife did a lot of calling around and found many volunteers to bring food, serve it, and clean up afterward. She told me that she would help set up and then let others clean up.
Well, it didn't work out that way. After I ate and chatted with a few people, I put on my coat. The second service started and my wife was still in the kitchen. We also wound up bringing home the tablecloths to wash.
I was irritated; I still had presents to wrap and a few other things I wanted to do at home.
When we arrived home I made a few trips between the garage and house with things we wouldn't have had if we had left right after we ate. The last thing I brought in was the big bundle of tablecloths. My wife said I should just drop them down the laundry chute, but I said I would rather just take them downstairs.
This shouldn't be a problem. I frequently take heavy boxes of firewood to the basement. A box of tablecloths should be easy. This despite that my vision is blocked with either the firewood or the tablecloths.
I got to the last step and caught the heel of my boot. Forward I pitched. I think I dropped the tablecloths. My right knee slammed into the concrete floor and I rolled onto my back. Oh, great!
My knee was sore, but otherwise seemed OK. My pants weren't ripped, but there was a sheen that wasn't there before.
I picked myself up, put the tablecloths by the washing machine, and went back upstairs on my own power. But I was even more irritated for having to stay later at church than I had planned.
Well, I did get the presents wrapped, and I did get some of the other tasks done that I had planned. I also slept rather well, even if sugar plums weren't dancing in my head.
When I woke up this morning, my knee was not the color of a plum and I could walk OK. Whew! I won't be in the hospital with a broken knee cap or anything else. Bring on the presents! Raise our voices on high in song! Serve the punch! Merry Christmas!
Well, it didn't work out that way. After I ate and chatted with a few people, I put on my coat. The second service started and my wife was still in the kitchen. We also wound up bringing home the tablecloths to wash.
I was irritated; I still had presents to wrap and a few other things I wanted to do at home.
When we arrived home I made a few trips between the garage and house with things we wouldn't have had if we had left right after we ate. The last thing I brought in was the big bundle of tablecloths. My wife said I should just drop them down the laundry chute, but I said I would rather just take them downstairs.
This shouldn't be a problem. I frequently take heavy boxes of firewood to the basement. A box of tablecloths should be easy. This despite that my vision is blocked with either the firewood or the tablecloths.
I got to the last step and caught the heel of my boot. Forward I pitched. I think I dropped the tablecloths. My right knee slammed into the concrete floor and I rolled onto my back. Oh, great!
My knee was sore, but otherwise seemed OK. My pants weren't ripped, but there was a sheen that wasn't there before.
I picked myself up, put the tablecloths by the washing machine, and went back upstairs on my own power. But I was even more irritated for having to stay later at church than I had planned.
Well, I did get the presents wrapped, and I did get some of the other tasks done that I had planned. I also slept rather well, even if sugar plums weren't dancing in my head.
When I woke up this morning, my knee was not the color of a plum and I could walk OK. Whew! I won't be in the hospital with a broken knee cap or anything else. Bring on the presents! Raise our voices on high in song! Serve the punch! Merry Christmas!
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