Hampton Roads, VA - 11/08/2009
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Poll Question

Posted to: News

Should the next administration continue President Bush's faith-based initiatives?

View results | More polls from PilotOnline.com

Disclaimer: This is an unscientific sampling of site visitors.

Bush

We have heard and have had enough of George W. Bush and his policies!!!

ILikeSnacks

Please name for me the state sponsored religion of America or point out to me where the Founding Fathers wanted one.

When you read the writings of the founding fathers, you find that they didn't want to have the problems that Europe went through by having a state sponsored religion. They did not want America going through the religious wars that tore Europe apart or all the discriminations and church sponsored attacks on people either. That was what they were trying to avoid with how they wrote the 1st Amendment. By that also, they were against government involvement in the church. Again, when you read the writings of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams or any of the other framers of the Constitution, you see what they were after and what they were trying to achieve with the document that we base our laws and our government on.

Freedom FROM Religion

The Constitution seems to guarantee Freedom OF Religion but also protects us by giving us Freedom FROM Religion, thus we can not support relgious charities.

Got it backwards

We don't have any sort of a state sponsored church and our founding fathers didn't want the country to have one

That's not what that says. It says an official Church (an organization not a religion) or the exclusion of anyone based on religion. Like all of the first amendment, it is meant to prevent attacks on free speech. Since it specifically says the government cannot make exclusions based on religion, anything that prevents religious groups participating in government is Unconstitutional. That would include blocking funding for programs because the participants subscribe to a religion.

Say NO to a church ran state

The 1st Amendment: 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'

We don't have any sort of a state sponsored church and our founding fathers didn't want the country to have one. Having a church officially approved by the government would make America no different from the Islamic states, and it is easy to see the mess they are in. By giving money to the churches for programs, the government walks a fine line. For this reason, I do not think the government should be giving ANY religious organization any money for anything.

Huh?

Separation of church and state is not for non-christians but for the :"common good of the people" as stated in our constitution.

Please quote that part of the Constitution. I've read it it great detail and don't remember that.

One nation under God a

One nation under God a division of church and state? The Church should reach out on their own from their own. Too much money going to churches with little oversight. God helps those who help themselves.

Good Point

Well said. For those who want the Feds out of their lives, where better to start?
Separation of church and state is not for non-christians but for the :"common good of the people"
as stated in our constitution.

Obama has already said

Obama has already said he plans to not just continue but expand the faith based initiatives.

Seperation of church and state

Jesus didn't use the government to bring people to salvation. Neither should we Christians! "Give unto Caesars what is Caesars, and to God what is Gods." We Christians don't need, nor should want, the government involved in our faith.

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