Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 1:
Line 1: − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Undo revision 1174032 by Sensational (talk)
Congress shall make no law, so let's establish Dominionism, and subject everyone to Christian law. :-\
The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' to the [[United States Constitution]] states:
{{cquote|'''[[Congress]] shall make no law respecting an establishment of [[religion]], or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the [[freedom of speech]], or of the [[press]]; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the [[government]] for a redress of grievances.'''}}
This is generally taken as a limitation on the power of the federal government with respect to:
#[[freedom of religion]]
#[[free speech]]
#[[freedom of the press]]
#[[freedom of assembly]]
#[[activism|political activism]]
The protection for [[free speech]] was largely motivated to safeguard the preaching of the [[Bible]]. Several passages in the Bible, both [[Old Testament]] and [[New|New Testament]], support a right of free speech, including Numbers 11:26-30 (Moses allowed free speech by declaring, "If only all the people of the LORD were prophets!");<ref>[[NAB]] version quoted above.</ref> Mark 9:38-41 (admonition by [[Jesus]] not to stop strangers who cast out evil in his name).
== Conservative Interpretation ==
{{cquote|'''To those who cite the First Amendment as reason for excluding God from more and more of our institutions and everyday life, may I just say: ''The First Amendment of the Constitution was not written to protect the people of this country from religious values; it was written to protect religious values from government tyranny.'' --- [[Ronald Reagan]]'''}}
Liberals often focus on the "[[Establishment clause]]", arguing that because the federal government cannot endorse or establish a religion, the state must remain neutral, or even hostile towards religion. However, liberals often overlook the clause explicitly allowing for the free exercise of religion, also known as the [[Free Exercise Clause]]. Conservatives argue that this clause can be interpreted to allow much more leeway to the majority of religious Americans than liberals currently allow, and that it provides legislators with great flexibility in supporting the ends of Christian faith, as long as all other religious denominations are equally supported. The fact that [[Congress]] may pass no law establishing or respecting a particular Christian denomination provides the federal government with the freedom to support a variety of Judaeo-Christian ventures, notably the faith-based initiatives enacted under [[President Bush]].
== Liberal Violations ==
American [[liberals]] have attempted to use the so-called [[Fairness Doctrine]] and political correctness in order to silence conservative viewpoints and to promote divisive views. These ideologically-motivated attempts to limit free speech are in direct violation of the First Amendment, specifically, and, by extension, the entire U.S. [[Constitution]].
{{US amendments}}
[[Category : United States Constitution]]
[[Category : Religion and Politics]]
[[Category : First Amendment]]
[[Category : Bill of Rights]]
(username removed)