Excitement Builds for Historic Church-State Separation SimulcastThe sets are built, the celebrities and champions have arrived, and everyone is excited about bringing you the best show possible! On March 26, in movie theaters in 37 cities nationwide, interested citizens will gather to learn about the threats to church-state separation and to demand that candidates for elected office answer questions about key issues dealing with individual freedom. Peter Coyote, celebrated Hollywood actor and filmmaker, will emcee the program, which will include such special guests as The Bacon Brothers (featuring actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael), actors Michael J. Fox; Jack Klugman; Wendie Malick; Dan Lauria; and Catherine Dent, comedian and Air America host Marc Maron; singer/songwriter Catie Curtis and satirist Roy Zimmerman. The event will also feature Americans who have fought for individual freedoms against great odds. And find out the 10 QUESTIONS you need to ask every candidate running for public office!DON?T MISS your chance to find out ?Everything you Always Wanted to Know About Church and State ? but were afraid to ask!?The March 26 simulcast is being produced by Progressive Media Agency, a Portland, OR, based firm led by Adam Klugman and Enrique Arias. WHAT: ?Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the Separation of Church and State ? but Were Afraid to Ask!,? historic, 37 city, nationwide movie theater simulcast event featuring celebrities and community leaders to focus need for Church-State separation in 2008 elections. WHO: Celebrity participants include: Hollywood actor and filmmaker Peter Coyote as emcee; The Bacon Brothers (band featuring actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael), Michael J. Fox (?Family Ties? and ?Spin City?), Jack Klugman (?The Odd Couple? and ?Quincy, M.E.?), James Whitmore (?The Shawshank Redemption?), Wendie Malick (?Just Shoot Me!?), Dan Lauria (?The Wonder Years?), Catherine Dent (?The Shield?), stand-up comedian and Air America host Marc Maron, singer/songwriter Catie Curtis and singer/satirist Roy Zimmerman. WHEN: Wednesday evening, March 26, 20086:00 PM Eastern Time5:00 PM Central Time7:00 PM Mountain Time6:00 PM Pacific Time WHERE: 37-Cities Nationwide (see www.firstfreedomfirst.org for full theater list) For more information about First Freedom First and the simulcast event: www.firstfreedomfirst.org
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I signed up for the Raleigh showing a couple weeks ago, can’t wait.
Sean Penn was booked?
I don’t understand why atheists insist on bashing religion.
Sneaker, it’s because christians SUCK!
Thanks Rna2dna. No more to add to this thread.
Seeker,
I believe in the OT, it is referred to as ‘an eye for an eye’.
And I don’t understand why religionists insist on bashing atheism. Yet I see it here every day. Go figure…
By the way, I’m curious: how is it that trying to learn about the ways in which religious organizations are trying to break the laws regarding the separation of church and state is considered to be bashing religion by you, seeker? What exactly is so wrong about pointing out the illegalities that churches engage in when they try and breach that wall? Why is it that even asking candidates about their faith and/or their public political activities to advance that faith through the power of government is offensive and threatening to religious people (who might very well be engaging in such activity in violation of the law of the land)?
well if by bashing you mean asking questions and not taking anything on (Faith) as christians or any religon would like us to and making sure they do not pay for there religon with my tax money then yes bashing is my thing
is Michael J. Fox atheists?
There are some who admit that nothing supernatural exists, but are not bothered by those who want to believe (or pretend to believe) in the supernatural. Others seem obsessed with attacking religion. It’s the difference between atheism and anti-theism.
Also, I wonder why we use Jefferson’s term “separation of church and state” but never “separation of temple, synagogue, mosque, etc. and state.”
Etymologically the word “church” is uniquely Christian and is generally associated with Christianity.
It seems the phrase, “Separation of religion and state” would be more inclusive.
Also, I wonder why we use Jefferson’s term “separation of church and state”
Oh, I dunno. Former British colony? Anglican church? Hmmm. Wonder if there’s a connection?
Comment from: ☺ Seeker ☺
There are some who admit that nothing supernatural exists, but are not bothered by those who want to believe (or pretend to believe) in the supernatural. Others seem obsessed with attacking religion. It’s the difference between atheism and anti-theism.
Agreed. But why do you put this activity in that category? all I see is a discussion of what can be done by atheists to stop the illegal activities of religious organizations in a country that supposedly separates religious politics from church politics. Is there something here that I’m missing? Some sort of statement of active hostility to religion of any kind? Otherwise I am of the opinion that your concern is somewhat misplaced.
Also, I wonder why we use Jefferson’s term “separation of church and state” but never “separation of temple, synagogue, mosque, etc. and state.”
Because the main type of religious organizations in america at the time of the statement were churches?
Because the constitution mentions the spearation of church and state, not the separation of religion / mosque / temple / synagogue ?
Because humans generally stick to traditional sayings even when they are no longer completely appropriate?
Etymologically the word “church” is uniquely Christian and is generally associated with Christianity.
It seems the phrase, “Separation of religion and state” would be more inclusive.
Agreed.
Plus: it is nice to see someone defending religion without having to resort to screeching aphorisms, putting words in others’ mouths, and actually engaging in thoughtful and respectful dialogue with those they don’t agree with. thanks for the civility…
Seeker,
It’s a figure of speech.
Also,
You said it yourself, it’s anti-theists who bash religion, not atheists. There’s nothing about atheism that necessarily leads to anti-theism.
Personally I wouldn’t call myself and anti-theist, I’m only against organized religion.
Tom,
I didn’t intend to defend religion; just had some serious inquiries that (obviously) can’t come from the other side.
Also, I understand that “church and state” was a useful phrase 200 years ago and that Christianity remains the dominant religion of choice. However, the word “church” implies that Christianity is the target which, in turn, smacks of bigotry.
“Separation of religion and state” would be a more efficient term.
Alatham,
Agreed.
Another serious query:
Christmas is a patently Christian holiday. Why was the principle of church-and-state not evoked to prohibit its institution as a national holiday in 1870?
The same question applies to Thanksgiving, established by George Washington on Oct. 3, 1789 and made an annual federal holiday by Roosevelt in 1941.
BTW – The constitutional mention of church and state is non-existent. Rather, it states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
alatham: theists are generally the ones who run organized religion and if one is an atheist who refuses to accept theism, then that means that one is anti-theist or opposed to the concepts accepted by theists.
Folks, please recognize we are in a war with the religionists. Not one of my declaration or of any other atheist, but an official declared war by the theists themselves. They have officially declared war against all who support a secular way of life that includes a secular government.
Their agenda is to end all public secular education in America.
Rewrite America’s entire history to show themselves as the ones who have always controlled this society (H Res 888).
Eliminate scientific thought and processes including geology, physics, astronomy, chemistry, etc and replace with mythology (creation museum in KY)
Enough said?
Another serious query:
Christmas is a patently Christian holiday.
I would disagree with this statement. Christmas was a pagan holiday whose rituals were shamelessly co-opted by christians in order to make their brand more acceptable to the populace of the time.
Why was the principle of church-and-state not evoked to prohibit its institution as a national holiday in 1870?
Function of the times. How long do you think any atheists would have lasted if they had said anything about this?
But, once again, good question. I would be asking the same question, if you had not already done so.
The same question applies to Thanksgiving, established by George Washington on Oct. 3, 1789 and made an annual federal holiday by Roosevelt in 1941.
I didn’t think there were religious connotations involved with Thanksgiving. Of course, there’s some sort of religious festival every day of every year (funny how that works. Another topic for another day…), so the religiously insane superstitionists can tie just about anything to religion if they really try. But I thought the original celebration was to say thanks to our fellow citizens for making it through the harvest. Of course the gawd squad twisted the interpretations of this celebration to include their occult nonsense. But then they always do…
Back in the 1930s and 40s, Protestant groups that now oppose the separation of Church and State supported the concept and used as a club to FDR and later Truman’s decision to maintain diplomatic relations with the Vatican during the Second World War and afterward. They also used S of C&S to attack aid to Catholic schools.
Protestants vs Catholics
Christians vs Muslims
Atheists vs Religionists
Sorry. I’m not at war with anyone.
Jesus-Ernesto,
So what will you do? Maybe allow the christians to burn you while tied to a stake? The christians have an agenda and it includes removing anyone opposed to their delusion.
the fact that our forefathers implemented the law poorly in a fairly benign circumstance does not imply that the law is somehow moot, or that it should not be invoked for more serious offenses.
if, for instance, a department store lets off a one-time, ten-year-old candy theif, does that mean that they have forefeited the right to press charges against a chronic, 17-year-old electronics pocketer?
now personally, I think that all national holidays should be secular celebrations of the nations history, like independance day or thanksgiving.
also, I beleive that all “marriage certificates” should be renames “civil union certificates”, that way the STATE can remain neutral and fundie christian churches can deny homosexuals marriages untill their ears turn blue.
Actually marriage is already a civil institution which is why it is possible to be married at city hall without a religiuous ceremony and why religious figures say during a wedding “By the power vested in me by the state of {insert state} I now prounounce you married. A catholic priest does not say “By the power vested in me by the Vatican” or a $cientologist says “By the power vested in me by tom cruise or xenu”. We need to just extend marriage to any two non related people who wish to be married regardless of their gender.
zomg! You’re the first person who’s ever noticed that! What a killer argument! You win! There is a God, and the Christian Church is the Official Religion of the United States!
There is no mention of xianity in the constitution. It is therefore unconstitutional.
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