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What is Ceremonial Deism? |
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Written by Kevin
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Tuesday, 25 December 2007 |
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According to Wikipedia:
Ceremonial deism is a legal term used in the United States for nominally religious statements and practices deemed to be merely ritual and non-religious through long customary usage. Proposed examples of ceremonial deism include the reference to God introduced into the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954, and the phrase "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency.
The term was coined in 1962 by the then-dean of Yale Law School, Eugene Rostow, and has been used since 1963 by the Supreme Court of the United States to assess exemptions from the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
According to us, Ceremonial Deism means you enjoy singing Carols at Christmas, you have an angel on top of your Christmas tree, it doesn't bother you that it says In God We Trust on your money and you think the whole religion thing is harmless fun.
Ceremonial Deism connects us to two thousand years of tradition and is a great excuse for a party.
What's not to like? |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 28 December 2007 )
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Written by Kevin
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Friday, 28 December 2007 |
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An Illinois atheist, Robert Sherman, doesn't like a new law, The Student Prayer Act that requires a period of prayer at the start of every school day. In each public school classroom the teacher in charge shall observe a period of silence ... shall be an opportunity for silent prayer or for silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day. Sherman is suing the legislature and Governor of Illinois (as well as his daughter's school, principal and teacher saying What we object to is Christians passing a law that requires the public school teacher to stop teaching during instructional time, paid for by the taxpayers, so that Christians can pray. Ceremonial Deists say: What are we paying our taxes for if not to provide an opportunity for children to pray in schools? We can't think of a better place for prayer than a public school. Rather than start frivolous lawsuits challenging silly laws, Illinois atheists would do better to just go with the flow. Send your imaginary prayers to an imaginary God or, for maximum subversion, spend your 15 seconds imagining your classmates - and your teacher - in the nude. Be sure to let your teacher know the subject of your silent contemplation! |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 28 December 2007 )
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What do you mean 'Blessed by the Supreme Court'? |
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Written by Kevin
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Wednesday, 26 December 2007 |
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The first amendment says
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.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 December 2007 )
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