So nothing's really happening in Missouri.

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Missouri legislators in Jefferson City considered a bill that would name Christianity the state's official "majority" religion.



House Concurrent Resolution 13 has is pending in the state legislature.



Many Missouri residents had not heard about the bill until Thursday.



Karen Aroesty of the Anti-defamation league, along with other watch-groups, began a letter writing and email campaign to stop the resolution.



The resolution would recognize "a Christian god," and it would not protect minority religions, but "protect the majority's right to express their religious beliefs.



The resolution also recognizes that, "a greater power exists," and only Christianity receives what the resolution calls, "justified recognition."



State representative David Sater of Cassville in southwestern Missouri, sponsored the resolution, but he has refused to talk about it on camera or over the phone.



KMOV also contacted Gov. Matt Blunt's office to see where he stands on the resolution, but he has yet to respond.

Firstamendmentwhat?

What's the big deal? Is this really that different from a country declaring its official religion? And are we really surprised? What else would be the majority religion in a U.S. state?

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What's the big deal?

Government's are not allowed to establish a religion.

This isn't the establishment of a religion. The religion already exists.

They aren't supposed to favor one either.

There's nothing in the Constitution that prohibits the government favoring a religion. It simply prohibits governments from mandating a religion or creating one of its own accord. I don't feel that this piece of legislation is prohibiting anything; it's simply stating what we already know.

A government can "favor" a religion but the government isn't supposed to make it official. Technically the US gov't should be religiously neutral.

I really think this legislation is just making legal what is already fact. Christianity is the majority religion in Missouri. I'd find it hard to believe if they came out and said "Buddhism is the majority religion of Missouri." And, really, it isn't like their saying that Christianity is the official religion for their state. I'm a little iffy on its support of a "Christian god," though. That seems like it's teetering on the edge of breaking the First Amendment.

Originally Posted by Acro-nym

There's nothing in the Constitution that prohibits the government favoring a religion. It simply prohibits governments from mandating a religion or creating one of its own accord.

The statement is "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion". "Establishment" does not mean establishing. It refers to religions or religious organizations. The 14th Amendment then establishes that state governments cannot do what Congress cannot do.

Respecting Christianity over other religion is unconsitutional and will provide more of a slippery slope.

Hence why I said that the whole supporting a "Christian god" was a problem. If they'd jsut come out and said that it was the majority religion, we could have chalked it up to statistical fact.

I don't see any problem here. Wouldn't the world be a better place if we were all Christians?

Plus, it's Missouri. I bet there's more cows then christians there.

There's no reason to "officially" recognize Christianity as a majority religion. If there's a majority of Christians than Hindus, it's a matter of fact.

This is nothing but a bullshit "Christian Persecution" law implemented by paranoid reactionaries trying to make sure their kids can pray in schools and shit. There should be no reason to guarantee the rights of the majority because rights apply to all citizens regardless of their demographic. "Guaranteeing the expression of the majority" is favoritism, and an establishment of religion by the government. Undeniably unconstitutional.

Anybody who would argue otherwise has no concept of either English, or Law.

Originally Posted by Bradylama

There's no reason to "officially" recognize Christianity as a majority religion. If there's a majority of Christians than Hindus, it's a matter of fact..

Sure there is. To establish Christianity as the official state religion and percescute the hethans.

Originally Posted by Bradylama

This is nothing but a bullshit "Christian Persecution" law implemented by paranoid reactionaries trying to make sure their kids can pray in schools and shit.

Every theocracy needs it's baby steps. And look at how wonderful theocratic countries like Iran are doing!

Originally Posted by Bradylama

"Guaranteeing the expression of the majority" is favoritism, and an establishment of religion by the government. Undeniably unconstitutional.

Anybody who would argue otherwise has no concept of either English, or Law.

The constitution is a contract. Contracts can be re-negociated at any time. Which is why we have the NSA domestic spying on Americans, The Patriot Act, and a history of presidents intervening in countries through so called "police actions" without a declaration of war. I could probably list more examples but really why bother.

Those are either direct violations, or circumventions of Constitutional law. "Re-negotiating of a contract" would be proposing an ammendment that would give the NSA the powers to spy on us and yaddy yadda.

I would like to see all documentation regarding how their statistical evidence that Christianity is, in fact, the majority religion in Missouri was gathered. Unless they release this information to the public, how are we to know if Christianity is truly the majority religion, rather than simply being assumed to be the majority religion?

Originally Posted by Bradylama

Those are either direct violations, or circumventions of Constitutional law. "Re-negotiating of a contract" would be proposing an ammendment that would give the NSA the powers to spy on us and yaddy yadda.

Then the law is a very subjective thing then isn't it? If the people that are supposed to make the laws, break the laws. Then is there any law at all?

Originally Posted by russ

I would like to see all documentation regarding how their statistical evidence that Christianity is, in fact, the majority religion in Missouri was gathered. Unless they release this information to the public, how are we to know if Christianity is truly the majority religion, rather than simply being assumed to be the majority religion?

A demographic study would easily prove those statistics. As to where you could find one as reference online... probably wikipedia would have that.

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Then the law is a very subjective thing then isn't it? If the people that are supposed to make the laws, break the laws. Then is there any law at all?

Of course, it just means that certain people are above the law.

Originally Posted by Watts

I don't see any problem here. Wouldn't the world be a better place if we were all Christians?

Dunno. I'm pretty certain that it would be better if it contained fewer Christians, tho.

If the Constitution is a contract, how come I can't go sign it, and, if I'm not allowed to sign it, do I have follow it?

Originally Posted by Bradylama

Of course, it just means that certain people are above the law.

Smart man. Then if the powers that be want a theocracy, they'll have a theocracy. Despite whatever the constitution says.

Originally Posted by eks

Dunno. I'm pretty certain that it would be better if it contained fewer Christians, tho.

Don't say that if you're ever in Missouri. The cows will start a revolt like in the book Animal Farm. Or maybe that was pigs.... whatever.

Originally Posted by eks

If the Constitution is a contract, how come I can't go sign it, and, if I'm not allowed to sign it, do I have follow it?

You're bound by the contract as long as you're a citizen of the USA. You bought in to the program when you became one, likely when you were born.

But don't feel bad about being left out. In the good old days when the founding fathers were making it they left out a lot of people. Women, Native Americans, Blacks, Poor Whites, Poor Whites without any land, Asians, etc.

Originally Posted by Acro-nym

There's nothing in the Constitution that prohibits the government favoring a religion. It simply prohibits governments from mandating a religion or creating one of its own accord. I don't feel that this piece of legislation is prohibiting anything; it's simply stating what we already know.

You can say that's not what is said in the Constitution, but the Supreme Court's interpretation disagrees with you. And whatever the Supreme Court interprets to be in the Constitution is what it really says.