atheists going too far?

[loosechickens]

off subject completely, but it's too bad that more people don't realize that "kudzu, the plant that ate the South" is good to eat....... In Japan, it's quite commonly eaten, and I remember from back in the 70s, "The Book of Kudzu" with lots of good recipes....

maybe it's just Jesus, tired of grilled cheese sandwiches, trying to call attention to some good food.......

http://cambree.wordpress.com/2008/12...zus-good-side/

http://www.azcentral.com/style/hfe/f...kudzu0320.html

http://www.kudzufest.net/kudzurecipes.html

[Alan]

Well, since "in God we trust" was added to our money at the height of the Soviet scare and simply added as pedagoguery to differentiate us from the godless communists... yes, I think it'd be worth reverting to their original (traditional!) pre-1950's version.

It's been on coins such as the silver and gold dollars since the mid 1800's. I don't think anyone was much worried about godless communists around at that time.

For the religious symbols in federal buildings, I'd need more concrete
examples... along with a chance to understand if they were religious symbols or
symbols that had been usurped by a religion.

The picture below is taken from the east entrance to the Supreme Court. It depicts Moses (as the central figure), Confucius, Solon and additional allegorical characters.

[Zigzagman]

off subject completely, but it's too bad that more people don't realize that "kudzu, the plant that ate the South" is good to eat....... In Japan, it's quite commonly eaten, and I remember from back in the 70s, "The Book of Kudzu" with lots of good recipes....

maybe it's just Jesus, tired of grilled cheese sandwiches, trying to call attention to some good food.......

http://cambree.wordpress.com/2008/12...zus-good-side/

http://www.azcentral.com/style/hfe/f...kudzu0320.html

http://www.kudzufest.net/kudzurecipes.html

No way am I advocating "eating Kudzu Jesus"

This whole question of "going too far" questioning religion in the public domain has for the most part been plainly political. I admittedly do have people in just casual conversation bring up things like "if we had prayer in the school" or maybe "we need to pray for rain" but for the most part it is usually someone or some organization that is promoting their outrage at the audacity of the "Christians" because you gotta admit they are not shy about "pushing" their agenda.

I've got the munchies so I wish I had this "Jesus Cheeto".....



Peace

[catherine]

You're making me hungry for a nun bun!!

[peggy]

Forgive me but, if Jesus appears on my grilled cheese, I'm eating him anyway.

I think kudzu is also used for some really attractive baskets. And it makes great fodder for livestock.

[kfander]

Fox news? Consider the source.

That's always a good idea. I know I consider the source when I come across something by CNN, MSNBC or the New York Times.

[benhyr]

It's been on coins such as the silver and gold dollars since the mid 1800's. I don't think anyone was much worried about godless communists around at that time.

In the 1860's to be exact, at the height of the third great awakening. So, it looks like we like to do silly things with our money at the height of fervor in the country. Of course, that does explain quite a bit on both sides of the pendulum!

Of course, like one would imagine, the case of the phrase on money has gone before the supreme court and their ruling was that it didn't matter as it's so rote now as to have lost all meaning.

[Spartana]

Is it necessary to respect other's belief's, and does the government have a duty to ensure that everyone does, or to censure religious expression in order to prevent it from happening?

OOPS! Once again my brain is slower than my reading speed :-)! I reread your post and realized I thought you were asking if "Government should respect other's beliefs" to which I answered "yes" since it is representative of many people and shouldn't hold it's own private opinion when in that role of representative. But what you were asking was "should government ensure that others respect it" and to that I answer a BIG "no". IMHO the government shoukl have nothing to do with religious beliefs other than making sure that each person (in their role as a private citizen) have the freedom to practice and express those beliefs. They should not force people to like or accept another's reglious beliefs but they should allow all people the freedom to express their beliefs - and their dislike of other's beliefs - in a peaceful way. That is why I don't think govmint should be involved in any religious activities such as prayer, putting religious symbols up on public (i.e. government) buildings, etc..

Also wanted to add that I apparently haven't been able to express my meaning very well here. I was sort of shocked when Iris Lily seemed to think in another post that I was avocating some sort of Orwellian "1984"ish police state when I was saying just the opposite - that government shouldn't be involved in religion at any level except to protect a person or groups right to practice and express their beliefs. I think the problem was that I used the word "public" to mean governmental and "private" to mean non-governmental. Where as my posts came across as "public" mean out in the open and "private" meant sequestered away in some secretive locked room. That is NOT what I meant at all. As far as I'm concerned if a person wants to stand on a street corner and shout their religious beliefs to everyone around them that's great. If the Hari Krishnas want to dance in front of the Taco Bell then that's how it should be. If Bill Gates wants to erect an 80 foot statue of a cross, a Star of David, Buddha, or Steve Jobs with a halo on his head in front of Microsoft, as a "private" person he has that right. But if a "public" (i.e. governmental) building were to do the same I'd have a problem with that since that building isn't owned by a private person or group. It is owned by ALL the people in the community and governed by a representative board. So, as a public (governmental) building, and with my somewhat broad interpertation of the First Ammendent, I feel that government shouldn't be involved in any way, shape or form with such things.

[iris lily]

Forgive me but, if Jesus appears on my grilled cheese, I'm eating him anyway.

I think kudzu is also used for some really attractive baskets. And it makes great fodder for livestock.

ok, that made me laugh!

[Spartana]

Government buildings, federal, state & local, all over the country have religious symbols as part of the architecture, our money boasts religious sentiments and our House of Representatives has a Chaplin (http://chaplain.house.gov/) and the Senate does as well (http://www.senate.gov/reference/office/chaplain.htm). Should all this be abolished, and if so, for what purpose?

What the other's said. I think that if they can revamp the entire tax laws and all the forms and booklets every few years, they can find the time to simply remove the stamp in the US Mint that reads "In God We Trust" from the stamping machine. As far as religious emblems on govmint buildings and Seals,,, well... alot of those have some historic or symbolic representaion rather than religious (i.e. the courts use of the Roman Godess "Lady Justice" holding the Scales of Justice) so I guess it would have to debated. I know in Calif we had a very heated debate about the cross on our state emblem. Many argued that it was a religious symbol of Christianity, other's argued that it was a historic symbol depicting the Missionary Heritage of Calif. I don't remember what the outcome was but I don't see the cross on the Seal any longer. I also think that Chaplains aren't needed if there is another source for spiritual guidance nearby. However, out in the field in the military, I think that having a neutral religious advisor (i.e. not adhereing to any particular belief but educated enough to give comfort and advice to people of varying faiths) is needed. I think it's especially important for burial rites for those who die in the field and who's bodies can't be brought back. I know that my religious belief was one of the first things they put on my dog tags when I joined the service - right under my blood type - so having someone qualified to perform those rituals of ALL religions is very important.