|
I've read multiple posts about how this country is anti-Christian.
I really *don't* see all the anti-Christianity in this country. After living a significant amount of time with those of Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist faith, I've come to the opinion that Christianity has got it pretty easy out here. Nobody beats you to death because you're a Christian. [Please don't bring up past grievances as a counter, that's not what I'm referring to, and I think the Jews still have ya beat!!] You aren't detained as a suspected terrorist because you're a Christian.
What I do see is Christianity very comfortable with being the defacto standard, and not enjoying it when the standard is changing. Accept it or not, Christianity is still the defined norm in this country. Christmas is a federal holiday -- in most of this country you're assumed to be Christian unless you state otherwise. But this country is made up of more than one religion, and as the minority religions grow larger, more situations like this will occur.
Thus, people in this country are not bound to Christian ideals, as it was founded on the freedom to worship. Having the 10 commandments displayed in a courthouse gives conflicting signals -- what is the society trying to uphold? The secular law or the Christian ideal?
Personally, I'm glad they're out of there. I don't want to walk into a courtroom knowing that some judge believes that I should be upheld to Christian ideals -- I want to walk into a courtroom believing that I will be judged on the American laws. Freedom of religion means I should not have to hold myself to another religion's standards, and I feel that displaying the commandments in a place of judgment counters that notion.
For what it's worth, I don't think God should be on the cash, but it's not nearly as conflicting as the courtroom setting. There is no notion of loyalty, judgment or ideals associated with dropping a $5 for a beer. And while we're at it, I'd take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance -- it wasn't in the original pledge to begin with. I find that to be as problematic as the courtroom.
|