Separation and Texas
Posted by
Kevin
As many of my readers know, I considered myself a Republican as recently as 1997. Some have asked me why I changed my mind. There are a lot of reasons, of course, but one of the big ones was the GOP’s tendency to do stuff like this:
Religious Right activists often insist that America is a Christian nation. Although most Americans are indeed Christians, the TV preachers who talk about America as a “Christian Nation” mean something more — that America should be officially Christian. Debate over that issue has erupted in the Lone Star State, where the Republican Party of Texas recently reaffirmed a platform plank that calls America a “Christian nation.” The plank says, “Christian Nation — The Republican Party of Texas affirms that the United States of America is a Christian nation, and the public acknowledgment of God is undeniable in our history. Our nation was founded on fundamental Judeo-Christian principles based on the Holy Bible.” The platform also refers to “the myth of the separation of church and state.”
I’m an atheist, so I’m especially sensitive to efforts to use the state as a bully pulpit to push religion, which is exactly what the GOP is doing here. At a minimum, they’re saying “my God is better than your God,” and trying to officially codify that. And they refer to church/state separation, a long-standing doctrine, as “a myth.”
And then they wonder why they’re frequently accused of lacking tolerance.
Link via The Wall of Separation.
I hate it when they say the Founding Fathers meant this to be a ‘Christian’ nation. It shows a profound lack of historical insight. While many of them believed in a higher power, it was because of rational thought in manner of Descates or Aristotle and not irrational evangelical ‘faith’.
They remembered the reign of Cromwell the same way remember the Civil War. They were only a generation or two away from religous wars that ravaged Europe.
I believe they built a system of government to provide a check on religion not to endorse it.
Comment 6/15/2004
I was a registered Republican until about 3 years ago. You do the math.
I’ll never vote Republican again, unless and until the Republican party (not this religious bunch of fuckwits) bothers to show up.
Comment 6/15/2004
I’m not (quite) an atheist, and I’ve never been a republican, but I do live in Oklahoma, so I know very well about religion being shoved down your throat.
Makes me sick.
Comment 6/15/2004
I was NEVER a republican. However, I have been known to split my ticket in the past.Thank goodness we have realized an error in our ways and have joined the fold these seven years.
Texans are like hound dogs and are crying all the time about stupid wedge issues. Our country was formed as a bastion for religious freedom. Bring your own God.
Comment 6/16/2004
I sometimes wonder if it’s too late to give Texas back to Mexico. But I’ve got friends and family there, so maybe we could just give the Texas GOP to Mexico and call it square.
Comment 6/16/2004
The Republican Party in Texas has taken a bizzare turn in recent years. Chris Bell, a Democratic Congressman who lost his seat after recent Republican redistricting (sp?), has just filed a lawsut against Tom DeLay for inapprppriately using corporate bucks in this campaign to oust Democrats. I personally think DeLay is a crook and the Republican party would be better off without him.
This is the one problen I have with the Republican party: they have become completely beholden to corporate money and special interest groups. Democrats are guilty of this also (and they have their activist judges and lawfirms), but not nearly to the extent of Republicans.
This is not what conservative principles are all about, its just plain corruption. We desperately need campaign finance reform and limits placed on lobbying activities in this country are we all are in danger.
Comment 6/16/2004