First Freedom First - Democracy Not Theocracy

[foamulator]

Iview -  Thanks, I have been saying this for years, and I say that as a practicing atheist.

[chukbrett]

religious freedom is crap ! all religions are oppressive !

[dkraemer3]

@kanmoreti We are a Representative Republic.

We vote for people to represent our interests at different levels.

Democracy is majority rule. That is not how our nation was founded. We are a republic, where the Constitution rules. We are a republic where the rule of law is based on individual rights and liberty, not mob rule. The majority can vote for whatever they want, but if it violates the constitution, it is void.

Simply the act of voting does not make us a democracy.

[dkraemer3]

@kanmoreti We are not a democracy. we were never established as a democracy. We are a republic, There is a difference.

Our Consitution guarantees us a REPUBLICAN form of government, nowhere does it establish a democracy.

Our founders knew the inherent dangers of democracy.

[dkraemer3]

Please tell me where the term "seperation if church and state" appear in the Constitution.

After that, please tell me where the term "democracy" appears in it.

Your video is based on two major misconceptions and myths.

[bigrebnc1861]

iviewthetube I understand your concern, but the First amendm,ent was not created to keep religion out of the government. It was to keep the government out of religion. It was to keep others from telling people how to worship God. Many modern day atheist would have a hard time living back when the Constitution was being created.

[iviewthetube]

How do you keep government out of religion if you don't keep religion out of the government?

[bigrebnc1861]

But how do you change something that has existed for over 230 years the congressional Chaplian. The first amendment was not created to keep religon out of the Government, it was to keep the Government out of the pulpit.

[Noahthebeast09]

I believe that the first amendment was created to keep religion out of government and government out of religion, don't teach geometry/calculus in church, don't teach god/gods in school.

[bigrebnc1861]

@Noahthebeast09 You would be wrong. There is records of bible purchases made by the Government to be issued to the public school system late 1700's early 1800's

[Noahthebeast09]

Well we shouldn't force prayer on anyone or force anyone to abandon their choice of prayer school needs to be a neutral enviornment as free as possible of political/religious/anti-relig­ious retiric.

No established Christian prayer or any other religion; should be forced on non-religious, or students of different faiths.

My community is highly faithful we have 4 churches right by our school, but our schools shouldn't disregard the minorities by declaring that they worship if they don't want too

[bigrebnc1861]

@Noahthebeast09 no one is saying that people should be forced to pray. But it is ridiculus to say that the Founders of this country did not want Religion in the Government. Everything they did points to the fact they wanted Religion in the Government.

[Noahthebeast09]

Well the founders weren't one whole group of people, our founders had mixed opinions on religion interacting with government some wanted their religion mixed into the system, others felt oppressed by England and the king and didn't want to establish a theocratic government.

Also I never said anything about the founders, and we can't truly know for sure what they wanted beyond any doubt since they walked the earth over 230 years ago.

Also only 40% of our founders believed in the revolution.

[bigrebnc1861]

@Noahthebeast09 All I have to say is this Congressional Chaplian. They all voted to have one, it happen to be one of the first things they voted on. Which was a person of the Christian faith.

[Noahthebeast09]

Well I'm not a scholar on this issue, and I'm only 19 but we can be in disagreement on this issue, that's what makes America great.

I am a moderate, I rely on the liberals in congress to push to get rid of excessive religion being forced on people, and I rely on conservatives to get rid of excessive government being forced on people, I always try to look at things optimistically because politics get very tiring.

[bigrebnc1861]

@Noahthebeast09 Who is forcing anyone into religion? There is nothing that you can disagree with. Fact The founding fathers first order of busniess was to appoint a Chaplian from the Christian Faith. They all vote to have a Chaplian, END OF DEBATE.

[iviewthetube]

@bigrebnc1861

Actually it is some of the modern day Christians such as Mike Huckabee who are the ones who would have had a hard time living back when the Constitution was being written; these are the guys who want to change the Constitution.

Conversely, I tend to think that the US Constitution is probably the greatest document ever written on this planet.

[candortube]

@bigrebnc1861 "Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity." "Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law." "In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own." -Thomas Jefferson - and he was far from the only one.

[caosdaninja]

@bigrebnc1861 dude you know tom paine? he wasent christain. look up tom paine.

[bigrebnc1861]

Benjamin Franklin: God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel

[iviewthetube]

You might be right about Benjamin Franklin.

"Benjamin Franklin suggested prayer at the Constitutional Convention, but in his own notes recorded that the convention, except for three or four persons, thought prayers unnecessary. His suggestion to pray was met politely but with some embarrassment, scholars note, and delegates quickly adjourned."

I would also like to point out that many with religious convictions appreciate and understand the need to separate church from state.

[bigrebnc1861]

Benjamin Franklin God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel Constitutional Convention of 1787

[bigrebnc1861]

throughout his Presidency (1809-1816), Madison endorsed public and official religious expressions by issuing several proclamations for national days of prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving.

[bigrebnc1861]

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, James Madison proposed the plan to divide the central government into three branches. He discovered this model of government from the Perfect Governor, as he read Isaiah 33:22;

For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver,

the LORD is our king;

He will save us.

[iviewthetube]

Re Lord is our king.

Heresay. This is inconsistant to things Madison has written.

In 1785, Madison wrote in his Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments:

"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution."

[bigrebnc1861]

~iviewthetube~ "Heresay. This is inconsistant to things Madison has written."

So you have a problem with the truth? , Madison was a member of the committee that authored the 1776 Virginia Bill of Rights and approved of its clause declaring that:

It is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other.

[bigrebnc1861]

"I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus."

Thomas Jefferson In 1812, President Madison signed a federal bill which economically aided the Bible Society of Philadelphia in its goal of the mass distribution of the Bible.

[iviewthetube]

Re Madison signed a bill in its goal of mass distribution of the Bible.

This falicy is explained in the book Liars for Jesus: The Religious Right's Alternate Version of American History.

The Bible's printing tariffs were waived because they were ordered three years prior & taxed according to the pre-war tariff schedule.

Nice try.

[bigrebnc1861]

~iviewthetube~ "This falicy is explained in the book Liars for Jesus: The Religious Right's Alternate Version of American History."

Writing's that supposedly was found in 1946. This is also around the time of the great wall of seperation of church and state started. You expect me to believe a book titled "LIARS FOR JESUS" It really doesn't matter what you come up with, the fact remains they voted on a congressional Chaplian they felt the need for one, and we have one. deal with it.

[iviewthetube]

~bigrebnc1861~ re: the great wall of separation of church and state started around 1946.

That is incorrect. The concept of separation of church and state is credited to John Locke (b1632-d1704). He influenced of Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and other Founding Fathers of the United States. The phrase separation of church and state is traced back to Thomas Jefferson.

[iviewthetube]

The separation of church and state concept has been supported by many great leaders since then including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, John Adams, Andrew Jackson, John Tyler, James Polk, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford Hayes, James Garfield, Theodore Roosevelt, Warren Harding and Eleanor Roosevelt along with many contemporary leaders. Many of them were religious and/or believed in God but they understood the importance of keeping religion and government separate.

[bigrebnc1861]

~iviewthetube~"The separation of church and state concept has been supported by many great leaders since then including Benjamin Franklin" Really? Benjamin Franklin let's see what his thoughts were on the subject. 1749 Benjamin Franklin insisted that schools teach "the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern."

[iviewthetube]

~bigrebnc1861~ Re: We have a congressional Chaplain, deal with it.

Having a congressional chaplain was never a big issue for me in the first place. You are the one who continuously urged a response. But what I found was interesting. I did not realize that President James Madison ("Father of the Constitution" and principal author of the First Amendment) was upset about this.

[iviewthetube]

However, I have seen a recent effort to get chaplains of all different religions. Oddly the senators with different religions will heckle them-- I guess some politicians don't understand the principles of the 1st Amendment.

[iviewthetube]

In one sense I think that you are right. Since 9/11 there is a renewed awareness of the harm that religion can sometimes cause.

Also, with lots of scientific discoveries people are becoming less superstitious and are moving away from literal religious interpretations.

Although I will agree, religion does occasionally remind us of human kindness.

[bigrebnc1861]

Now I will avow, that I then believed, and now believe, that those general Principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the Existence and Attributes of God; and that those Principles of Liberty, are as unalterable as human Nature and our terrestrial, mundane System.

Thomas Jefferson

Source: John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, June 28th, 1813, from Quincy. The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail

[bigrebnc1861]

I could therefore safely say, consistently with all my then and present Information, that I believed they would never make Discoveries in contradiction to these general Principles. In favour of these general Principles in Phylosophy, Religion and Government, I could fill Sheets of quotations from Frederick of Prussia, from Hume, Gibbon, Bolingbroke, Reausseau and Voltaire, as well as Neuton and Locke: not to mention thousands of Divines and Philosophers of inferiour Fame.

[iviewthetube]

Jefferson was profoundly interested in the figure of Christ as a human being and as an ethical teacher; But Jefferson had real trouble with the Divinity of Christ; so I do not think that he qualifies as a Christian by most Christians standards (unless when they are looking for bragging rights)

[iviewthetube]

Have you heard of Jefferson's Bible where he cut out all of the parts he thought were BS?

Angels, genealogy, prophecy. miracles, references to the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, and Jesus' resurrection are all absent from the Jefferson Bible.

[bigrebnc1861]

~iviewthetube~ When someone claims this "I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus." Are you to be there judge and deny their faith? Who are you to judge?

[iviewthetube]

@bigrebnc1861 It kind of makes one wonder why conservative Texan textbook dealers want Thomas Jefferson out of history books.

History will definately not look favorably on their move.

[bigrebnc1861]

@iviewthetube source please.

[candortube]

@iviewthetube to the fundamentalists: "And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerve in the brain of Jupiter. But may we hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away with this artificial scaffolding, and restore to us the primitive and genuine doctrines of this most venerated reformer of human errors. -Thomas Jefferson

[candortube]

@bigrebnc1861 I question whether that is Jefferson or Adams. Jefferson was no fan of Christianity. "I concur with you strictly in your opinion of the comparative merits of atheism and demonism, and really see nothing but the latter in the being worshipped by many who think themselves Christians." "Priests dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight and scowl on the fatal harbinger announcing the subversions of the duperies on which they live.-Thomas Jefferson

[bigrebnc1861]

John Jay I recommend a general and public return of praise and thanksgiving to Him from whose goodness these blessings descend. The most effectual means of securing the continuance of our civil and religious liberties, is always to remember with reverence and gratitude thesource from which they flow Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.

[iviewthetube]

~bigrebnc1861~ Re John Jay's comment "our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine and James Madison were more deist than they were Christian. With John Jay's sort of religious arrogance it is no wonder he was not invited to the Constitutional Convention. (Although I do commend his opposition to slavery)

[bigrebnc1861]

~iviewthetube~Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine and James Madison were more deist than they were Christian.

Thats just plain old Horseshit another atheistic talking point.

[iviewthetube]

Accidently deleted:

bigrebnc1861:

"Wrong answer, the founders had a strong belief in God, they wanted God to guide this nation, it wasn't until recently that the 1st amendment has been interpeted the way you would like to see it interpeted. It never was intended to be this way. All the first Amendment is for is to keep one certain religion from being forced on people. It never was intented to keep God out of the nation. Your answer is a copout. "

[bigrebnc1861]

"iviewthetube"Accidently deleted MY ASS This was what you wrote to me. "Complain about Jefferson, Madison and Paine quotes all you want. If it were not for these folks yours and my ass would not be here today" When did I complain abut the founding fathers? If you going to make a case lying is not a good suggestion.

[iviewthetube]

If it were intentional then why did I take the time to repost it?

Scroll down further, my quote is still there also.

If you don't agree with the founding father quotes then you say they are frauds. That is what I am objecting to.

[bigrebnc1861]

~iviewthetube~ I will ask you one more time: When did I complain about that the founding fathers said? I have many quotes as to how the founding fathers felt about God and Christianity., do you really want to have a quote war? You have yet to givea good answer as to why the faounding fathers felt they needed a congressional Chaplian, that is if they wanted seperation of church and state.

[iviewthetube]

~bigrebnc1861~ Re:"When did I complain about that the founding fathers said?"

I degress.

[bigrebnc1861]

~iviewthetube~ ok I'll start this quote war

U.S. Supreme Court - Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States (1892)

Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of

the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian.

[iviewthetube]

1892!!!

Were the founding fathers still alive then?

The first treaty is cited as historical evidence in the modern day controversy over whether there was religious intent by the founders of the United States government. Article 11 of the first treaty (Tripoli) has been interpreted as the official denial of a Christian basis for the U.S. government.

[iviewthetube]

According to Madison, Congressional appointment of a Chaplain was in contempt to the intentions of U.S. Constitution.

The establishment of the chaplainship in Congress is a palpable violation of equal rights as well as of Constitutional principles.  The danger of silent accumulations and encroachments by ecclesiastical bodies has not sufficiently engaged attention in the U.S.

- James Madison, being outvoted in the bill to establish the office of Congressional Chaplain

[bigrebnc1861]

Care to show your source without it comeing from an Atheist site.

"A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves lest, while we are building ideal monuments of renown and bliss here, we neglect to have our names enrolled in the Annals of Heaven.

To the same Divine Author of every good and perfect gift we are indebted for all those privileges and advantages, religious as well as civil, which are so richly enjoyed in this favored land." James Madison November 9, 1772 The Papers of James Madison

[iviewthetube]

Madison's essay can be obtained by requesting a photocopy of it from the Library of Congress or by ordering the microfilm edition of the James Madison Papers, reel 26, series 2, volume 8, folio pages 2215-2220, through the inter library loan system of an academic or public library. The essay is also found in the William and Mary Quarterly , 3:555; and, in the book America's Real Religion] .

[iviewthetube]

@bigrebnc1861 RE: It wasn't until recently that the 1st amendment has been interpreted this way

I beg to differ:

"Strongly guarded as is the separation between Religion and Government in the Constitution of the United States, the danger of encroachment by Ecclesiastical Bodies, may be illustrated by precedents already furnished in their short history."

- James Madison

[bigrebnc1861]

There is not such thing as seperation of Church and state. No where is it written in the Constitution.

Remember we have had a Congressional Chaplian ever since we have been a nation.

[iviewthetube]

The separation of church and state is a legal and political principle derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

In a letter concurring with Danbury Baptists Thomas Jefferson writes "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."

[bigrebnc1861]

Have you forgotten that we hace a congressional chaplian? A Chaplian has been invivled since we have been a country. That's not being very seperate from the Government is it? It's like they both are one.

But if you insist that it is written in the constitution please show the word useage where it says seperation of church and state. I have heard of this letter I do believe it to be a fraud.

[iviewthetube]

@bigrebnc1861 RE: "I do believe it (Jeffersons letter to Danbury Baptist) to be (is) a fraud."

I doubt that any serious historian would agree with you.

I recently read an interesting article about this letter. The original draft was given to the FBI to extract the more difficult to read edits. The FBI Laboratory shows that Jefferson first wrote "a wall of eternal separation."

Very legible copies of the draft are available; just Google Danbury letter FBI.

[bigrebnc1861]

I shall repeat it one more time

Least we forget about the congressional appointed Chaplian. A position or appointment that is almost as old as America. No matter how many letters you come up with arguing your case. You cannot refute the point that the founders appointed a man of God to serve as a Chaplian for the government.

[iviewthetube]

@bigrebnc1861

Why did congress appoint a chaplain despite the First Amendment to the US Constitution prohibits Congress from making laws "respecting an establishment of religion"?

Good question. Hypocrisy?

Probably for the same reason it said in the Declaration of Independence that all men were created equal yet it took 90 years until they finally enforced it and ended slavery.

[iviewthetube]

In Monopolies, Perpetuities, Corporations, Ecclesiastical Endowments, James Madison wrote:

"Is the appointment of Chaplains to the two Houses of Congress consistent with the Constitution, and with the pure principle of religious freedom? In strictness the answer on both points must be in the negative."

[iviewthetube]

Complain about Jefferson, Madison and Paine quotes all you want. If it were not for these folks yours and my ass would not be here today

[iviewthetube]

I agree with you.  The First Amendment is to keep one certain religion from being forced on people. So how can one chaplain possibly represent all religions? This is probably why James Madison was upset about the appointment of a chaplain. The First Amendment was intended to keep the majority religion from walking all over the minority religions.

[bigrebnc1861]

again I will ask you to show your source and not something that you will find in an atheist site.

[emetz44]

You have no idea how bad democracy is and how it makes our way to hell so easy. I'm a christian and i'm telling you: this world is became a new Babylon, very big and powerful Babylon.

[iviewthetube]

@emetz44

This Era sure beats the boring Dark Ages.

Why do some Christians fear knowledge so much?

Knowledge is great. I just don't want technology to outpace social maturation; that is dangerous.

[emetz44]

@iviewthetube Knowledge isn't the problem. Humans are the problem. We think we know and we can do everything. We deify ourselves. May be you know what does christianity teach us about pride.

[candortube]

@iviewthetube Jefferson on the ignorance of christians for their fear of knowedge and worship of ignorance. "May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man...." - Thomas Jefferson

[candortube]

@candortube (the rest of the quote above: The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God." - Thomas Jefferson. The brilliant man who penned our greatest national document understood that faith had become delusional and corrupt and that religion moved far from the true meaning of God.

[iviewthetube]

@candortube

Thomas Jefferson put this country on the right track.

[candortube]

@iviewthetube i believe so... and he was not alone, he was what we'd call a moderate, a rational man who wrote the words that formed the bridge of agreement and unity that that raised consciousness enough to put a great idea into an actualized cultural change... and we can only hope there are enough rational minds left to keep it from being derailed :)

[BorgUnimatrix]

Nice video. gonna put it in my favourites

[koffiekpatcha]

Praise be to allahu snackbar

[fergus247]

Democracy is not in line with freedom. Democracy is 2 wolves and a sheep about to decide whats for dinner. Im sure you have heard that quote before.

[NotTooObvious]

wow, you look way older than 52. are you lying about your age?

[iviewthetube]

Ha, ha. The handsome dude in the video is not me. I have volunteered the honors of sponsoring this video produced by First Freedom First.

In my vids I am usually the one with the camera doing the taping so you won't see many pictures of me.

However, I did turn the camera onto myself very briefly in my video Flight Along Mt. Everest. (About 4 seconds in)

Did I look 50?

Doug, who is also in the vid is a friend of our family and took a jaunt with me to Nepal while visiting in India.

[saladcommander]

Great video.

[moshe88]

Democracy is NOT freedom. You don't get your religious freedom from our "Democracy" because we don't HAVE a Democracy. We have a Constitutional Republic. THAT'S where you get your religious freedom from. If we were to BECOME a Democracy, if 51% of people wanted to outlaw all religion, or all religions except their own, guess what? That's exactly what they'll do. In a Constitutional Republic like ours, 99.99% of people could want to do that and they wouldn't be allowed to.

[Eopyk]

No republic just means that the head of state is not a monarch.. there Republics that are dictatorships and have been it..

Democracy means that one way or another the people decide to some extent in the goverments. USA is a constitutional democracy in law and that has some restrictions for rights and that is how ever often vioalted very often this days in USA.

[99minerkc]

Oh, so you know about how incest was okay in the bible then! Yes, that's how our world populated (genesis 4:17) and God gave his Blessing and said "multiply" So, Cain porked his sister and they had Enoch who continued the incest way of populating! : )

[manhattanwombat]

man I wish I had a sister

[99minerkc]

O.o lol o.O

[ziggy471961]

WHy do christians think they and only they have a lock on morality? So because I choose a different belief that christianity I have no morals? Baaahhh!

[iviewthetube]

Perhaps its actually because you are a Steelers fan that they think you have no morals? :-)

[ziggy471961]

hahahah...good one

[FearsEdge]

Makes just as much sense.

[manhattanwombat]

america is a christian nation socialist scum u go bitch about ur rights in north korea. ron paul 2012

[HazelEhren]

None of your founding fathers were Christian. Deal with it!

[turbotorana]

Quite a good point was made in that video, as humans in order for us to survive and stand the test of time, We need to realize that we only live once, and so we should respect the small amount of time we have and treat others as our mothers would treat us.

[melmnre86]

I definitely agree with this and as some of you might remember it might not only be a theocracy knocking but as the saying goes when fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross.

[xaviqaz]

USA is a Constitutional Republic, not a Democracy. The word "democracy" appears nowhere in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

[iviewthetube]

You are correct, the United States is a Republic.

"Democracy is two wolves and one sheep voting on what's for dinner." (Benjamin Franklin?)

I think a lot of people use the term Modern Democracy and Republic interchangeably. Still it is a far cry better than a Theocracy.

[manhattanwombat]

what the hell? u want religion out of governments? u wanna legalise fucking murder and create a total moral void in the world?

why dont u go fucking kill urself asshole ur certainly old and fat enough to die

[iviewthetube]

Don't call me old, manhattanwombat, or I will be forced to hit you with my cane.

[eRustler]

And when his old, frail hands drops that cane, I'll be standing there to pick it up and continue your education.

[manhattanwombat]

hopefully you wont be teaching me grammar...

[beachtalk]

You might want to think more clearly. Keeping religion out of government is not an endorsement of murder or immorality! Do you not realize that most all the murderers in our prisons profess some belief in God? Gov't should not be in religion so that people can choose to worship in the way they see fit. The government does not need religion. We have laws to protect us from "doing the wrong thing". Speaking of moral void....watch you language!

[ninnzbinnz]

i agree but then you need to watch for those who do not seperate church and state like islam. so shoo them all to hell. amen to that.

or watch the islamisation of europ vids on youtube and think of your future

[iviewthetube]

Yes. It is really cheesy to see some use freedom of speech and freedom of religion for their own gains only so that they can deprive others of theirs should they ever become a majority. (parasites?)

What we need to see is a lot more reciprocity.

[bowman2064]

Tnat´s something i as atheist can sustain.

For all who dont believe this video .. take a look into your history books. take a clother look on the 30 years war in germany between 1618-1648. Look on the results. 25 of 50 milion where killed. Every city, village even small hamlets was burned down. and the people didnt fall dead suddenly and witout pain ... most of them where slaughtered in a way, that even the taliban of today would run for their lifes

[grycer]

Hahaha, let me paraphrase this video,

Hey guys, let's not tolerate the church in the state so we can be free to put ourselves in bondage. After all, since God does not exist I can reason that killing babies for fun is not immoral. Who can refute me?

On top of that, let's pretend to be good and consistent while we protest our intolerance to the intolerable, cause ya know, that's not hypocritical at all.

This video is the result of hardened hearts. Shame on all of you.

[grycer]

Do you fail to realize the importance of belief? It takes a humble heart that is willing to listen to instruction, one that submits to authority and is wise enough not to lean on it's own understanding. I'm praying for you iviewthetube, you clearly have a merciful heart, but it has turned from God because it cannot understand his harsh strict side. I hope one day God reveals his love to you in a very personal way so you may know what you are doing.

[HazelEhren]

Wise enough not to lean on it's own understanding? Leaning on my own understanding is the reason I'm studying A-levels and improving myself!

[psovegeta]

The government normaly uses God to get elected and rally Christians behind their views. For instance, Bush said he's a Christian to get Christian votes, yet it is a fact he as well as numerous ex-presidents attend the camp at Bohemian Grove where they all worship a stone owl god name Moloch!

[artist1951]

I understand your view, having been raised on it. Ame. freedom, our object of totality, varies by perspective. Take the people living in South Central L.A. Would you even drive your car through there safely? They might view Ame. freedom more as anarchy; whereas a person in an Alaskan cabin, might have starrier eyes. This country can't be theocratic. The Kingdom of Heaven is not of this world; but the lives of its subjects overlap the Ame. experience - to include all of our Presidents.

[artist1951]

MBH - your mouth is an open grave.

[greycloud24]

i totally agree with this message. i am an atheist. if the christian right wing would stop attacking peoples rights on religious grounds i would be a silent atheist. religious institutions are behind attacks on abortion rights, same sex marraige, and the seperation of church and state. if this weren't the case, i would have nothing to complain about religions for in america.

[Pbirv]

Here's a new term to learn if you haven't heard it already: Google "Dominionist". VERY scary shit!

[MasterMark123]

I think all this crazy Christian fanaticism is leading us to a civil war of Separation of Church and state in America. When churches load up buses with old folks from nursing homes who are so out of it that they dont even know what's going on or where they are... to The state house in MA to fight equal rights of gay Americans is a very hate filled way of the abuse of church and politics.

[ManicEightBall]

Actually, we did try theocracy of a sorts in America before the constitution, and it was a mess. Catholics were persecuted in some states, protestants in others, and every state was different.

Fortunately, we figured out that it's best to keep it out of the constitution.

[seeksake06]

It is hard for westenres, through lack of knowledge, to accept that Islam does not believe in seperation of religion and goverment. Undonditional freedom of religion, any religion, leads to fanatism and fundamentalism.

[ranials]

Oh, Lord, the irony. The SHEER irony.

[iviewthetube]

Do you mean fanatism like the Taliban?

[crazykb]

I like the vid. However, I can't help but think that the irony of it, is that the very freedom of speech that you love so much (as you should) is the very thing that will lay waste to religion in the end. Free speech allows for the flowing of ideas, and once good ideas catch on, they tend to wipe out the bad ones...

[seeksake06]

Yes, but not particulary like Talibans. If you read the history of Islam, and then COMPARE the way its founder (Mohammad) and his first followers acted, you will fidd that Talibans are like "Avon Ladies", and Hilter is the symbol of kindness and mercy!

[yaoifanboy90]

Look up the First Amendment, it makes it so that Congress can't pass a law because of religious beliefs. It also gives us the right to protest, freedom of speech(While respecting another persons right to privacy of course), the freedom to believe what we want to believe. It also gives us the freedom to be allowed to do something, even if a religion says that it is wrong. It doesn't exactly say "Separation of Church and State", that's just a way of shortening it so everyone knows what it means.

[muscleboundhomo]

ARTIST1951 you're a true christian: egocentric, fanatic, illogical, inhumane, myth-addicted, with head firmly implanted up own tattered torn up asshole.

Yes you have the right to believe in santa, jesus,allah,zeus,tooth fairy,elves etc but your make-believe land does not trump the TRUE human spirit:freedom,creativity,free­-thought,love,peace,logic,scie­nce, individuality,common-sense,cri­tical-thinking, REALITY.

Live your life with your head up your ass, but leave us out of your shit.

[ranials]

Fine, then, love your God.

I won't care, as long as I, atheist as I am, am not forced to worship your God.

Thank you.

[iviewthetube]

Artist1951: "coming from a military family"

Pretty much every family has a military background at one point or another. The reality is that we are all here due to the hardships our predecessors have had to endure.

I don't blame you that you would be upset for being coerced into believing somebody else's god/God; But I also expect that to be reciprocated.

[MaxSafeheaD]

How it is. Great point.

[Largo64]

I couldn't agree more. Even if you are a Christian, a Christian theocracy likely would be as dangerous for you as for an atheist. You would have to "believe" the official religion...or else.

[MaxSafeheaD]

What kind of christian - baptist, Protestant, Roman Catholic etc.

Theocracy truely would be a disaster.

[smgharsha2110]

So I guess its not just us hindus... you are also a pretty decent guy.

[DanMorin007]

Amen!

[IAMYahweh]

Part 2 will be a response to part 1

[IAMYahweh]

Your video suggests that America possesses a separation of Church and state. Watch the video I am responding with.