Originally posted by caltour: Church members should express their political views through voting (and individual financial contributions), just like the rest of us. They shouldn't form umbrella organizations like the NAE for the purpose of gathering money to influence politics. They should not support initiatives to make their interpretation of christianity the law of the land. They shouldn't lobby for public funding for christian schools, they shouldn't try to get religious displays installed on public property, and they shouldn't try to make kids pray in public schools. They shouldn't seek to blur the line between church and state.
You're saying certain Americans should not be able to assemble because thier beliefs are different than yours? There are thousands of organized groups petitioning the government right now for policy changes that I find incredibly disturbing; but last I checked this is a democracy and it is their *RIGHT* to do such!
C'mon, BMR. You have to read the entire post you are criticizing. As you can see, I never said anyone's right to assemble should be restricted.
Originally posted by bigMoneyRacing:I am COMPLETELY aghast at a supposed intellectual, free-thinker like yourself saying that certain groups of law-abiding Americans should be FORBIDDEN from the political process.
I never said that churches should be forbidden from anything. If you read the entire post, you'll see I said: " . . . groups with extraordinary potential for upsetting the delicate balance of power must exercise voluntary restraint if they care at all about preserving our democracy." See where it says VOLUNTARY?
