Louisiana becomes first state to require that Ten Commandments be displayed in public classrooms

[Pogo]

No, thanks, I think I will stay here.

Well then realize that this is not a theocracy and no religion shall be favored over another.

 

[Pogo]

I'd like to know what this poster looks like.

Why?

 

[Pogo]

dbl post

 

[Debater Slayer]

Why do so many elevate a human document to, essentially, some form of scripture?

From what I can see, I think some people don't so much elevate constitutions to the status of divine documents as consider them to be mutual agreements with others in the same country no matter how much they disagree on various issues, so that there are rules for any disputes between them and a way to attain one's rights legally. If one side starts ignoring the document and trying to arbitrarily impose their views on others, there's no longer a mutually accepted resort to handle the dispute. It just becomes the law of the jungle.

I think the approach of promoting shared respect for a constitution is very reasonable in general, but where I think it goes awry is when a constitution has outdated, inequitable, or abusive laws and some people oppose changing or amending it, in which case such refusal does often strike me as a clear form of dogmatism, and an especially harmful variety of it at that.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Why?

Aren't you curious? I know I am. I want to know what it looks like and what it says.

 

[Revoltingest]

I actually agree that the US Constitution is "overrated" (at least by some who seem to put it on a pedestal), so to speak—mainly because the Second Amendment is a malignant anachronism at this point.

However, in a diverse and pluralistic society, I simply see no way for a constitution not to be secular if the state is to remain fair and equitable for all citizens and residents. What one person may regard as a religious truth may not be perceived as such by another, and vice versa. I'm pretty sure many of the same people who support state favoritism toward their religion wouldn't like it if another religion were favored over theirs by the state.

Theocracies are almost universally undesirable places to live for most religious minorities. Having lived in one myself for about two decades, I'm firmly of the opinion that officials like this governor are irresponsible fanatics who are either indifferent to others' rights or oblivious to just how damaging theocratically minded laws tend to be.

Our "overrated" Constitution is the bulwark
that prevents the many Christian dominionists
from sending us down the theocracy road.
As you can see, they try, try, try.

BTW, when I was in public elementary school,
Christian prayers were required. SCOTUS
ended that. And USA is less of a police state
today because of the Constitution. So you can
dislike the 2nd Amendment, but it is only one
of many important ones.

 

[Revoltingest]

Name the document, and there is somebody who thinks it is divinely inspired.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Our "overrated" Constitution is the bulwark
that prevents the many Christian dominionists
from sending us down the theocracy road.
As you can see, they try, try, try.

BTW, when I was in public elementary school,
Christian prayers were required. SCOTUS
ended that. And USA is less of a police state
today because of the Constitution. So you can
dislike the 2nd Amendment, but it is only one
of many important ones.

Yes, based on what I know, my overall opinion of the US Constitution is highly positive, as is my opinion of the separation of powers in the US. I was just commenting on a specific type of viewpoint I've seen, where some people seem to put the Constitution on a pedestal and dismiss any suggestion that it may need to be further amended or modified in specific areas.

 

[Pogo]

Aren't you curious? I know I am. I want to know what it looks like and what it says.

Not in the least and it is not even specified, IIRC it contains 5 commands to do something I don't believe at all and 5 so so platitudes that are derived from earlier traditions.
The so called golden rule seems a much better suggestion and doesn't carry the religious baggage

 

[Regiomontanus]

Because it is the one document that we all pledge to uphold and no, comparing it to scripture is to denigrate it.

"We all?" I would burn it if I could.

 

[Regiomontanus]

In your opinion.

I don't think the ten commandments are very divine in mine.

Imagine that- people on an internet forum disagree on something

 

[Regiomontanus]

Yes, based on what I know, my overall opinion of the US Constitution is highly positive, as is my opinion of the separation of powers in the US. I was just commenting on a specific type of viewpoint I've seen, where some people seem to put the Constitution on a pedestal and dismiss any suggestion that it may need to be further amended or modified in specific areas.

In many ways, the current Constitution of South Africa is much superior (right to health care, etc.).

 

[fantome profane]

You know that one is sacred to me.

 

[fantome profane]

"We all?" I would burn it if I could.

You can, the first amendment guarantees your right to burn then first amendment, and the whole constitution along with it. Just as long as it is your copy and you obey the fire code.

 

[Viker]

"We all?" I would burn it if I could.

In sentiment only. Sometimes I feel like taking a sledgehammer to the Ten Commandments. Fortunately, I wouldn't. It would be tactless, tasteless and illegal in many instances (where they are situated at courthouses, for instance).

 

[Viker]

In many ways, the current Constitution of South Africa is much superior (right to health care, etc.).

I do wish that was in ours.

 

[Pogo]

"We all?" I would burn it if I could.

I would be very careful of doing that in public if I were you.

 

[Left Coast]

No, thanks, I think I will stay here.

I thought so.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

It is a Constitution matter. But does the Constitution still matter?

Elect Donald Trump, and the answer to that is a resounding "no."

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Sad. I get the feeling that if a group had 51% support, they'd eliminate a ton of minority rights.

That's an insight that we all need to see, and really understand. The movement towards the right around the world is more about that than anything else.