Atheists: All 10 Commandments Violate US Constitution
Read Time:3 Minute, 14 Second
Atheists are people too you know, and they’re finding that out in Oklahoma, land of Jim Inhofe, and other religious fanatics. You see the Atheists don’t believe that church and state should be brewed in the same pot, and they are actually doing something about it.
An Atheist group has sued Oklahoma lawmakers over a law allowing religious displays on the increasingly crowded Capitol grounds.
State officials set up a Ten Commandments monument in 2012, which has spurred other religious groups – including Satanists, Hindus and Pastafarians – to request permission to set up their own displays.
The ACLU filed suit in August, claiming the state law permitting those displays violated Oklahoma’s state constitution, and the Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission imposed a moratorium on all monuments on the grounds.
A Republican lawmaker has pushed for a new bill that would allow more “historical documents,” including the Ten Commandments, to be placed on public grounds in Oklahoma.
But a suit filed Monday by American Atheists argues that the displays and the law that permits their display violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“I want to be clear about this: We have a religious monument, placed on government property, by government mandate,” said American Atheists President David Silverman. “That is an explicit violation of First Amendment protections of separation of religion and government.”
Silverman pointed out that Oklahoma lawmakers had passed a law requiring the monument endorse one specific religion, which he said violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.
“There is now a law, on the books of Oklahoma, respecting the establishment of Christianity, which is grossly unconstitutional,” Silverman said. “The legislature has broken the law, plain and simple, and we are suing to right this wrong.”
The suit claims the legislation explicitly calls on state officials “to permit and arrange for the placement on the State Capitol grounds of a suitable monument displaying the Ten Commandments.”
The suit also lists each of the Ten Commandments and specifies how most of those laws, which the Bible says were handed down to Moses by God, would violate the U.S. Constitution.
For example, the suit claims, the prohibitions against making graven images and the taking of the Lord’s name in vain would violate free speech protections – and the monuments themselves could be a forbidden graven image.
The sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth commandments – which forbid homicide, adultery, stealing and offering false testimony – are commonly understood wrongs over which the state has justified authority, according to the suit, but the other six violate federal law.
“The last commandment listed on the Display imposes another invasion into the human mind,” the suit argues. “It effectively creates a ‘thought crime,’ wherein the citizenry is enjoined not to ‘covet’ certain items. The items listed include people such as one’s ‘wife’ and ‘servant’ as among ‘things’ like homes and cattle that are possessed by people.”
“Absent is a reference to thy neighbor’s ‘husband,’” the suit points out. “If this were part of Oklahoma law, it arguably would fail on Equal Protection grounds, unless torturously interpreted differently than its plain meaning.”
Some of the suit’s plaintiffs claim that official business at the statehouse forces them to confront the display’s message, which the suit argues violates “the liberty of conscience” of all Oklahoma citizens.
“Plaintiffs object to the use and display of the Display due its co-option of their religious traditions, resulting in a cheapening and degradation of their shared faith,” the suit claims.
American Atheists set up a public monument to atheists last year at a county courthouse in Starke, Florida.
Many thanks to Raw Story for contributions.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
James Smith: “In fact, there is more evidence of the existence of a Rambo than there is of any god.”
That is what I’ve found to be the common theme mentality among the non-believers. They shown me their tiny little minds on our planet earth, a speck of rock in the universe, somehow magically knows all without any proof.
There are multi-trillions of stars in the universe like our sun (a star). To just get to the next closes star to our sun would take approximately 50,000 earth years with the present fastest means of space travel. With earth as the pivot point it was estimated back in 2000 that the known universe has a radius of 14 billion light years.
Since Mr. Smith was unable to provide any evidence for claims he made or proof of intelligent life operating inside his cranial cavity I’m closing this out. Case closed, James lost, but as usual he’ll have the last word.
You are the one claiming there is a god. Like it or not, the burden of proof is your responsibility. For example, I have been playing the guitar again less than 18 months after not playing for over 20 years. Even so, I am not the greatest guitar player of all time. Would you believe that unless I played for you? I say you cannot prove I am not. That’s how ludicrous your argument is.
Your astronomical observations are nothing more than a feeble attempt to try to change the subject.
Those observations have demonstrated my intelligence is far beyond yours. It’s not a perfect intelligence, not the greatest. Only more than yours. That isn’t even a statement one could brag about as I have tomatoes smarter than you.
Yes, I do have the last word as anything you say after this will only further demonstrate your own ignorance.
Regarding Patrick Henry:
From Wikipedia: Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736 – June 6, 1799) was an American attorney, planter and politician who became known as an orator during the movement for independence in Virginia in the 1770s. A *Founding Father*, he served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia, from 1776 to 1779 and from 1784 to 1786.
Regarding Treaty of Tripoli:
From Wikipedia showing it was signed into law by President John Adams who also helped write it. The important clause: “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen [Muslims],—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan [Mohammedan] nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”
It’s true that the Constitutional Government of 1787 was not designed as a Theocracy despite the fact that Congress opened each session with prayer, and for roughly the 1st 50 years that the government was in the District of Columbia sunday religious services in the House of Representatives was the biggest event every week.
Have to wonder what the grade schoolers doing a search of your claims thought of you when they found out the truth? That orwellian doublespeak you use won’t cover ignorance or deceit against ol’ Ike’s Truth Machine. And sheesh, you still haven’t answered the questions in my original comments.
If you get confused again about America’s christian founding send me an email and I’ll give you the correct & accurate truth on the matter. Hey, ain’t that what friends are supposed to do for each other.
Yours truly,
Rambo ‘the educator’ Ike
Tell is “Rambo”. Do you really enjoy being an obnoxious asshole or is it something genetic that you cannot help?
I suspect you try to use a “tough guy” persona with the “Rambo” ID because you are so personally insecure that you need it to prop up your faltering ego.
BTW, “Rambo” is a fictional character just like your god. In fact, there is more evidence of the existence of a Rambo than there is of any god.
It would have to be painful being you. Never have I come across someone who knows so much that isn’t so.
Patrick Henry by any standard besides American history professors and scholars, will tell you Henry was one of the most important of America’s founding fathers. Usually placed in the bottom part of the 1st 10.
I could be wrong but I don’t think Henry had anything to do with the Treaty of Tripoli.
I think you’ve confused the founding of the country America (1776) with the founding of the constitutional government (1787), and are using John Adams’s statement on the United States Government, which is not the same as Country – big difference. I’ve had to explain that one many times over the years to clueless liberals.
Just think, all the enlightenment I’ve given you over the last year, students are paying thousands of $$$$$ for the same education.
No thanks necessary. I get good feeling being able to help out the less fortunate.
Your friend,
Ike {riding roughshod over ignorance & deceit]
You have only enlightened me about what an arrogant, obnoxious know-nothing moron you are.
Prove anything I have posted is not true. Remember, your personal disbelief or dislike is not proof.
You are not my friend. You are a cowardly intellectual and ethical disaster hiding behind a fake ID. Smeone like that will never be a friend to any rational individual. Proof, you idiot, proof.
Rambo, I see that you’re still as full of shit as usual.
Look up the treaty of Tripoli. That contradicts everything you have said. Patrick Henry was one person and NOT a Founding Father. Apparently, he knew no more about it than you do – nothing at all.
James, I see you’re still carrying the torch for the hypocrites. I followed protocol to what is a general agreement among you nonbelievers as Jess stated “….us heathen …..”
Did you notice the 4 question marks (?) in my 1st comments. I bet you did. They went unaddressed by you.
As I said to you in the past and for which I know you never researched, I’ll repeat again: “May the GOD of America’s christian founding, at the time of your last moments, have mercy on your soul.”
Patrick Henry, one of America’s founding fathers, said, “It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”
Note: Patrick Henry was there at the founding so he would of known the truth. That “peoples of other faiths” included atheists.
Faith of our fathers, living still.
Yo Heathens,
What are we going to do with the more than a hundred thousand headstones at Arlington National Cemetery that have the Christian Crosses on them? That’s not private land. Should they be removed? In some of the private sections at Arlington Christian Crosses are used as headstones, should they also be removed?
Then there are the cemeteries all around our country and the world with Christian Crosses marking our war dead that fought & died for the freedom of others, including atheists. Should their families be made to remove those crosses?
The Mount Soledad Memorial is in remembrance of both the living and deceased veterans that fought for the freedoms of all of us.
When you start out with an ignorant insult such as “Yo heathens”, you’ve given notice that what follows will be nothing more than a hate-fueled diatribe of more irrational statements.
Thank you for demonstrating how true this is. Thanks you for ignoring facts, discarding logic, and being a poster child for the religious reich. You have shown us all how not to be. Thanks again.
You’ll find those monstrous crosses all over Kentucky and Tennessee. The Jeebies like to put them up next to adult bookstores. Idiots.
I am a Baptist from Oklahoma. I knew when they put that statue up,they were messing up. we have to keep church and state separate.even, the bible tell,s us this. give unto Caesar,what is caeser,s;and to GOD WHAT is GOD,S.our forefathers knew this,when they wrote the Constition. Beside,s the republican,s are just doing this to promote their party.Come on okie’s wake up and use your brains.I am surprised they, don,t have a television playing FOX news,beside that statute.Our gov.Fallin say,s she is against same sex marriage and abortion so she will be re-elected. Come on people she has done more harm to the people of Oklahoma than anybody.she has refused to put storm shelter,s in school,s,but has spent million,s on her capital building. she has more than doubled the price of drivers licence,s but will not give the highway patrol or prison guard,s raises. she has refused to give teachers anything. she has refused to extend medi-caid even though the federal gov. pays for almost all of it. she has done this to show that she is against Obama-care and to look good in her party,s eyes. she could give a crap about the people of okla. this has hurt doctors and hospital,s. most hospital,s have already laid people off. people were against horseslaughter;almost 75% against,she passed it anyway. I could go on and on. But she will be re-elected ,because she is against abortion and same sex marriage. I wonder if,her daughter is a lesbian.huh Don,t even get me started on [mr.big oil],James Inhofe.
They need to look west to see what us heathen Californians and a judgy activisty judge did, with a cross in San Diego. Mount Soledad cross to be specific. If I was in a giving mood I would google the links but I’m not, so there you go. Since the 80s a couple of Vietnam vets have been trying to rid CA of that monstrosity and looks like they may succeed in their efforts. Props to the Vietnam vets for sticking with it. GoOpers from the area have been trying for years to find a loophole, there’s that word again, but so far no deal. There was one story a while ago some religious freak started yammering on about it should stay because the buybull said something something balh blah blah. I have read this guide to a pleasant afteerlife(buybull) back to front and I can honestly say crosses in San Diego were never mentioned, in fact I am quite certain there is something in there about worshipping idols and statues, now I may have been reading the self professed holy man’s guide to the afterlife wrong, but I don’t think so.
The Godly empire will stop nothing. They just like the Islamic Jihadists.
The constitution? You mean that “Goddamned piece of paper” as their own Saint George W. called it?
That’s the one…