Comments on: Billboards Fight Against The Separation of Church & State “Lie”

By: Sean Boyd

Sean Boyd — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:49:16 +0000

I think the reason Xtians create such verbiose billboards is that they figure Jeebus will protect anyone reading it. It’s like a 5 second free pass from having to pay attention to other traffic on the freeway.

By: Yoda

Yoda — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:32:58 +0000

Beware of anger. It will lead you to the dark side.

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:46:51 +0000

Washington may have endorsed the value of religion, but that’s not the same as saying he was a Christian. I’m pretty sure that scholars disagree, or at least are unsure, on that point.

Some say Washington was a Christian, others say he was a deist. At least one says he was a “Christian deist” — not quite one, not quite the other, but somewhere in the middle.

He certainly didn’t want to favor one religion over another.

The question on the table, however, is whether he favored religion over irreligion. His Farewell Address certainly indicates that he did. Of course, favoring religion over irrelegion is certainly not incompatible with favoring the separation of church and state.

And Washington didn’t have a hand in drafting the Constitution, AFAIK.

Depends on what you mean by “have a hand in drafting the Constitution.” He chaired the convention that did the drafting. As chair, he did not participate directly in the drafting and debate process. Along with James Madison, he was one of the only two future presidents who actually signed the document.

It’s not really relevant here, because the clause in the Constitution generally appealed to as mandating separation of church and state is the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The First Amendment was not part of the Constitution as originally ratified. It was added slightly later, during Washington’s presidency. As president, Washington would have had no direct role in the adoption of the amendment.

By: CatBallou

CatBallou — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:23:28 +0000

Washington may have endorsed the value of religion, but that’s not the same as saying he was a Christian. I’m pretty sure that scholars disagree, or at least are unsure, on that point. He certainly didn’t want to favor one religion over another.
But to Steven’s point about the veneration of our founding fathers, I agree that it’s completely out of place in some circumstances. When we’re discussing constitutional issues, it’s germane—otherwise, not necessarily.
And Washington didn’t have a hand in drafting the Constitution, AFAIK.

By: Church Of The Smashing Orangey Bit Responds To Atheist & Christian Billboards - The Atheist Blogger

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:01:15 +0000

[...] have recently begun putting billboards up claiming that the separation of church and state is not what the Founding Fathers wanted for [...]

By: Uncle Roger

Uncle Roger — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:15:50 +0000

What should happen is that an atheist rents out the next billboard down the road and put up a sign that says “Washington didn’t say that. They’re lying. Check it out yourself.”

By: Parrot132

Parrot132 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:32:48 +0000

The site says “The quotes and the historical references on the pages of NoSeparation.org immediately disprove the ‘separation of church and state’ lie.”

On the other hand, we have our Bill of Rights. Not only is separation of church and state included in the first of its ten amendments, it is the very first of the five separate provisions of that amendment, and therefore, perhaps the one that our Founding Fathers cared the most about.

By: Bearing false witness on Christian billboards - Rant & Reason

Bearing false witness on Christian billboards - Rant & Reason — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:07:00 +0000

[...] can’t make this stuff up.” Except, apparently in this case, they could (h/t to Friendly Atheist): A Hillsborough public policy group whose Christian platform included a push for a state ban on [...]

By: hoverFrog

hoverFrog — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:16:28 +0000

I think they should use the quote from Revelations 22:22

And the Lord Jesus Christ spake “What? I was kidding, come on. Dude! You didn’t think I was serious”

Hey, if lying is OK…

By: Lost Left Coaster

Lost Left Coaster — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:37:43 +0000

They’re liars, and they also have no concept of marketing or design. I can’t believe how much money is wasted on religious billboards that are too wordy and are difficult to read, say, from a speeding car on a freeway.