GOP chairman Michael Steele tried to make a case to oppose Gay Marriage for economic reasons. Something about benefits being extended to life partners supposedly making it tougher to employ people and putting a strain on employers. Of course he was more or less shot down immediately and I doubt that this was his original reason but some post-hoc justification.
These days, it's pretty safe to assume conservative = christian. Limbaugh, Beck, and Palin are the leaders of the conservative movement (which is pretty much the same thing as saying they are the leaders of the republican party), and they are all as christian as an asspope.
Let's turn it around. Can you name an atheist conservative? Can you name a conservative who supports gay marriage?
These days, it's pretty safe to assume conservative = christian. Limbaugh, Beck, and Palin are the leaders of the conservative movement (which is pretty much the same thing as saying they are the leaders of the republican party), and they are all as christian as an asspope.
Let's turn it around. Can you name an atheist conservative? Can you name a conservative who supports gay marriage?
Conservative also = Jews. I saw a Hasidim on the news today saying how happy he was that the state sided with "wisdom and the almighty". I wanted to grab him by the peyas and facepunch him.
These days, it's pretty safe to assume conservative = christian. Limbaugh, Beck, and Palin are the leaders of the conservative movement (which is pretty much the same thing as saying they are the leaders of the republican party), and they are all as christian as an asspope.
Let's turn it around. Can you name an atheist conservative? Can you name a conservative who supports gay marriage?
Dick Cheney supports whatever Union gay people want to have. (his daughter is gay)
These days, it's pretty safe to assume conservative = christian. Limbaugh, Beck, and Palin are the leaders of the conservative movement (which is pretty much the same thing as saying they are the leaders of the republican party), and they are all as christian as an asspope.
Let's turn it around. Can you name an atheist conservative? Can you name a conservative who supports gay marriage?
Dick Cheney supports whatever Union gay people want to have. (his daughter is gay)
That's surprising, considering his views on everything else. Okay, you got me on that one. Now, name another.
I just realized that Ruben "Asspope" Diaz is also a reverend and proclaims it on his site and in his e-mails. As they say on Mythbusters, "There's your problem."
He insists that Separation of Church and State is NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION, and he insisted this on television, as a reverend/senator/asspope. He is not yet impeached. :P
Why are churches tax exempt? If there truly is a separation of Church and State and the First Amendment restricts Congress from passing any laws regarding religion how were they able to become tax exempt in the first place?
Congress has enacted special tax laws applicable to churches, religious organizations, and ministers in recognition of their unique status in American society and of their rights guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Churches and religious organizations are generally exempt from income tax and receive other favorable treatment under the tax law; however, certain income of a church or religious organization may be subject to tax, such as income from an unrelated business.
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf If we truly have a Separation of Church and State why do they get special treatment under the law? Shouldn't the law be neutral in this regard?
He insists that Separation of Church and State is NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION, and he insisted this on television, as a reverend/senator/asspope. He is not yet impeached. :P
To be fair, it is not specifically in the constitution. It is implied by the first amendment, but it is not specifically outlined as such.
Basically, you can have religion in government, so long as religion is not the basis of any laws. To do otherwise would be to make laws that effectively limit the ability of people to practice their religions.
I'm going to an atheist meeting tonight. I imagine we will be yelling and organizing a letter-writing campaign. If not, I will most certainly yell and try to organize some letter-writing.
They shouldn't be. At best, they should be forced to incorporate the same as any other nonprofit organization (or for-profit if it suits them). There is no logical reason for this stupid, archaic exemption.
how were they able to become tax exempt in the first place?
Religion had a lot more clout back then, and the political reality was simply such that it would have been impossible to do otherwise in America.
Shouldn't the law be neutral in this regard?
It is in fact neutral, and even secular organizations can get the same benefits. If I form the Holy Church of GeekNights, we get the exact same privileges as the Catholic Church. We've seriously considered this path, as game-theory-wise, there is no reason not to seek these benefits even if they arise out of an archaic and harmful institution.
Basically, you can have religion in government, so long as religion is not the basis of any laws. To do otherwise would be to make laws that effectively limit the ability of people to practice their religions.
What other basis is there in laws preventing homosexual marriage, if not a religious one? And don't give me any of that "unnatural", "lol you can't reproduce" bullshit. We all know that's a complete farce.
To be fair, it is not specifically in the constitution. It is implied by the first amendment, but it is not specifically outlined as such.
Basically, you can have religion in government, so long as religion is not the basis of any laws. To do otherwise would be to make laws that effectively limit the ability of people to practice their religions.
It's even simpler than that, the government can't make any laws the impede any religion's right to worship.
Soooo, make a religion that puts homosexual marriage on the same level as heterosexual marriage. It's now unconstitutional to create a law against homosexuality. Job done, everyone is happy (except the conservatives, they'll be pissed. :P )
the government can't make any laws the impede any religion's right to worship.
For me, worship requires that I skip on the check any time I eat at a restaurant, drive without a license, skip security at airports, vote ten times in any given election, and kick anyone who looks me in the eye in the shins.
the government can't make any laws the impede any religion's right to worship.
For me, worship requires that I skip on the check any time I eat at a restaurant, drive without a license, skip security at airports, vote ten times in any given election, and kick anyone who looks me in the eye in the shins.
For me, worship requires that I skip on the check any time I eat at a restaurant, drive without a license, skip security at airports, vote ten times in any given election, and kick anyone who looks me in the eye in the shins.
Seeing how much you can get away with on religious grounds would make for interesting media.
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Let's turn it around. Can you name an atheist conservative? Can you name a conservative who supports gay marriage?
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Karl Rove has been reported to be an atheist.
As they say on Mythbusters, "There's your problem."
If we truly have a Separation of Church and State why do they get special treatment under the law? Shouldn't the law be neutral in this regard?
Basically, you can have religion in government, so long as religion is not the basis of any laws. To do otherwise would be to make laws that effectively limit the ability of people to practice their religions.
I'm going to an atheist meeting tonight. I imagine we will be yelling and organizing a letter-writing campaign. If not, I will most certainly yell and try to organize some letter-writing.
That and religion are the only rationales I suspect exist.
and "I'm not religious but I still need a catogory of Human to look down upon"
More marriage, of whatever kind, necessarily leads to more divorce. More divorce = more business.
OR:
1. Got to law school, learn how to do divorces.
2. Increase the number of marriages, thus increasing the number of divorces.
3. Profit!
Soooo, make a religion that puts homosexual marriage on the same level as heterosexual marriage. It's now unconstitutional to create a law against homosexuality. Job done, everyone is happy (except the conservatives, they'll be pissed. :P )