Robert Morein wrote:

"Pooh Bear" wrote in message
...


wrote:

I don't want the government to promote any religous view.

I thought the US constitution forbade that in fact.

Graham

It does indeed. But the Religous Right has argued that the words are to be
understood in the context of the time in which they were written, a context
they claim they know

I see. The 'we know better' argument . Typical..


. I prefer the literal meaning.

Indeed.


But in fact, it is my understanding that the late 18th and early 19th
century, in America, were times of greater religious diversity, at least in
terms of tolerance of aetheism, than now.

Really ? Yet again American society puzzles. Given the scepticism apparent in
the US for large organisations e.g. the 'gubmint' etc I'm perplexed how ppl are
so easily hoaxed by religion.

Graham

From: Pooh Bear
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 03:48:32 +0000

Really ? Yet again American society puzzles. Given the scepticism apparent in
the US for large organisations e.g. the 'gubmint' etc I'm perplexed how ppl are
so easily hoaxed by religion.

I personally blame Europe for the religious crazies in the US, and lack
of personal thought or introspection or study for their perpetuation.

In the 1600 and 1700s, where did Europe send the religious whackos (or,
perhaps, where did they 'allow them to colonize')?

If your parents are, say, Baptist (or Lutheran or Catholic or
whatever), the odds are you will be too. If your parents are a
particular flavor (Wisconsin vs. Missouri Synod for Lutherans, for
example), the odds are you will be too.

Removing conversions of convenience (for marriage or location,
primarily) the nuts usually don't fall too far from the tree. Mom and
Dad just couldn't be wrong! So you take the nutjobs from the 1600s,
have them procreate and pass their fundamentalism from generation to
generation, have none of them seriously consider it, and there you have
it. They aren't being hoaxed; they're right, dammit! When will YOU
learn?

This is just personal observation and a study of history. To head off
the science crowd, I have no scientific data to back this up. You
should just have faith that I'm correct.

By the way, Merry Christmas.:-)

"Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!" wrote:

From: Pooh Bear
Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2005 03:48:32 +0000

Really ? Yet again American society puzzles. Given the scepticism apparent in
the US for large organisations e.g. the 'gubmint' etc I'm perplexed how ppl are
so easily hoaxed by religion.

I personally blame Europe for the religious crazies in the US, and lack
of personal thought or introspection or study for their perpetuation.

In the 1600 and 1700s, where did Europe send the religious whackos (or,
perhaps, where did they 'allow them to colonize')?

'Europe' didn't *send* them anywhere of course.

Those who travelled to the 'new continent' did so of their own free will.


If your parents are, say, Baptist (or Lutheran or Catholic or
whatever), the odds are you will be too. If your parents are a
particular flavor (Wisconsin vs. Missouri Synod for Lutherans, for
example), the odds are you will be too.

Removing conversions of convenience (for marriage or location,
primarily) the nuts usually don't fall too far from the tree. Mom and
Dad just couldn't be wrong! So you take the nutjobs from the 1600s,
have them procreate and pass their fundamentalism from generation to
generation, have none of them seriously consider it, and there you have
it. They aren't being hoaxed; they're right, dammit! When will YOU
learn?

LOL !

This is just personal observation and a study of history. To head off
the science crowd, I have no scientific data to back this up. You
should just have faith that I'm correct.

By the way, Merry Christmas.:-)

Merry Christmas back at you ! ;-)

Have a great Feast of Mammon too.

Graham

"Pooh Bear" wrote in message
...


'Europe' didn't *send* them anywhere of course.

Those who travelled to the 'new continent' did so of their own free will.


Some prisoners were sent to South Carolina, I think.
And Europeans sent more than a few 'unwilling' Africans over here.