Establishing a religion would be making it a law. Nativity scenes don’t force people to be Christians. The government does not say it won’t endorse anything. Kind of why Congress prays to the Christian God before each session, why the President must swear on the Bible…

“I say we follow their words. Not the intent that they didn’t put into their words but whose minds we’re supposed to read.”

I agree. So when good old Ben Franklin says that we should teach “the necessity of a public religion and the excellance of Christianity above all others,” you won’t object. No where do their “words” claim that the government can’t have religious displays on public property. Since separation of church and state was never written in the Constitution, then we should “follow their words. Not the intent that they didn’t put into their words but whose minds were supposed to read.” Like the intent of separation of church and state that was never put into their words.

It can if its an establishment of religion.

“hey don’t get it either, because they penned the Constitution and didn’t see anything wrong religious displays on public property. This would give intelligent people indication as to intent, but hey, Jefferson didn’t understand what he wrote. You do.”

I say we follow their words. Not the intent that they didn’t put into their words but whose minds we’re supposed to read.

A nativity scene on public property doesn’t violate the Bill of Rights. Chech your reading comprehension.

” Like I said. I don’t expect people to get it”

Then you might want to wake up the authors of the Bill of Rights and Constitution. They don’t get it either, because they penned the Constitution and didn’t see anything wrong religious displays on public property. This would give intelligent people indication as to intent, but hey, Jefferson didn’t understand what he wrote. You do.

Davis: Got your link. I didn’t see it above. No, it that’s not free. I’d call it rape.

I don’t expect people to get the doctrine of incorporation, which prevents states from violating the bill of rights too.

“I do believe you are confusing the governments responsibility to ‘protect’ the peoples right to freedom of religion with ‘establishment’.”

Like I said. I don’t expect people to get it.

“In late 2005, the American Civil Liberties Union and two co-defendants filed suit against the county over policies in the zone they think are unconstitutional”

Don’t forget

“as part of an agreement with the ACLU.”

Unless it is all over the financial dispute? There wasn’t a lot there.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/southwest/orl-swbriefs22_406jan22,0,5069522.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-swest

The ACLU had filed a lawsuit that challenged the exorbitant insurance policy that Polk County was requiring EVERYONE (including churches) to pay before being allowed to set up a display in the “free speech zone.”

The ACLU was NOT trying to stop the displays from going up. On the contrary, they were fighting for the rights of churches to put up their displays without undue financial burdens.

Polk County decided to get rid of the free speech zones. The ACLU had nothing to do with that.

I’m not always a huge fan of the ACLU either, but jeez, at least try to get your facts straight.

I do believe you are confusing the governments responsibility to ‘protect’ the peoples right to freedom of religion with ‘establishment’.

If not… give us an example of the government actually establishing a religion.