should the church be banned from being invloved with the armed forces?
494795
First, not EVERY church preaches exactly the same way, so it is silly to bulk them all together.\n\nSecond, this is still a country that values freedom, including freedom of religion.  Banning the church from being involved in any aspect of life is both unconstitutional and offensive.\n\nThird, it is clear that you've never served in the armed forces in a life or death situation.  People who face death daily are far more likely to seek guidance from clergy.  Barring access to clergy for someone in that circumstance is unthinkable.
1022891
Interesting question. The problem you have and has been noted by the other answers is that even with a strict separation the only thing accomplished is that the church itself does not directly control the government. The reality is that if I as a religious person of The Church (meant to be vague) were to be elected to a government position of influence I can, and likely will, influence government in ways that reflect my religion.\n\nNothing can be done to stop that. And nothing can be done to stop The Church from organizing candidates to run for office with a common goal/theme.\n\nSo to answer the original question - I feel there should be a strict seperation so that freedom of religious choice is not compromised, though I recognize that religion will always influence politics
1064858
YES.  Maybe for different reasons.\n\nThis is a cage for Christians.\n\nWe will be set free.\n\n.         :)\n\n.
345915
No, but I think religion should be a personal practice and have NOTHING to do with the government at all. Until that happens, yes it should be repressed from all governmental function.
352411
From where I stand I think the Government doesnt care  a crap that our people are getting killed and why not let these countries fight thier own wars why do we get involved ? As for as the Church I think that if you pay your dues and help maintain the church and there everytime the doors are open then yest they care they wont beable to count on your money to help cover the next crusade if you arent there and take your money else where . As for as my mother I am begining to wonder . I know she cares and all but LOVE I dont think my mother will ever know what true love will be . Standards being placed on someone isnt love ! To show favortisum isnt love to act in a way that makes others feel bad isnt love !
765366
Double standard, yes.\nAm I pissed over it, AMEN. You bet.\nMy son went to Catholic school for 9 years, then public. I told him if you want to pray, talk to God, say things out loud about God, DO IT. I'll be there to fight your battles. He's never, ever had a problem. He even includes the Lord in some of his reports and never an issue. If the rules are not going to change, let's just teach our children how to remain to be themselves, be true to their religion and in a respectful way...you know, don't push your beliefs on others they way the government does, but don't step down from what your heart tells you to do.
471970
Depends what you mean by "allowed".\n\nThe answer is undoubtedly "NO" if you're asking if they're allowed by the Church.
646264
I think that it is totally outrageous, and an violation of their constitutional rights to deny any serviceman or woman the right to have the accepted icon for their religion displayed on their headstone.\n\nThat having been said, I must also admit that the Government [bless it's black little heart] IS making some progress.  \n\nI have been Wiccan since 1968.  I was enlisted in the Navy between 1972 and 1976.  For those four years I found it necessary to be Buddhist.  \n\nIt was a requirement that I declare a belief system, even if it was Agnostic or Atheist ... however, they would NOT allow me to declare Wicca as my religion.  \n\nThe reason it was mandatory was so that they could put it on my dog-tags.  So that I would get the appropriate religious rites should I be killed in the defense of my country.\n\nI chose to declare Buddhism because it was the only religion on the "approved" list besides Hinduism that was not connected to the Christian/Jewish/Muslim god Yahweh/Jehovah and because Buddhism is closer to the tenents of Wicca than is Hinduism.\n\nNow, Wicca is an acceptable religion as far as the U.S. Armed Services is concerned.  There is even a "U.S. Army Chaplain's Handbook on Wicca" which informs Army Chaplain's about the basics of Wicca and gives them guidelines on how to handle things should they have to handle a Wiccan death.  \n\nI was much impressed to see that they even had a section where it informed the Chaplain's about the fact that Wiccans sometimes practice their rituals in the nude, and that the ritual knife used [the Athame] was a religious icon, not a weapon.  {The way it was phrased indicated that the M.P.'s were encountering a religious ritual, not a naked nut with a knife}.\n\nIt must logically follow that if a religion is accepted as valid for dog-tags and that the U.S. Army is printing guides for its Chaplain's on how to handle the last rites, etc., then the serviceman or woman must be allowed to display the accepted icon for their religion on their headstone.\n\nSo, things are changing, though slowly.  It is only right and proper that it should change - because you are totally, one hundred percent correct when you noted that the U.S. Government is denying Servicemen and women their Constitutional right to freedom of religion by adhering to the puritanical, christian oriented structure that has been in place for so long.
532588
its an excuse not to go to church.
895761
Yes, but it will be more up to individuals to enforce Constitutional standards rather than relying on government intervention.\n\nIn the past, "separation of church and state" was used to defend religious practice of a Christian group from imposition by government. Today it is used to defend secular beliefs from perceived threats to impose Christian dominance.\n\nThe real issue is not "separation of church and state" but "consent of the governed."  Regardless of religious or secular views, no groups or individuals want their "consent" to be violated by an outside group or authority.  So that is the real issue, not freedom of religion but free will in general.\n\nIf we interpret religious freedom to mean free will and right of consent, people should have the right to govern and to be governed as they believe, without infringement on personal security by threat of censorship or oppression, as long as everyone respects the same of others so there is peace and justice.\n\nSo by this interpretation, of religious free exercise as free will, this has always been the struggle of humanity, and will continue to surface again and again until this issue is finally addressed and resolved.  Freedom is no more or less important as it was in the past, but will rise to a higher level of understanding as a universal right that all people require by nature, regardless if they call it religious or political or intellectual freedom.\n\nIt is the same argument, reincarnated over and over, until we establish mutual respect across all institutions and nations.\n\nBy its very nature, "consent of the govern" cannot be imposed by government force, but can only be established by free choice.  \n\nOtherwise laws contradict themselves, as in trying to separate "church and state" when all laws are, in fact, a form of moral code that reflects individual or collective values and beliefs.  Again, the issue behind "religious freedom" is whether or not individuals consent to the standards enforced.
468219
It's the kind of nonsense that makes for war and keeps people separate from each other. Not what i think Jesus was really going for in his lifetime here. I don't think this sort of thing helps anyone but the church.
1055657
I wouldn't endorse a ban on any religion.  How can we be a country of freedoms if we start banning people who think differently?  It is the extremist (of any religion) that make it hard........not the regular folks.
350203
Absolutely. Any religion that needs to twist their own words and beliefs in order to 'recruit' people to gain power are corrupt. Religion is man made remember, and God(or the Gods as I believe) is love. Christianity and the church have been so twisted over the centuries that they have now completely lost their grip on reality. They should try going and sitting in a field and meditating on nature instead of putting so much focus on the church. Life isn't about a big building with a spire, its about understanding. The catholic church in particular is one of the richest and most powerful institutions in the world? How did they get there? By helping the poor? I don't think so. By taking money, keeping it and recruiting new followers by twisting, turning and having an answer for everything. I'm not going to apologise if this offends anyone - If ya cant stand the heat ....
297549
Yes, they can say it would invoke controvery and therefore it shouldn't be allowed. Some schools have crosses and jewish stars banned, because it could start religious controversy. But shouldn't schools be teaching these kids to be more tolerant, instead of pretending these problems don't exist?
757659
Yes.  Asking children to profess allegiance to a deity they may not believe in is overstepping the bounds of separation of church and state.\n \nNo.  Not on government property.  Privately owned property is completely acceptable.  A private homeowner can litter the front lawn with 1,000 crosses if they'd like.\n\nThey can pray privately to themselves and no one can stop them from doing so, but the state cannot mandate, endorse, promote or even allow any kind of organized or teacher-led prayer.\n\nNot SOLELY on religious belief, no.  As Justice O'Connor once said (to paraphrase) "we are not in the business of legislating based on morality alone."\n\nI'm an atheist, I don't think it would be an issue.\n\nComplete separation.  No organized prayer, no government endorsed prayer of any kind (this of course cannot stop individuals from praying to themselves).
489395
The Church of Jesus Christ will never be willing to do this as long as we are content to sit around polishing our armor or fighting one another.  \n\nWe will also not get along as long as we continue to use denominational titles, and wear them like badges of honor.\n\nD7
1033841
ALL WARS are anti-Christian teaching. They are against The Law! \n\nPeriod.\n\nPEACE be with you!