*sigh* When will people learn that religion and politics don't mix?

/never

meshman: *sigh* When will people learn that religion and politics don't mix?

When it becomes convenient again that they be seperate.

Programmer Cat: How about using the Consti-farking-tution?

Because then people will start worshipping it, rather than embodying the virtues that it's supposed to represent.

Much like certain fundies and the bible.

But, Mr. Ellison, America, not you, decides on what book its public servants take their oath.

I never got a chance to vote on this.

meshman: *sigh* When will people learn that religion and politics don't mix?

When someone else's religion is the one being mixed in.

See, I would think you'd WANT him swearing in on the Koran, I mean, really, the bible means nothing to him, so any oath sworn on it wouldn't "bind him" (theoretically and all)...

Bacon. They should just place their hand on a slab af bacon and swear on that. Everyone can get behind and believe in bacon.

Or pie. Pie's good too.

Considering whose interests they serve maybe the Book of Mammon would be appropriate.

This is why I only swear oaths on magazines with photos of Catherine Bell in them.

how about a fairy coffee table book, instead? maplethorpe, maybe?

Programmer Cat: Are you telling me that politicians currently embody the ideals of the Constitution? I didn't know that the Constitution enshrined deceit, power-lust, and corruption.

You forgot to turn it over. There's a whole other page - don't feel bad, most people don't realize it's there.

Dennis Prager, you are moron of the highest order. The point of swearing an oath on the bible is that apparently, if you believe in the bible, it will make your oath more binding. If you're forced to swear an oath on a book that has no relevance to you, then you may as well use a copy of Juggs magazine.

crunchyfist: You forgot to turn it over. There's a whole other page - don't feel bad, most people don't realize it's there.

That's a map. I saw it in that Nicolas Cage movie.

When all elected officials take their oaths of office with their hands on the very same book, they all affirm that some unifying value system underlies American civilization. If Keith Ellison is allowed to change that, he will be doing more damage to the unity of America and to the value system that has formed this country than the terrorists of 9-11.

this has gotta be satire.

who gave skookum a talk radio show?

Wow, thank (the one true, Christian) God that Dennis Prager is here to speak for all of us. When he speaks, AMERICA speaks!

But somehow the Christians are still oppressed.

Programmer Cat: Are you telling me that politicians currently embody the ideals of the Constitution? I didn't know that the Constitution enshrined deceit, power-lust, and corruption.

No, see, you're talking about "politicians".

And to be fair, I did say "supposed to".

Ni!: Bacon. They should just place their hand on a slab af bacon and swear on that. Everyone can get behind and believe in bacon.

No kidding.

After all, bacon cures cancer, and protects against molestation by vermin.

A serious question: did all politicians really swear in on the bible so far? There isn't an option to make a non-denominational 'vow' (sorry, don't no the technical English term) instead of a Christian oath?

heap: this has gotta be satire.

How can you tell, these days?

The worst part of this whole thing is that we're paying them to argue about this shiat.

Fairy tale book? I vote for Pinocchio.
Maybe that way their noses will grow every time the tell a lie.

IsayIsay: A serious question: did all politicians really swear in on the bible so far? There isn't an option to make a non-denominational 'vow' (sorry, don't no the technical English term) instead of a Christian oath?

There is, actually. You may now solemly 'affirm', rather than swear.

/Since the '60's, IIRC.
//Can't remember which president didn't wanna swear. 'Truman' sticks in my head, but that's probably wrong.

Nerdlinger: Maybe that way their noses will grow every time the tell a lie.

All that's going to do is breed a new crop of plastic surgeons, and you know it.

I'm actually in favor of a religious component to the oath of office. Let's face it, our leaders don't give a flying fark about their jobs or about the country and it's not like there are many avenues of recourse until it becomes so extreme that we simply can't ignore it anymore. So if there's even the slightest chance of eternal consequences for these slimeballs I think we may as well take it.

Just playing the odds, I guess.

IsayIsay: A serious question: did all politicians really swear in on the bible so far? There isn't an option to make a non-denominational 'vow' (sorry, don't no the technical English term) instead of a Christian oath?

I know you don't have to when you testisfy.

I'd say lets see what happens when an atheist gets elected, but that won't happen in my lifetime.

In fact, the opposite is more likely: Ellison's doing so will embolden Islamic extremists and make new ones, as Islamists, rightly or wrongly, see the first sign of the realization of their greatest goal -- the Islamicization of America.

It's hard to believe paranoia this intense can exist.

Action Replay Nick: It's hard to believe paranoia this intense can exist.

You know why haunted houses and rollercoasters exist? Because some people just love to be scared.

Action Replay Nick: It's hard to believe paranoia this intense can exist.

Well, the general 'terrorist' won't work anymore; it's been done to death.

'Communism' isn't really that much of a threat since the USSR broke up, so no more 'Red Menace'

And the 'Yellow Menace' got passe' a hundred years ago....

Action Replay Nick: It's hard to believe paranoia this intense can exist.

Really? What about the Salem Witch Trials, McCarthyism, the persecution of the Jews in Germany and the lack of good Bigfoot porn?

OK, I stand corrected. I momentarily forgot how stupid the human race is.

crunchyfist: Bigfoot porn

some word combinations demand a GIS be done, simply by their proximity to one another.

People are stupid.

heap: some word combinations demand a GIS be done, simply by their proximity to one another.

That's hawt!

muninsfire: Can't remember which president didn't wanna swear. 'Truman' sticks in my head, but that's probably wrong.

Nixon. He was a Quaker (hard to believe, I know) and they don't swear oaths.

Why not place their hands on a big fat wad of hundred dollar bills?
/?

I'd rather they swear on the bible to uphold the constitution than have them swear on the constitution to uphold the bible.

I just love the arrogant dismissal of thousands of years of human spirituality.

This despite the fact that spiritual civilizations.....no matter what their beliefs are more successful and peaceful overall than atheist civilizations.

Communism has a 100 million + death toll. All non combatants.

FTFA: Dennis Prager is a radio show host...

So he is in the "create excitement for no good reason business".

He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.

Thanks for the heads up, insane weirdo.

What do Muslims do when they testify in court? Affirm, or whip out a Koran?

The only real fairy tale here is the one involving the submitter's mom knowing which of the guys she was with the night the submitter was conceived is actually the submitter's dad....

--h

/I could careless what holy book is used as long as the guy keeps his hands off my wallet, my firearms, my bedroom, and my computer...and if he didn't diddle the help, that'd be good too

The point this jackass is missing is that the oath of office is supposed to be done on an object that the maker of the oath puts some weight into. This is historically a Christian nation, so a Bible was used, but if a person does not believe in the Bible, then the pledge is meaningless. If this Congressman wants to pledge on a Koran, then so be it, if it will be meaningful to him. What does it matter what he pledges on, so long as he holds the pledge?

From TFA: Forgive me, but America should not give a hoot what Keith Ellison's favorite book is. Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible.

Americans, not Dennis Prager, decide what book or books they care about... you stupid fark.

Programmer Cat: How about using the Consti-farking-tution?


Why require any swearing? I mean, @#$@#@^% , doesn't mean much to me. Maybe they shoudl just signa global release that allows any member of the United States to audit them and their families 1 x in their life.

archichris: This despite the fact that spiritual civilizations.....no matter what their beliefs are more successful and peaceful overall than atheist civilizations.

Communism has a 100 million + death toll. All non combatants.

There are three kinds of lies:

Lies, Damned lies, and Statistics.

/Please, don't drag that tired old thing in here. That horse won't run.
//Rather than throwing stones, look to your own glass house.

revrendjim: Nixon. He was a Quaker (hard to believe, I know) and they don't swear oaths.

Ah, thank you.

heap

I hate pointy knees!

archichris: This despite the fact that spiritual civilizations.....no matter what their beliefs are more successful and peaceful overall than atheist civilizations.

Yes, religion does a great job of keeping the sheep docile.

Programmer Cat
Hell, make 'em swear on a copy of Iron Maiden's Powerslave LP.

Your ideas intrigue me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

archichris

Hungry much?
/go back under your bridge

You need to use an Italian cookbook of course.

All hail The Flying Spaghetti Monster!
r'Amen!