“I believe this notion of the separation of church and state was the figment of some infidel’s imagination.” With that declaration, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, defended his partisan campaigning for Ronald Reagan in 1984. In his sermon on the eve of the Republican National Convention in Dallas, W.A. Criswell, who was also a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, implicitly endorsed Reagan’s reelection. From the pulpit, Criswell praised Reagan as “the best president we ever had.” Then a few days later Criswell offered the benediction at the Republican gathering on the night Reagan gave his acceptance address for his renomination.
If they truly believe what they decided, then Muslim or any other religious affiliation is also eligible, and they should be. As it is, I suspect there would be a fuss if a school were to use prayers from my Episcopal Prayer Book instead of the spontaneous prayers offered by the big-box evangelicals, or maybe Roman Catholic prayers, considering the faith of some of the justices--at least the preachers in those churches would not want their children exposed to my form of prayer. Maybe the Mormons have enough clout to use theirs... I just hope--and suspect--my church will have nothing to do with State support. State-connected "Christians" supported Hitler and Stalin...
Christian nationalism is theologically and politically evil. But slippery slope arguments are dangerous in their own right.
So, making an irrational boogeyman out of neutrality on otherwise universally available public funding is an assault on equal access to public money. As long as religious programs meet the standards established by law for funds they should be allowed to apply. Making public money available to private entities might be an unwise policy, but it is not the establishment of religion. And it is certainly not Christian Nationalism, one presumes a synagogue or mosque in Maine could also get funds.
Well said, Brian and Beau. And thanks for upholding the traditional Baptist position on the separation of church and state.
If they truly believe what they decided, then Muslim or any other religious affiliation is also eligible, and they should be. As it is, I suspect there would be a fuss if a school were to use prayers from my Episcopal Prayer Book instead of the spontaneous prayers offered by the big-box evangelicals, or maybe Roman Catholic prayers, considering the faith of some of the justices--at least the preachers in those churches would not want their children exposed to my form of prayer. Maybe the Mormons have enough clout to use theirs... I just hope--and suspect--my church will have nothing to do with State support. State-connected "Christians" supported Hitler and Stalin...
Christian nationalism is theologically and politically evil. But slippery slope arguments are dangerous in their own right.
So, making an irrational boogeyman out of neutrality on otherwise universally available public funding is an assault on equal access to public money. As long as religious programs meet the standards established by law for funds they should be allowed to apply. Making public money available to private entities might be an unwise policy, but it is not the establishment of religion. And it is certainly not Christian Nationalism, one presumes a synagogue or mosque in Maine could also get funds.