Defending the Christian faith and promoting its wisdom against the secular and religious challenges of our day.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Secularism and the Death of “Equal Access”
The First Amendment reads:
• Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…
When government rules that religious groups can no longer rent space at public schools, while allowing other community groups to do so, it violates the constitution: “prohibiting the free exercise [of religion] thereof…” It is also discriminatory and denies the principle of “equal access”:
• The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to review a more-than-16-year legal battle over a New York City “unequal access” policy. The policy discriminates against churches and other religious groups that desire to meet on weekends at public school facilities on the same terms as other groups. The high court’s decision not to weigh in on the Alliance Defense Fund case means that the policy can stand and that the New York City Department of Education can keep religious services out of public school buildings on weekends even though numerous other community groups use school space for their meetings. http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/supreme-court-ignores-discrimination-against-religious-groups-in-public-sch?utm_source=LifeSiteNews.com+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=b00971ab78-LifeSiteNews_com_US_Headlines12_05_2011&utm_medium=email
Why this blatant hostility towards religious groups? It fits into the new and monopolistic stealth religion of secularism and religious pluralism. Here are some of its unwritten tenants:
1. All religions are the same and should be treated as such!
2. Secularism (materialism, atheism, naturalism) is not a religion.
3. Secularism is about facts, proofs, and evidences. Religion is about faith. Therefore, secularism should govern public discourse and decision-making. Religion should be kept private and confined to churches, mosques and synagogues.
4. Secularism is neutral and moderate. Religion is biased and extreme and therefore must be overseen by secularism.
These, of course, are the modern dogmas vigorously promoted by the media, schools, and government. However, they are all biased and reflect the secular version of religion. Instead:
1. Religions are very different.
2. Secularism is just as much a religion as the others, although it doesn’t entail any idea of a Supreme Being. Instead, the human being is supreme, at least some of them.
3. Secularism is just as much committed to their unprovable religious beliefs as are those groups they deem “religions.” For one thing, secularism believes and promotes “Naturalism.” However, this belief – everything happens and originates naturally – lacks the slightest scientific support. Secularism also unjustifiably dismisses the idea that other religions could have evidential support.
4. Secularism is anything but neutral. It’s all about its own self-promotion. Instead of allowing “equal access” to the public schools, secularism is actively and monopolistically promoting its own values.
Yes, we are diverse and must forge some way by which we can all live together under the umbrella of the USA. However, this cannot happen as long as secularism refuses to be transparent about its faith, goals, and policies. Without transparency, we can’t ever hope to have any meaningful conversation and compromise.
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