The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission | Religious Liberty in Your Community | Comments http://erlc.com/ This feed provides all comments on "Religious Liberty in Your Community." en web-master@erlc.com ℗ & © 2008 ERLC Comment 1 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment1 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment1 Yes they are.  In fact no one is prohibited from praying anytime anywhere.  Go right on ahead with the prayers.  Just don’t make me listen to them.

Linda Diane McMillan
Austin, Texas

]]> Tue, 11 Sep 2007 09:42:41 CST Comment 2 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment2 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment2 As long as the prayer is “ in a legal and appropriate manner”, the right to do so is guaranteed by the constitution. It is neither legal nor appropriate to arrogate public facilities for that purpose. What the ERLC has advocated in the past is to change the law to obliterate the religion-neutral basis of the nation, and make a Christian a more worthy citizen than any other. Such must never be!

]]> Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:33:42 CST Comment 3 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment3 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment3 A couple questions for Eric (post 2)

Eric said,

“What the ERLC has advocated in the past is to change the law to obliterate the religion-neutral basis of the nation, and make a Christian a more worthy citizen than any other.”

That’s a rather bold claim Eric. Will you care to substantiate that claim? I’m pretty sure you have the ERLC confused with someone else, but I’m open to be proven wrong in the event you can show evidence.

Also, on your comment:

“It is neither legal nor appropriate to arrogate public facilities for that purpose.”

That’s an interesting choice of verb, “arrogate.” Would you care to provide an example of what you mean? In other words, what would you consider illegal and inappropriate?

Thanks for your time.

]]> Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:18:35 CST Comment 4 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment4 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment4 You can see my comments at:
http://www.freewebs.com/lmcmillan9/index.htm?blogentryid=2215552
It’s slightly longer than what you all allow.
Linda Diane McMillan

Or try this

]]> Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:31:59 CST Comment 5 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment5 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment5 Hi, Matt. Do you no longer reveal that you are an employee of the ERLC, and are paid to spin the discussion to the ‘correct’ point of view?

Point 2 first.

ar·ro·gate /ˈærəˌgeɪt/ –verb (used with object),gat·ed, -gat·ing. 1. to claim unwarrantably or presumptuously; assume or appropriate to oneself without right: to arrogate the right to make decisions. 

The use of public facilities for religious purposes to which a portion of the public objects would seem to fall well within the comcept of arrogation, and those who do so as arrogant. [same root] The schools and other PUBLIC institutions belong equally to ALL citizens, be they Christian, Moslem, atheist, or none of the above.If you don’t see this as inappropriate, you just proved my point 1.

Asking me to substantiate anything in 1k characters is absurd; particularly when you are allowed unlimited space for YOUR views.

]]> Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:40:34 CST Comment 6 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment6 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment6 i think and believe that we should all be nice in our comments.  truth is precious.

however, i get excited and angry when a baby is murdered.  when a person is physically attacked.  there are many useless arguments about nothing.  the people that went against the principals ruling should all get 1 yr. in jail. re: the jenna6.  nobody else but them.

arrogance is not good.  kindness is better.

]]> Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:12:10 CST Comment 7 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment7 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment7 In America we are hanging on the edge of a great precipice.  So-called “hate crime” legislation will be introduced in the U.S. Senate shortly, and has ALREADY been passed in the U.S. House.  The REAL AIM of this legislation is to PUT PASTORS AND OTHERS WHO SPEAK OUT AGAINST HOMOSEXUALITY INTO JAIL!  This has ALREADY been done in SWEDEN and CANADA!  Christians have ALREADY been ARRESTED in PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA for presenting the GOSPEL at a Gay Pride rally!  Christians, we MUST make our voices heard in the U.S. Senate!  PLEASE, CALL,WRITE, EMAIL YOUR SENATORS TO DEFEAT THIS LEGISLATION, NOW!!  WOULD YOU RATHER TAKE A STAND NOW, OR FROM THE JAILHOUSE?!  This is MOST URGENT!  In the love of Jesus Christ for America, Ed Vinson

]]> Tue, 25 Sep 2007 21:37:24 CST Comment 8 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment8 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment8 Ed: Puhhleeze! Spare us rhetorical excesses!

Freedom of speech has been repeatedly upheld for groups such as the KKK, American Nazi Party, and Fred Phelps’ ‘Christian’. group. Were you wanting a message more extreme and violent than those? If so, perhaps a refresher course on the Beatitudes is in order.

To be prosecuted as a hate crime, a CRIME must be committed. There is nothing in the bill which would create new crimes.

Your reference to other jurisdictions is meaningless; each has a very different legal system. The Philly case involved protesters with bullhorns disrupting a legal gathering; not the gracious polite demeanor requested of dissenters here, is it.

You, as a Christian are in a protected group; are you willing to forego YOUR special status?

]]> Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:02:29 CST Comment 9 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment9 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment9 Let’s see… We can have the kids line up their prayer mats, face east, and pray to the Virgin Mary, recite a couple of lines from Macabees and then light the Menorrah.  Or maybe we should just limit our biblical recitation to passages that the Brittish royals have liked, and kept.  Afterward, we can recite a disclaimer like they have on infomercials on tv.  Then, if you live in Utah, maybe the first second and third grade teacher can all have their (same) husband in to lead prayers.  The losers in the football game can handle a few serpents to see if being losers is REALLY God’s will… If you take a hit at converting other people’s kids this way, you open yours up to it too.

]]> Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:23:16 CST Comment 10 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment10 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment10 Sue K, since it is obvious that you cannot stay on topic, and your comments have an air of sickness about them, maybe you would care to respond to Jesus, Who said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me”.  Please stay on topic this time.  Thanks.

]]> Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:38:12 CST Comment 11 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment11 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment11 Richard Land made the statement that the majority of Southern Baptists will urge the president to veto the Hate Crimes legislation and the ENDA - Employment Discrimination Act -. 80% of all US citizens approve the passage of these bills. As a member of a SBC church, Richard Land does not speak for me and many other SBC church members who do not approve of discrimination in any form.

]]> Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:46:39 CST Comment 12 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment12 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment12 I have been a Southern Baptist for over sixty years! Richard Land does not speak for me either! I am ashamed that a representative of our great denomination would take such a spiteful stance! Doesn’t Jesus love the GLBT people too? If Brother Land thinks GLBT are sinners, then he would be in good company by reaching out to them. Seems Jesus hung out with a lot of sinners too! I think it was the Pharisees that didn’t want to associate with “those people”

]]> Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:48:52 CST Comment 13 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment13 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment13 My comment, Ed, is that if prayer is allowed in public schools that your version of Christianity or Christianity itself might be in the minority.  I wouldn’t want some twisted version of the bible or of religion taught to my child by someone who believes something wierd.  Prayer in schools opens that up.  I think that everyone’s for prayer in public schools as long as the prayer is consistant with their beliefs, but that it won’t be.

]]> Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:02:59 CST Comment 14 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment14 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment14 And finally about this issue. Sue you are clearly bigoted and hateful. What makes everyone else’s religion wrong and yours right. Let people pray. Have faith in your own path but respect the paths that others choose. Maybe you are the one with the twisted ‘version’ of the bible. You nor I nor anyone will ever know for sure. It is called faith and belief for a reason. So be respectful.

]]> Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:49:15 CST Comment 15 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment15 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment15 dear christians: We all have the right to think and speak what we believe!That also includes hateful people,to muzzel anyone is unlawful. I do not like the idea that a preacher is put in the same catigory as a neo-nazi! To say the hate of a clansman speach to hurt the homosexuals; is the same as the love of a preachers sermon to reach them, is upsetting! Because that is what the law says. To the ones that this offends just think about this. What is the difference between that law, and what hitler &stalin;had for laws? The language!

]]> Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:43:48 CST Comment 16 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment16 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment16 Well, you can put lipstick on a pig…
Maybe the “preacher,” or whatever claims to be speaking in love but his or her words have the same effect as the clansman:  Violence.  You can call it love all you want but it’s still violence.

]]> Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:12:26 CST Comment 17 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment17 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment17 Well, since the majority of posters can’t seem to get over themselves and their liberal rhetoric long enough to stay ON TOPIC, and the topic is “Are students allowed to pray, in a legal and appropriate manner, during graduation activities in your community?” ...

Yes, I am happy to say that they are, in my community.

]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:37:57 CST Comment 18 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment18 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment18 The U.S. Supreme Court declared secularism as a religion.  That is what has been taught in our public schools for a long time.  Now we even have Islam being taught in our public schools.

]]> Thu, 15 Nov 2007 11:02:15 CST Comment 19 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment19 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment19 i feel christians need to stand together on our rights, god created this world and people may not want to accept that, no matter what the world says or does the word of God will stand. this is suppose to be american, we have a right for freedom of religion and freedom to speak, the churches need to take a stand and unite together, america was founded on God, and God won’t be took out of it, no matter what people do.

]]> Sat, 17 Nov 2007 05:48:00 CST Comment 20 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment20 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment20 Thank you for the work you do to expand our religious liberties. A looming threat to our constitution and the freedom of speech and religion is the North American Union. IF we allow it to continue we will have our liberties limited as Canadians do.  Nolen

]]> Fri, 28 Dec 2007 08:59:55 CST Comment 21 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment21 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment21 What is being done about international law? Alot of our probs are on our legal benches and in Harvard etc.  International will take precedent over constitutional.  This one is crouching at the door threatening all freedoms.  Do we have a plan?

]]> Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:24:15 CST Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:14:39 CST Comment 22 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment22 http://erlc.com/article/are-students-allowed-to-pray-during-graduation-activities-in-your-community#comment22 “we will have our liberties limited as Canadians do.” Nolen

I’m sure that a lot of Canadians would be surprised to hear that, since Canada regularly surpasses the US in human rights surveys. (as do many other countries)

The Canadian law ensures citizens are free FROM hate; you seem to want to be free TO hate.

]]> Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:14:39 CST