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Establishment Clause

Why Everyone Should Oppose Ten Commandments In Public Schools – Especially Religious People

Paul Brandeis Raushenbush | Posted 05.14.2013 | Religion
Paul Brandeis Raushenbush

Every religious person should object to having the Ten Commandments in schools because you are allowing other people -- people over whom you have no control -- the responsibility of interpreting said commandments.

The First Casualty Of Religious Wars Is Truth

Tom Carpenter | Posted 05.06.2013 | Religion
Tom Carpenter

Over the past decades, conservative Christians have had almost full reign within the military, and they disproportionally make up most of the Chaplaincy. In the last several years, though, there has been closer scrutiny of the conduct of certain chaplains and commanders who have used their positions to advance their own religious beliefs.

City Commission's Prayer Policy Upheld

Brad Reid | Posted 03.28.2013 | Politics
Brad Reid

The case, Atheists of Florida v. City of Lakeland, provides an example of how local legislative bodies might craft a prayer policy that a court could find constitutionally permissible.

Conflating Religion and the Constitution

Ediberto Roman | Posted 03.27.2013 | Miami
Ediberto Roman

I find the use of religion as the basis for deciding the recent Supreme Court's marriage case as a failure to fully understand our constitution.

Not About Gay Rights: Same Sex Marriage and the Separation of Church and State

Sonu Bedi | Posted 03.26.2013 | Politics
Sonu Bedi

Advocates of gay marriage gathered in Washington this week to hear the arguments presented at the Supreme Court, with some justices hinting that they are afraid to move too quickly on the issue. But that's because they were hearing the wrong argument.

Is America A Christian Or Secular Nation?

Jacques Berlinerblau | Posted 05.14.2013 | Religion
Jacques Berlinerblau

If you want to know what the Treaty of Tripoli is and why we should be so cautious when interpreting those cryptic 16 words of the religion clauses of the First Amendment, then listen to Professor Fea's rich and detailed reflections on our foundational documents.

Judge: Churches Allowed Access To City Public Schools

The Huffington Post | Gregory Kristof | Posted 07.02.2012 | Home

New York City public schools may no longer bar churches from conducting service events on school premises, a federal judge ruled Friday. The ruling...

Voices United: Music for Separation

Noah Fitzgerel | Posted 08.25.2012 | Teen
Noah Fitzgerel

Passion and music are powerful entities, and together they often have the power to change the world.

Jaweed Kaleem

Does The National Day Of Prayer Mix Church And State?

HuffingtonPost.com | Jaweed Kaleem | Posted 05.03.2012 | Religion

Hundreds of Texans are expected to come to downtown Dallas Thursday for an eight-hour string of faith-based celebrations that will include Sikh drumme...

School Reverses Decision To Cut 'God' From Song

The Huffington Post | Andres Jauregui | Posted 04.05.2012 | Religion

Parents at Stall Brook Elementary in suburban Massachusetts became upset after administrators planned to remove the word "God" from the Lee Greenwood ...

Rick Santorum, You're No Jack Kennedy

Todd Green, Ph.D. | Posted 04.28.2012 | Religion
Todd Green, Ph.D.

JFK knew the First Amendment. He understood and articulated the importance of balancing both clauses in it. Santorum really doesn't understand.

Justices Rely On 'Standing' To Dismiss Church-State Disputes

Posted 08.29.2011 | Religion

By Adelle M. Banks Religion News Service WASHINGTON (RNS) As the U.S. Supreme Court ends its 2010-2011 term this week, legal scholars say a decision ...

Vouchers Are a Scam

Steve Nelson | Posted 07.12.2011 | Home
Steve Nelson

Ms. Rhee's missive intentionally avoids some very glaring problems, leading one to suspect her motivation and the motivation of other conservatives who press for vouchers and school choice.

Eviscerating the Establishment Clause

Geoffrey R. Stone | Posted 06.06.2011 | Politics
Geoffrey R. Stone

The five conservatives on the Supreme Court have now all but enabled government to violate the Establishment Clause at will by denying courts the authority to declare even unconstitutional programs unconstitutional.

California Veterans Memorial Cross Ruled Unconstitutional

Posted 05.25.2011 | Religion

By Adelle M. Banks Religion News Service WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday (Jan. 4) a veterans' memorial featuring a 43-foot cross ...

Obama Clarifies Religious Liberty Protections, Strengthens Foundation Of Faith-Based Policy

K. Hollyn Hollman | Posted 05.25.2011 | Religion
K. Hollyn Hollman

It was not fast and it did not finish the job, but the Obama administration's executive order clarifying policies on government partnerships with faith-based organizations is important.

One Nation Under God?

Steve Nelson | Posted 05.25.2011 | Home
Steve Nelson

Religion aside, children should not be required to utter pledges and oaths of any kind. Uncritical declarations of loyalty, to country or to God are anti-educational.

Supreme Court Wrestles Over Religious Scholarship Program

Posted 05.25.2011 | Religion

By Adelle M. Banks Religion News Service WASHINGTON (RNS) Is a state law that allows tax credits for donations to scholarship programs unconstitution...

The Separation Of Church And State In American Politics

Nomi M. Stolzenberg | Posted 05.26.2011 | Religion
Nomi M. Stolzenberg

While there is broad agreement that the prohibition on state "establishment" of religion implies some sort of separation between religion and politics, it has always been open to interpretation just what form of separation is required.

Bob the Islamic Center Builder

John Marshall | Posted 05.25.2011 | Comedy
John Marshall

Rick Majestic Bob the Islamic Community Center Builder's new CD features songs about conflict resolution, cooperation and refusal to exploit a nati...

How Three Letters Can Get You Fired in Texas

Michael Zimmerman, Ph.D. | Posted 05.25.2011 | Religion
Michael Zimmerman, Ph.D.

So what did Chris Comer, Director of Science for the Texas Education Agency, do to get fired? The TEA claims she violated their "neutrality" policy by taking a position in favor of teaching evolution over creationism.

Week's Funniest Joke: GOP Demands Obama Nominate Mainstream Candidate to Supreme Court

Jeff Schweitzer | Posted 05.25.2011 | Politics
Jeff Schweitzer

Obama should nominate an overtly leftist candidate as a counterweight to the right wing extremism of Alito, Roberts and Scalia. Let the GOP filibuster, and bluster. Bring it on.

Celebrating "Under God" Whether There is a God or Not

Brad Hirschfield | Posted 05.25.2011 | Religion
Brad Hirschfield

The Ninth Circuit did a good thing by upholding the propriety of reciting the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Super Bowl Slippery Slope: Advertising and Free Speech

Marcia G. Yerman | Posted 05.25.2011 | Media
Marcia G. Yerman

I have to start off with an admission. I haven't watched the Super Bowl in over twenty years. Bone crushing violence does nothing for me. I prefer...

Blind Faith: Supreme Court Meltdown

Jeff Schweitzer | Posted 05.25.2011 | Politics
Jeff Schweitzer

If a Christian would not select a Star of David then why on earth would a Jew choose a cross? Yet that is exactly what Scalia proposes. The notion that the cross represents everybody is bizarre.