I also left Texas over 20 years ago for the same reason. I don't think Texas, as a state, is interested in being like the rest of the U.S. However, sededing and forming their own sovereign nation would put a gun-toting and vigilante-minded nation between us and our troubled nation to the south and beget wars almost certainly.

I have a pretty smiple question that NO one seems to want to ask or maybe I missed. Where did this information come from i.e. news paper, school board member directly where did the orginial information come from?

Follow the hyperlinks in the post, Paul. Then google for keywords, including names of the appointees, and you'll find much more.

Dignity in public schools?  It doesn't exist.

No ma'am, this is one reason why government shouldn't be involved in curriculum approval.

Standardized curricula would be a band-aide at best and regionally inappropriate at worse. Standardizing the process by which curricula are evaluated gives us a chance to see evidence-based curricula extend into the future.

Malcomb: well stated.

Malcolm, Please accept my apology for misspelling your name.

Unfortunately, Texas is such a large market for textbooks that the textbook publishers feel forced to eidt their textbooks in order to comply with the Texas rules.  This is a case of the tail wagging the dog.  We need to convince the textbook publishers to publish textbooks that are scientifically and historically correct!  If Texas wants their own, Bible-Belt versions, then let them publish their own versions of science and history!

Bud i agree, That way their Children will be The LEFT BEHIND .Since the bible Belt kids will not get the correct education to fullfill in the education university and the world.

I can't believe how much "let Texas secede" and "they should do something about it or their children deserve to suffer" I have heard since Rick Perry or his devoted followers decided to mention secession.  Texas is a part of the United States.  Only a minority of people in Texas are problem fundamentalists, and although it seems like there is a church on every street corner, Texas' state rights' don't include a right to decide against separation of church and state.  There are many people here in Texas, like me, who believe that no child should be fed religious propaganda in school.  It would be better for the whole country if the whole country got involved in making sure that the actions of the Texas board of education are made very unpopular throughout Texas and the US in an effort to thwart bad and craziness.

Texas has provided me with a great bioscience education that includes evolution and I am not in any way religious.  I knew in high school that Bush was a bad choice, but what did the rest of America do?  They elected him.  He may be from Texas but he is not representative of Texans and he was elected by all of America.  Twice.  In addition, the Texas board of education could easily have been elected by a minority of Texans just as Perry was, so blaming Texans for this is insane. 

Texas deserves what every other state in the union deserves:  good public education.  Suggesting anything otherwise is more emotional than logical.

"I knew in high school that Bush was a bad choice, but what did the rest of America do?  They elected him."

WHEN are people going to get this straight?? In 2,000 it was handed to him by the Supreme Court; in '04 it was stolen, period.  I wish people would get it straight.

I'm another Texan who lives elsewhere - Oregon. Texas WAS a nice place until ideologues convinced a bunch of people that their religion was being attacked by their being forbidden to enact it into law. Nowadays, Texas is still a nice place, but it's full of Texans like that.  We used to respect the rights of others, as well as DEMAND that others respect ours. Now too many demand respect and offer none.  It ain't home any more.

Ian

National standards, and a nationally standardized curriculum are the goal of "global" corporations so they can turn American public schools into their cheap, standardized worker delivery system.  If it is allowed to go forth, the United States will become the land of economic apartheid -- very much a land of the haves and the have-nots.

hey sean, do you think nationalized education standards could be safe and effective if they were strictly based on what is currently being called "evidence-based" curriculums? i am paranoid (and i think for good reason) about the movement for the nationalization of educational standards but am thinking that true adherence to "evidence-based" methods could work.

How do you know what is historically correct?

To keep things in perspective, even if someone used "hate" in the name of Jesus; certainly you can differentiate the source and the fool. There was a time when the word "funfamental" was not the adjective it is today. There was only the Law. The only time theology is a problem is when it disagrees with what we have come to believe is appropriate conduct -- regardless of what we "feel" is right for us. Notwithstanding, it 's not about homosexuality exclusively; theologically it's about sin in general -- which, theologically speaking, we all do. Therefore, no one person has the right to judge another. That said, the so called conservative party has somehow become aligned with Judeo-Christian theology. Well, in case you didn't know, nothing could be further from the truth, period. Theology doesn't rape, kill, enslave, demoralize; and then go to church on Sunday. It's not the Church, it's the hypocrisy that's the problem.
I don't see how taking prayer out of the school system has helped us. Check out the stats.

 In grade school they used to force me to stand for the lords prayer.  I did not believe in the same superstition and refused to stand.  I was disciplined and still refused.  Kids beat me up, egged and toilet papered my house.  How dare I not believe as they did.  How has no prayer in school helped? No-one has to go through what I did.  No-one has to have a bunch of hypocritical jerks forcing their beliefs down their throats.  Turn the other cheek, do unto others, compassion, my eye. Religion does not determine what a person becomes.  I have lived my life without ever hurting anyone because that is what is right and makes sense, not because the bible tells me so.  I've never met people so arrogant as christians.

Mark,
you already had a good point without the last two sentences. Forcing someone to join in worship serves no Christian purpose, so what good does it do to force children to pray in school? Furthermore, have you been to a graduation benediction recently? It's the worst kind of nothing, because it is a non-religious worship of a non-god deity. It's worse than hearing a politician talk about all of the non-accomplishments he's accomplished. Bottom line is, regardless of the benefit to society, prayer in schools is unChristian because it forces worship out of unbelievers.

Timothy,
tell me about it. People who claim to be Christians can be some of the most arrogant, hypocritical, ignorant, morons some of the time. I'm sorry that you were treated with such disrespect. The problem with most of these types is that they don't care what their own religion teaches them. Some of these types of Christians are genuinely trying and simply haven't learned all of the teachings, yet, but most simply don't care what their religion teaches and are simply trying to use it as a weapon against people they don't like. Please don't believe that we are all like that, though. There are a large number of us that are caring, peaceful individuals that are just as mad at that vocal group of supposedly Christian people. And most of our time is spent trying to stop these... morons... and repair the damage they do.

Damon
I don't know where you got your information that these students would become "sub standard" and need to take remedial classes to catch them up with the system. If anyone would ever look up the average home school student or christian high school student going into a worldly college or university they score in the top 10 percent of SAT and ACT test takers. WHY? They have gotten a balanced education. This is not to say that all christian schools do this but the vast majority do.

Now myself I went to a Catholic school for the first 3 years of my wonderful education then I went to public schools from the 4th grade till my freshman year of college. I had to go to a JC for a semester and a half before I could even think about getting into Loyola Marymount University because I got such a poor eduction in public schools. Am I sorry about this? By no means at all I loved my education all of it, even though it took thirty years to finish because of work, family, kids, music, protesting, then becoming a pastor.

I have never been a stupid Christian nor have I ever ask people to keep their kids stupid, on the contrary, I have tried to get kids into Stanford and Berkley, and yes a few Bible schools but as a whole to be honest I have tried to keep them out of bible schools that aren't a good liberial arts school as well. So I agree there are those who try and dumb down the kids and keep them barefoot pregnant so to speak (that isn't just a christian thing though).So what if they put in a section on Christianity or religion what is one or two sections going to hurt? The same can be said by teaching about the GLB&T lifestyles there are a lot of people just like many of you who don't want that being taught either, do they have the same rights as you to say no as well as you? Yes.

There is no clear cut answer to this problem as well other than nobody gets their own way, just teach the true history leaving out any reference to religion or sexual preference, evolution or any other controversy there is. Now that would be a true education eradication.

Damon
I don't know where you got your information that these students would become "sub standard" and need to take remedial classes to catch them up with the system. If anyone would ever look up the average home school student or christian high school student going into a worldly college or university they score in the top 10 percent of SAT and ACT test takers. WHY? They have gotten a balanced education. This is not to say that all christian schools do this but the vast majority do.

Now myself I went to a Catholic school for the first 3 years of my wonderful education then I went to public schools from the 4th grade till my freshman year of college. I had to go to a JC for a semester and a half before I could even think about getting into Loyola Marymount University because I got such a poor eduction in public schools. Am I sorry about this? By no means at all I loved my education all of it, even though it took thirty years to finish because of work, family, kids, music, protesting, then becoming a pastor.

I have never been a stupid Christian nor have I ever ask people to keep their kids stupid, on the contrary, I have tried to get kids into Stanford and Berkley, and yes a few Bible schools but as a whole to be honest I have tried to keep them out of bible schools that aren't a good liberial arts school as well. So I agree there are those who try and dumb down the kids and keep them barefoot pregnant so to speak (that isn't just a christian thing though).So what if they put in a section on Christianity or religion what is one or two sections going to hurt? The same can be said by teaching about the GLB&T lifestyles there are a lot of people just like many of you who don't want that being taught either, do they have the same rights as you to say no as well as you? Yes.

There is no clear cut answer to this problem as well other than nobody gets their own way, just teach the true history leaving out any reference to religion or sexual preference, evolution or any other controversy there is. Now that would be a true education eradication.

Michael, can you lead me tp the Tunis letter?  I'd like to hang it on my office wall, next to my picture of an "illegal" alien who was deported because he terminated his entry to help a young boy who's mother had died as a result of driving off the edge of a remote mountain road, ie waited for "authorities" to come and help the kid.

I thought George W. was a Texas anomoly but now I'm not so certain.  The Muslim Taliban has it's Christian counterpart alright!  These people are downright scary in my point of view.  Are their lives so insular that they believe the stuff they're spouting?

It really is scary sometimes how a group of people can twist some philanthropic teachings of an honest man into a rule set that somehow allows them to do things in direct contradiction of those teachings. What's worse is that people fall for this crap and become polarized either for or against it rather than working together as one people. This country was founded on freedom of all sorts, but most importantly the freedom to not be forced into another's code of morality.

There is no such a thing as value free education, is either leftist or rightist, but apperenlty left means good right means bad. If we want to ban realigion lest ban Greek myhtology adn their Gods, Aztecs and their Gods, oh and the environmental radicals and their God, mother earth.

There is no such a thing as value free education, is either leftist or rightist, but apperenlty left means good right means bad. If we want to ban realigion lest ban Greek myhtology adn their Gods, Aztecs and their Gods, oh and the environmental radicals and their God, mother earth.

Laura Gonzalez

 There is free education.. its called free thinking abilities, something you lack of. Christian and their fundie  zombies rather people be like them dumb and brainwashed.

Mother earth is the planet you live on, if you don't like her, but hate her cause of your bloody religion, then please take the first space ship out too Uranus... since Jesus is waiting for you there.

Lara
First of all, Laura has a valid point. All religions should have equal, factual coverage in a social studies class. It's a class which is intended to teach facts _about_ and _study_ of culture, which includes religions, both current and extinct. The religions should not be taught, but taught **about.**

Secondly, only someone who has no valid argument resorts to personal attacks. It is a detriment to any valid arguments that you do have, and polarizes those who are listening against you regardless of their agreement with you. Please refrain from personal attacks, at least if you want to actually persuade your opponent to agree with you. If your purpose is just to make you feel better about your beliefs, it really doesn't help much there either.

Ah there's that entity trying to gain the upper hand.
That trained mentality to poke at any seeming soft spot to then attack again.

Such is the demonic depravity of chrispy christianity to call a foul when in fact the mere existance of evil edict is a foul against humanity.  

I see the repitition of the phrase, the exposing of the agenda.  

We free ,  sexually joyous human animals are attacked by your mentally depraved and degenerative hateful religion daily.

And worse yet, the mental abuse heeped upon children is beyond depravity.

So if you would like to help the arguement, admit the lies of your religion, there is no god, only the disgusting designs of the depraved imaginations of those who abuse others while professiing divinity.

I see you now, and i hear clearly your satanic message.

Give my best to Lara Nunes, Lara uses facts.

Ta ta, chris
Frederic Starchenkovenner

I guess I don't understand how insulting someone and making up things about another's religion are facts. Please Frederic, enlighten me. When was Jesus proven to be on Uranus? When did Christ teach to hate the planet, something Christians consider to be a gift from God, which many daily fight to preserve and protect from those that would pollute and destroy it? When did Christ or his apostles discourage free thinking or education?

Gather up your story books, gather up your facts.

Would you tell me about December 25th and who was Mary Magdalene?

And who was John the Baptist and who was chosen to take his place?

Any place to begin a fairtale is as good as another.

Your enlightenment may be coming.

Frederic starchenkovenner

Chris asked" when was Jesus from Uranus"....When Jesus stated he was not from THIS WORLD.. called Earth.

Uranus is a planet in the universe, it was nothing about an attack, like you try to claim it too be.Xian loves to make themselves look like victims, when its the non believers who are procequed by the xians. 

When did Christ teach to hate the planet ?

Christ will return to Earth and complete the final act of man's redemption (2 Peter 3:9-10). He will destroy this present universe and create a new heavens and Earth (2 Peter 3:7,10; Revelations 21:1). All the stars and planets will be destroyed, along with the Earth.

When did Christ or his apostles discourage free thinking or education?

Did Jesus write the Bible ?NOPE.. But clergyman and monks did.

Teachers of philosophy give their lives to examining convictions by which people can live, in order to develop a consistent worldview and way of life based on reliable evidence. The Bible warns against philosophies whose highest realities and concerns are atoms, energy, cosmic laws—or even humanity—those founded on the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ.
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:677). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

Christmas is still pagan & celebrated  long before anyone there had heard of Jesus Christ.

http://www.essortment.com/all/christmaspagan_rece.htm

You’re right... I agree that religion should be covered in the public school curriculum. Religion should be taught as History, Social and World Religion studies, although should not extend any further than that.

"Christmas is still pagan & celebrated long before anyone there had heard of Jesus Christ."... This is true as many of the seemingly Christian originated themes are taken from much older societies and past religions we now refer to as mythology. The virgin birth, the rising from the dead, the ability to supernaturally heal, the miracle working are all reoccurring themes throughout ancient storytelling.

I realize there is a "Like" link, but this comment by Bob deserves a hearty

"Hear! Hear!"

We as a nation were clearly founded as NONSECULAR, for anyone who cares to look.  The Constitution specifically states that Congress shall make NO law regarding the establishment of a religion.
Your notion of history is clearly 'revisionist' and is in dire need of some facts. 

I'm temped to call "Poe" on that post, but the unfortunate reality is that there are people that just don't get it and get their information from the pulpit, not from their own research. 

From the statement above, it's unlikely the writer is going to change him mind any time soon, he must cling to his beliefs in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.  If he did not, he would be forced to admit that he's the intolerant one, and that his life and everything he's been brought up to believe are outright bold face lies. 

In many cases, people cling to such lies and untruths because it's what their parents taught them and they aren't willing to admit that mommy and daddy could be wrong.

Also,
    To any Mom's out there.  Happy Mom's Day.

Where to start with this one?

1. "We were founded as a Christian nation and that is easily seen by anyone who cares to look at our history."

  - Shouldn't have gone there.  People who know how to read can actually read our history and learn that no less a statesman than Benjamin Franklin openly doubted the deity of Jesus only weeks before his death.  And, those of us who can read also know about the seperation of church and state which is enshrined in our constitution.

2. "Speaking of myths and magic I can only assume you refer to the fanciful religion of evolution, a theory disproven repeatedly yet still clung to by the Sainted intelligentsia."

  - Actually, it's a Scientific Theory, not a religion.  There are no churches of Evolution.  There is no one or deity which it's adherents pray to.  And, for those (like you?) who think that a scientific theory is some kind of guess, know ye that no scientific theory can stand unless it makes accurate predictions about the future and is testable and provable and verifiable (three things that religion is NOT).   That said, which part of the theory of evolution is 'disproven repeatedly'?

3.  "You wannabe dictators should stay out of Texas."

   -  Like George W?   (HA HA HA HA!!!!)

Ophelia,
Please tell me that you don't consider your statements an "argument" or the act of "debating." Insults are not an effective tool of debate, and they often accomplish the express opposite of persuasion.

James,
This country was founded on religious freedom. A slim majority of the founders were not Christians, but attended various Christian denominations' worship services simply out of a respect for the popularity of the act. Most were deists. A few were atheists. The reason it was founded on religious freedom was because people claiming to be Christians were forcing their beliefs on others back in England within the lifetimes of the founders.

As to evolution? Eh. Theories change over time. Evolution is the current popular theory. In the 1400s it was spontaneous generation. In the 1300s the world was thought to be flat. Popular science changes as new evidence is found. Some may have religious devotion to a particular theory, but a majority are willing to consider other ideas... with evidence. Be patient.

I agree with Anthony. It is hard to take a statement like "You wannabe dictators should stay out of Texas," when a wannabe dictator like W came from that state.

Damon,
As a Christian, I honestly wish I could disagree with what you've said, but, as a Christian, I've seen a lot of that first hand.

Anthony,
I would disagree that separation of church and state is enshrined in our Constitution. At least, to the extent that it is taken today. The Establishment Clause, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," is as close as it gets, and even it does not require that worship not be conducted in government facilities or vice versa. It only says that Congress cannot pass a law that respects (to show regard or consideration for) an establishment of religion, such as the Catholic Church, the Baptist Convention, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, etc. It does, however, unequivocally say that a law cannot be passed which prohibits one to worship as they deem fit, so long as the other constitutionally endowed freedoms are not limited in the process. For example, prayer in schools would be perfectly legal, so long as the school does not organize, mandate, or restrict it in any way more than preventing conflicts with the regular process of education.

On Evolutionary "religion," while I agree that it is the evolutionary theory is a scientific theory, you cannot deny that there are a great number of people that have a level of belief in evolution without understanding or want to understand that is equivalent to a religious faith. Perhaps there aren't people out there worshiping speciation or Darwin, or there aren't people out there killing unbelievers, but they still have faith rather than knowledge, and act with equivalent stupidity on occasion.

Finally someone had the eggs to say the truth against the bigoted hate filled anti religious left that seems to have populated this post.

These people keep claiming seperation of church and state and claim it is in the US Constitution and are willing to die for it, well I wonder what they would do if they were lined up against the wall and told recant or die on the count of three? Why it isn't there.

For many years I have fought the way the supposed well meaning christians went out and tried to sell their brand of belief and then passing it on. I have seen so much abuse in the name of religion and christianity that I almost drove myself nuts.

YES, I am one of those so called christians everyone here seems to hate, and that is ok I am not going to try and debate you or tell you you're wrong that is not my job. If you had come to my church then you would have given me permission to do so but even then that isn't my job and I wouldn't want it.

If people would do some real home work before they spew the fear like they are doing here they would have found out that many home schooled kids have made it very well in the so called "world" and live very productive lives. I even think the new VP had a religious education in his early years what's wrong with him? Yes there are problems in EVERY system but instead of complaining why not really get involved in the process? Get involved join the school board and do something proactive instead of complaining. It is one thing to sit in the back and complain and bitch and moan and another to get your hands dirty.

Thomas,
Interesting. So let me get this straight:
Some guy in the middle east teaches to love your enemies and do good to those who hurt you and do unto others as you would have them do unto you, some other guy in the far east teaches to be at peace with one's fellow man and one's surroundings, some other guy in the middle east says that one who rapes a woman is evil and that children should be protected... and you call these people evil starters of wars?

I think this calls for a quote from Gene Roddenberry through William Shatner:

"I'm laughing at the ‘superior intellect,' Khan."

The teaching about religion should only ever be part of a sociology class or a religion class where there is a discussion about Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Tao, Judaism, and others from a cultural standpoint.  Religion has no place in Science Class and no place in social studies where you are to learn about government and how it works.  That is accept if you are going to deal with how Religion poisons government and the evils of Theocracy.

Thank you Jane, I don't think anyone could have said it better!

Paulino,
Your right Dawkins is a preeminent atheist I listened to a few of his interviews and found him interesting yet when asked a direct question about the primordial ooze he didn't have a good direct answer as do no other evolutionists.

I think of one that stands out blaring golden trumpets that is the use of indoctrination of childern into religion as a form of mental and then possibally physical abuse. There is are NO figures on this happening on a regular basis except in extreme clults that are so off in the darkest reaches of the weirdness meter that they have no place at all in a intelgent talk.

I have had the operitunity to work with a lot of people coming out of these cults as well as the cult of evolution. Yes I call it a cult because it has NEVER been proven down to the base eliment just like faith in the Bible we have to trust, yet there is more information proving the Bible than the evoloutionary proccess.

Now back to the topic at hand what harm is it to have a history book that teachs that every treaty between the whites and the Native Americans was broken by the whites? What is wrong with stating the fact that one US general and President told the troup fighting these "RED" devils to not waste their bullets on them but wait till you have them and then beat them to death with your rifle butts, and when that didn't work THEN the US Government turned the RED devils over to the religious people to be worked over? What happened to the church/state issue there? I wonder why there was no out cry at that point for a new text book? Why for the first 150 years the Bible was the excepted TEXT book for ENGLISH and other studies?

Just a few questions?

Boy please forgive me for doing what I hate about others doing and NOT spell checking on my last post. Pain med's for a shoulder injury and typing with one hand right now just don't go together.

The dollar bill only started carrying that mtto on Oct 1st, 1957.  If the contry was founded in 1957, I'd say you have a point.  But your only point is on the top of your little head, holding that little brain.

Your comment about "In God We Trust" is NOT exclusive to Christianity.  A belief in Jesus Christ as Savior is exclusive to Christianity.  A belief in a God/Creator in fundamental to Jews and Muslims as well as Christians; and, before you argue that Muslims believe in Allah, let me paraphrase Shakespeare:  "A rose (God) by any other name is still a rose."  In fact, early immigrants to the U.S. (i.e. the Pilgrims) fled state-established religions which persecuted people who did not agree or abide by state-established religions and our founding fathers were keenly aware of the enmity and bloodshed that this historical fact claims.  Our Statue of Liberty welcomes the "huddled masses yearning to breathe free" and makes no mention of "Christians only and exclusively."

"In God we trust."  Yes, it does say that--a hangover that we should get rid of.   But tell us please, how does that phrase make us a "Christian" anything?   You have to be pretty supid and/or monumentally egocentric to "believe that "God" is strictly a Christian concept.  You must have been educated" in Texas my dear.     

When will you fundamentalists get it right?  Our dollar bill, which you hold up to the bright light of our founding as a nation did not add the words "In God we Trust" until April 22, 1864.

From the Department of the Treasury website:

The Congress passed the Act of April 22, 1864. This legislation changed the composition of the one-cent coin and authorized the minting of the two-cent coin. The Mint Director was directed to develop the designs for these coins for final approval of the Secretary. IN GOD WE TRUST first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin.

Now Margaret, please forget you ever saw this so you can retreat once again to your private world where everything hateful is the fault of the atheists and all things fundamentalist are pure.

Cheers!!

Talk about revisionism, Article 11 in all probability never existed, Adams signed the treaty, Washington had no part in it. I am surprised that Clay would allow this to digress  into a hate filled attack on Christianity. Babbel on you haters of all things religious. Texas will win. Babbel on.

James Thompson

The article 11  in the Treaty of Tripoli does exist, then again most bible thumping fools can't read a book unless it is a bible.

That is why their IQ level is 60, since they cant compete with the rest of the people whose IQ is higher then 100. So they need to corrupt our public school system with their garbage from that book called idiocy.

Treaty of Tripoli 1797
http://www.rationalrevolution.net/articles/treatytripoli.htm

Michael Sawyer, to answer you question below:

"God did not create religions, men invent religions so that they can claim that they know what God thinks and requires, How more arrogant can you get?"

You, Michael Sawyer,
have achieved that extra rung on the ladder of arrogance with the presumption that such a dictator as a god could even exist.

My question might be how small, abusive, depraved, and degenerative can religions such as christianity sink to  to destroy the lives of children who deserve imagination, creativity, empowerment, and freedom ....  

So you have achieved your own selffullfilling prophesy.   You are more arrogant than the postulate that you posed.

There is no god, only dictatorship of your own enslavement.

The best and most effective jail has only three walls,   no ceiling, no back wall ,  and yet the prisoner will never leave.   Your jail cell has only a door knob with no walls or door to hang even on.

May you someday be free and empower yourself to be free of any imagined god entity.

From a fellow human animal,
wishing you freedom through education,
Frederic Starchenkovenner

Frederic,
   I must correct you on a point (though I have agreed with nearly all your postings -occasional misspellings and grammar errors aside).
   Religions have historically been created as a means to control the masses - give the poor ignorant sheeple a reason to "be good". 
   Appearing to be learned and wise was a bonus.

Mike you have a couple of good points in your comments and I would like to commend you on seeing them. And then correct you on a few others if you are up to correction or not and think that you are 100% inlightened.
You are correct about the Treaty of Tripoli does exsist and it does say that the US was not founded on religion. We weren't founded on a religion but a belief system and a system of faith. Now before anyone jumps on their favorite speeding horse and starts yelling the wackos are coming the wackos are coming better look at the words and how they are presented in KING JAMES English.

Now lets degress a bit in history long before the radification of our Consitution we were founded on Christian principles, but at time  treaty not wanting the Muslims to be reassured that there would not be a religious holy war at any time in the future. But what

Science is constantly changing.......   Now there's an earth shatteriing thought.   

Imagine a world where evolution of THOUGHT changes the very way the human animal perceives lifes.     Imagination, freedom, exploration, progress....    Yes sireeeee, when we could all be livin in the divine encased imagination of encrusted goss-spells of twisted reality weaved together by frustated dictors.     Gooollyyy.

Imagine a world where change happens.   Makes ya want to leave the country don it.

It's called "freedom of religion", not freedom from religion.  Pilgrims didn't all come over here to escape religion, they came over here to have the freedom to choose there religion.
The problem is that if government is going to have public education then it has to deal with the religion issue.  It can't be seperated as long as non religious views are taught.  People have the right to decide what there children are taught if they're paying taxes for public education.
Right or wrong, religious people often view scientific viewpoint such as evolution as a religion. Meaning that it takes faith.

Ah, Brian, but it is freedom from religion.

The Age of Enlightenment brought reason to the forefront for FREEDOM FOM RELIGION.

A good read back at the movement reveals freedom form religion.

And the passage you ellude to does include those who believe in the supreme power of the human animal, imagination, creativity, and freedom.

The disinformation may not be your doing, but it is the vise of the christian cult mantra.

We all have a human right to be free from religion and it is written in our fore father's huiman animal design.

Nice try though,
Frederic Starchenkovenner

Yes, the pilgrams DID come here to escape a forced religion imposed by the King and the State. Read your history books kid.

Um, I think that's what I said !?

 My Apoligy Timothy

 Have a Great day

   Wow, you're neck deep in la-la land, aren't you?  Freemasons are Luciferians?  Let's just say that ludicrous, unfounded statement is true.  Every president (except this one) has been a mason.  So we are then in fact a Luciferian nation.
   Oh, and Yahweh didn't bless you. It was the lucky penny in your pocket.  No wait, it was the salt you threw over your shoulder, or the rabbits foot, or the horse shoe. Superstition is the true opiate of the masses because religion is just another unfounded, unproven, unbelievably moronic superstition.

Mikey

 I was a christian a long time ago,but I was awakened  and knows your fables are nothing but lies. I would rather the bible be abolished as hate speech... that way the rest of us good people can live in peace.

   I believe you are lying Mickey, that you know freemasons.  And if I'm wrong and they told you they were Luciferions I'm sure they were playing with your gullible little mind. Freemasonry is not a religion.

Ha ha ha,  thank goodness there is no god Mickey.

If there were we would have to bring the bugger up on crimes against humanity and hate crimes for those that are different.   

So stop your fussing, there is no god.

Frederic Starchenkovenner

Thank you Michael, that was another issue.  They were also mandated to conform to the state religion. I'd say they left for both reasons.

   And as for you Mickey, if two Gods descended from on high, would you know which one was yours?

   So Biblical cristians good, other christians bad. Got it! Thanks for clearing that up for me. I was laboring under the misconception that you all used the bible.

   Maybe you can clear up another thing? Which christians was it that were responsible for the Inquisitions? or the crusades?  or the Salem witch trials? Not yours I'm sure.

   Satan eh?  Ruling the world you say?  This is so informative.  I need to dig up his E-mail address so I can ask him why drugs, depraved sex, gambling, and prostitution are illegal because I was under the impression that he likes that sort of thing.

   The preachers on the FEMA payroll are there to deal with the death and grief in the aftermath of devastating natural disasters. It must be dealt with according to the particular superstitions of the individual.  They want to know why their god would do this to them.  Disenfranchised religious zealots can be dangerous.

   And if a "true biblical christian" would never go to church or get involved in anything public or political how do you know they really exist?

   Maybe god doesn't believe in christians. Woudn't that be a hoot.

Mother earth! who's your daddy? Father moon. 

laura Gonzalez

You wouldnt understand, at least I can see Mother earth, She is a mother to all of us, since everything that is born plants and others things came from her. Plus Father moon? hmmmm? no

But I do love the planet I live in, where radical xtians rather destroy her....

Now Jesus

Can you see Jesus?

The answer is NO

Plus why on earth would anyone want to worship a man who says you have to HATE your family before you can follow him...

Luke 14:26 says, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."

Have a great day

Lara,

I know 3 Freemasons and they all claim to worship Lucifer. These guys are all above the third degree however. Maybe they are all exceptions. However if you Google Freemason and Lucifer you get 98,200 hits. That is enough proof for me.

3  Freemasons? WOW that is a large number ... and your point? being in the Mason community  it doesnt matter what god they worshipped as long as they have their own personal version.

Unlike Christianity where they claim their God is the ONLY truth...

But yet your Jesus said... God is a personal belief not to be transported to a building made by man and mammon.

 So 3 people believe in Lucifer, WOW .. do you want a cookie ?

Lucifer is the Morning Star, Jesus was also called the Morning star.. they are one and the same.

Plus God created both Good and Evil.. so therefore

 Mikey Obey your God creations .

   Ah, Mickey, a mind is a terrible thing to waste, but in your case getting wasted might do you some good.
   Getting a bunch of hits on your Google search doesn't prove the truth of your assertion. It proves the extent of the paranoia.

Mickey,
you can run from reason, but like all fallacies brought out into the light you cannot hide.

The bright cleansing light of reason will forever burn through the celluloid fantacies imagined before your eyes.    The biddle is falling, the  bibble is falling, the biddle is falling.

Doug Samuelson,

Just a brief comment on a state losing money if they secede from the Union. The Federal Government gets it's money from the States. Not the other way around. Without us in the individual States paying the Federal Government our taxes the Feds would have no money. The Feds are to serve the States, not the States to serve the Feds.

The Federal Government gets most of its money from taxes on individuals and corporations, especially income taxes.  Some states make small-ish direct payments to the Federal Government for services.  The Federal Government makes big revenue sharing payments to states, additional compensation for the costs of having certain Federal facilities (mostly military bases) in the state, and cost-sharing contributions for programs like highway construction and health care.  Texas is a net beneficiary in its financial relationship with the Federal Government.  Check the state budget.

Specifically, according to http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Texas_state_budget, 31 percent of the revenue side of the current Texas budget comes from the Federal government.  The Federal reimbursement the state is seeking for disaster expenses would be in addition to that.

Wow Naomi,

I thought I was the only lover of Jesus on this site. You really come out swinging for the Lord. May Yahweh bless You as He has me.

Maybe the reason they don't put there kids in private school is because they're paying taxes to the government for public schools, and they don't have enough left over to pay money for private school.

You need to read the Constitution and the Declaration.  Most of the Founders were Deists, not Christians.  Jefferson wrote once that he felt that most  people neede "a religion"; he did not specify Christianity.  They deliberately included the eparation Clause to prevent exactly what people like are doing: insisting that this was founded as a CHristian nation, that it should have Christian laws, and on and on.  Jesus' instructions are always ignored or twisted. His kingdom, I have on as good an authority as anyone else, is NOT of this world. The "Christians" who are worshipping their "Warrior Jesus" and trying to get Christianity legislated and forced on school kids are so far from Christianity, they're into another thing entirely. 

Ian

   Wrong, wrong, wrong. And on so many levels.

   "If all of you didn't hate God so much..."
  Wow! What a powerful opening. Unfortunately it displays your ignorance.  See, you believe in god, I (and others) don't. Hatred of the non-existent would be illogical. It is you (and others like you) who we fear, pity, and fail to understand, not hate.

   Hate is for the religious fanatics and there is no shortage there.  Had you lived in old Salem would you  have cheered on the lighting of the torch to burn the witch?  Had you lived at other times might you have been swept up in the tide of religious fervor and thrown the stone, lit the torch, boiled the oil, stripped the flesh, or otherwise smited the unbeliever according to the urgings of your cult leader?

   Your second paragraph tells me you listen to far too much right wing conservative talk radio.

   Here is the most telling thing. You said:

"anyone who responds to this will not have a good argument against my assertions (liberals never do!) but rather will just resort to name calling, making personal attacks, and leveling baseless accusations because that is all liberals have to offer."

   Meaning you are republican and believe all non-christians are ignorant liberals (democrats).  Non belief is not the result of our stupidity as you obviously believe but rather quite the opposite.  I know you've never read the book you thump because if you had you could no longer carry the notion of it being at all applicable to anything happening today.  Did you sacrifice your doves this month during the five days you were unclean?  See, I knew you weren't a "true" believer. Maybe there is hope for you yet.

   Those of your faith who have come before you were the Taliban of their day.  The atrocities of the Al Quida pale in comparison to the death and torture "justified" by your leather bound tome.

   You and your ilk refuse the full story. Ignorance is bliss. Religion is bliss. See any connection?

Donnell,
Its not as much as the Texas education, but the people whoare in the education establishment  who are bribed and given presents from those religious right people who wants to continue to destroy the minds of children in USA.

Science has always been my favorite subject in school, because it teaches and mind to explore the possiblities of searching the truth.

 Where religion stop people from searching the truth and it destroys the thinking process of asking questions. 

 I give you two thumbs up for being a true science teacher.