Defending the Judeo-Christian ethic, limited government, & the American Constitution
Monday February 13th 2012
Loading

Books by our contributors

Categories

Alice In Wonderland Assault On Religious Freedom: Ronald Reagan — American Minute

American Minute with Bill Federer

On MARCH 15, 1984, the Senate voted down voluntary prayer in public schools. President Reagan said: “I am deeply disappointed that, although a majority of the Senate voted for it, the school prayer amendment fell short.”

On September 25, 1982, Ronald Reagan said:

Unfortunately, in the last two decades we’ve experienced an onslaught of such twisted logic that if Alice were visiting America, she might think she’d never left Wonderland. We’re told that it somehow violates the rights of others to permit students in school who desire to pray to do so. Clearly this infringes on the freedom of those who choose to pray, the freedom taken for granted since the time of our Founding Fathers.

Reagan continued:

To prevent those who believe in God from expressing their faith is an outrage…The relentless drive to eliminate God from our schools…should be stopped.

Ronald Reagan said February 25, 1984: “Sometimes I can’t help but feel the First Amendment is being turned on its head.”

Reagan told the Alabama Legislature, March 15, 1982:

The First Amendment was not written to protect the people of this country from religious values; it was written to protect religious values from government tyranny.

The Moral Lib­eral con­tribut­ing edi­tor, William J. Fed­erer, is the best­selling author of “Back­fired: A Nation Born for Reli­gious Tol­er­ance no Longer Tol­er­ates Reli­gion,” and numer­ous other books. A fre­quent radio and tele­vi­sion guest, his daily Amer­i­can Minute is broad­cast nation­ally via radio, tele­vi­sion, and Inter­net. Check out all of Bill’s books here



Notice: We encourage our writers & readers to focus their comments on principles & issues (pro and con) rather than on personal character attacks or party against party politics; and to point to solutions where possible. Ugly, emotional comments (especially profanity) are discouraged, will be edited or removed, and may lead to the permanent removal of its author from our community of friends. As a private enterprise we claim the right of offering something unique in politics. Please help us keep it that way. If you feel any writer or community member is consistently violating this standard, please let me know. -- Best to you, Steve Farrell, Editor In Chief

  • http://www.bigbureaucracy.com/ Ellie Velinska

    The freedom to express religion was restricted by the courts to protect from violent and weird religions like vampirism (cited at the time). Last time I checked the kids are wearing vampire and werewolf shirts in school and are joining Team Edward and dreaming on New Moon while Team Jesus is banned from the US public schools.

  • http://themoralliberal.com admin

    Ellie: Good insight. I’d like to see that quote on vampirism if you have access to it.

    Best, Steve Farrell

  • http://www.bigbureaucracy.com/ Ellie Velinska

    ………..Laws are made for the government of actions, and while they cannot interfere with mere religious belief and opinions, they may with practices. Suppose one believed that human sacrifices were a necessary part of religious worship, would it be seriously contended that the civil government under which he lived could not interfere to prevent a sacrifice?……
    http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=98&invol=145
    REYNOLDS v. U.S., 98 U.S. 145 (1878)
    The first restriction by the court of the freedom of religious expression – it was meant to stop voo-doos and vampries, but in fact over 100 years later is stopping teachers and students from a chance to express their religion on government property (under the separation of the religion and government and the idea that they may hurt somebody’s feelings). America went from “to prevent human sacrifice” to restricting religion expression “to prevent hurting someone’s feeling”.

  • http://www.bigbureaucracy.com/ Ellie Velinska

    What I mean is that in 1878 the court restricted the religious expression in the USA to prevent spreading of vampirism – today kids can talk about vampries all recess long, but they are in trouble if they start to pray!

  • http://themoralliberal.com admin

    Ellie: Thanks for “digging” that quote up. Good insight, even if it does sound a bit “draconian.” :)

    Steve

BigCommerce: The easiest way to sell online!