Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
AU & Allies Ask Federal Appeals Court To Strike Utah’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban
Ban Violates First Amendment Religious Liberty Protections, Coalition Says
March 5, 2014Americans United has joined a legal brief asking a federal appeals court to uphold a lower court ruling that struck down Utah’s same-sex marriage ban.
The brief, filed by Americans United, the Anti-Defamation League and 23 other religious and public policy groups, says the state’s ban is unconstitutional and argues that it restricts, rather than protects, religious liberty.
[Editor's note: the legal brief can be read by clicking on the link below.]
“A handful of religious groups should not be allowed to define marriage for all Americans,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “That is fundamentally at odds with what religious liberty is supposed to be about. The Constitution guarantees protection for everyone, not just a privileged few.”
The brief, filed before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, argues that the government cannot adopt a definition of marriage favored by some religious groups.
“A decision overturning the Marriage Ban would assure full state recognition of civil marriages, while allowing religious groups the freedom to choose how to define marriage for themselves,” the groups assert. “It is a violation of the First Amendment to deny individuals the right to marry on the grounds that such marriages would offend the tenets of a particular religious group.”
https://au.org/media/press-releases/americans-united-and-allies-ask-federal-appeals-court-to-strike-utah-s-same-sex
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Science and Religion Are Not Synonyms
I did not watch the recent Nye/Ham science v. religion "debate" nor am I likely to though I have read several articles with varying POVs, both scientific and creationist magic.
Even a man with the intellect of Chris Hitchens was unable to persuade any flat-earther to admit the impossibility of a god and miracles.
It was finally made clear to me how the flat-earthers are NOT interested in science since they believe their god has made all things and therefor when a phenomenon can't be explained by science it's because their god has made a miracle, no exceptions, no explanations needed.
Science is an enemy to religion only so far as science will not accept myth as evidence when dealing with nature. Evidence is the lifeblood of science in the same way emotion is the lifeblood of religion. The two words are not synonyms even though the flat-earthers would like to think so.
It's pointless to give the flat-earthers the opportunity, once again, to stand in public with a scientific opponent with the intent to attract undecided viewers as it is nothing but another pitch for their god.
All our energy should be directed at keeping these witch doctor dogmas from being manipulated into public law. There really are religious people who want to live in a scientific world and keep their religion a private matter and don't relish the publicity given to the extreme believers. It's the only legal thing we can do in a constitutional republic.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act - Resources for Citizens
This post collates resources relevant to the Oklahoma version of the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act, legislation originally formulated and passed in Texas.
The current versions of the bill may be found on the legislature's website: HB1456, SB1142. We will be tracking these throughout the legislative session. You can do so yourself by reading the history of the bill, which indicates which step in the legislative process they are currently on, for example, the house bill is currently in the rules committee.
Here are the talking points discussing why these bills are problematic, in a single page, from Americans United. Here are a few of my thoughts on the bill, on my blog at Skeptic Ink. Finally, for a scholarly long read packed with in-depth analysis, check out this article from the UC Davis Law Review.
Share and enjoy!
The current versions of the bill may be found on the legislature's website: HB1456, SB1142. We will be tracking these throughout the legislative session. You can do so yourself by reading the history of the bill, which indicates which step in the legislative process they are currently on, for example, the house bill is currently in the rules committee.
Here are the talking points discussing why these bills are problematic, in a single page, from Americans United. Here are a few of my thoughts on the bill, on my blog at Skeptic Ink. Finally, for a scholarly long read packed with in-depth analysis, check out this article from the UC Davis Law Review.
Share and enjoy!
Friday, January 24, 2014
Fifth Annual Legislative Preview
Oklahoma City chapter of
Americans United for
Separation of Church & State
Fifth Annual Legislative
Preview
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Belle Isle Public Library,
5501 N. Villa
10:00am to noon
Crossing
the Line
Introduction
Guest speakers--
Rev. Jim Shields: brief
overview of church/state separation in Methodist history.
Jim Huff: brief overview of
church/state separation in Southern Baptist history.
Dr. Victor Hutchison: brief
look at 2014 proposed legislation affecting science education in
public schools.
Apocalyptic
Fantasy in Government
–-
John Loghry, chapter
president, brief remarks concerning religion and government
Repointing Jefferson's
Wall--
James Nimmo: brief summary
of Bishop v. USA—Federal District Judge Terence Kern's ruling
concerning marriage equality in Oklahoma.
Selected discussion of
proposed bills--
Chas
Stewart, chapter secretary:
"School
employee religious liberty act", HB 2675.
Damion
Reinhardt, chapter treasurer: “Religious
Viewpoints Anti-discrimination
Act”,
HB 1456, 1040, 2422; SB 1142
Q & A
Useful
Websites and Links
Oklahoma
Legislature
Same-Gender
Marriage and Religious Freedom
Oklahoma
Policy Prostitute
Americans
United for Separation of Church & State
Oklahoma
City chapter of Americans United
http://tinyurl.com/m852ymg |
Good
analysis of Tulsa Judge Kern's marriage equality ruling
Chart
describing Biblical history of marriage
courtesy
of Ryan Long
(click on the image for a larger view)
.PNG)
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Debate Between a Bible Thumper and a Model Citizen
Debate Between a Bible Thumper and a Model Citizen
.jpg)
I congratulate Scott for his use of the facts to prove Kern is using her religious prejudice to frame the civil laws of Oklahoma against us. I think dueling bible verses is not the proper defense against the Kern Kult. The issue is not whether any religion endorses marriage equality--each Christian denomination has differing dogma even about its founder. The main point should always be made that anyone's exercise of the civil right of marriage--founded in the First Amendment's right of association--is NOT based on a religious ceremony.
http://kfor.com/2014/01/19/sunday-flashpoint-kevin-ogle-talks-same-sex-marriage-with-guests-sally-kern-scott-hamilton/
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Additional information concerning the Legislative Preview--2014
OKLAHOMA
CITY - The Oklahoma City Chapter of Americans United for Separation of
Church & State (OKC-AU) will hold its fifth annual Oklahoma
Legislative Preview on Saturday, January 25, 2014. The event titled,
“Crossing the Line” will be held at the Belle Isle Library, 10 a.m. to
noon, 5501 N. Villa in Oklahoma City.
The
Preview will include a review of selected proposed bills that OKC-AU
feels cross the line between religious point of view and civil rights as
defined in our state and federal constitutions.
A brief explanation of how proposed bills become law in Oklahoma will also be presented.
Three featured speakers will outline the history of their respective religious denominations.
Guest
speaker Dr. Victor H. Hutchison, George Lynn Cross Research Professor
Emeritus, Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, will discuss
proposed bills involving religion and science education.
Featured
speaker Rev. Jim Shields of Oklahoma City, one of the founding members
of the Oklahoma City chapter of Americans United, will be outlining the
history of church/state separation in the Methodist tradition.
Jim
Huff, a Deacon and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church in
Oklahoma City, will be speaking about the Baptist history of separation
of church and state.
This
event previews bills submitted by both Houses of the Oklahoma
Legislature that could interfere with First Amendment freedom of
religion and could encumber the rights of others. The audience is
invited to participate in a Q & A period and a civil open
discussion.
James Nimmo, OKC-AU communication chair, said, “This year's theme, Crossing the Line,
reflects the intent that some bills introduced during this year's
legislative session violate the Constitutional separation of religious
views from civil laws.
“Religious
observance is free for all to exercise in private with other
like-minded people,” Nimmo added. “However, when tax money, public
property or the legal power of the state is used to support religious
views that are not shared by others, it crosses the line of legality.”
The first regular session of the 55th Oklahoma Legislature officially convenes on Monday, February 3, 2014 at 12 p.m.
OKAU
President John Loghry said, “Our society is meant to have many voices,
but much of this legislation seems to be aimed at keeping those that are
not evangelical from having equal footing in the conversation."
The
Oklahoma City Chapter, one of the most active chapters of American
United for Separation of Church and State, arranges this event so that
Oklahoma citizens can read and discuss upcoming issues and be ahead of
the inevitable curves thrown by those who might diminish a valuable
freedom not observed in much of the world.
All
interested citizens are encouraged to attend and participate with
questions and comments. Light refreshments will be served.
Americans
United (AU) is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving the
constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to
ensure religious freedom for all Americans. AU represents over 70,000
individual members and 5,000 churches and other houses of worship
nationwide.
For
more information about the Legislative Preview or the Oklahoma City
Chapter of Americans for Separation of Church and State, please visit www.okau.org or contact James Nimmo at 405-843-3651.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Legislative Preview: Save the Date: Saturday, January 25, 2014,
Save the Date:
Saturday, January 25, 2014, 10:00am to noon, Belle Isle Library, 5501 N. Villa, OKC.
OKC chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State
We have invited two speakers to outline the history of their respective denominations.
Then the review of selected proposed bills that we feel cross the line between religious POV and civil rights as defined in our state and federal constitutions.
Q & A from audience.
Free to the public.
Theme: Crossing the Line in the Sand
OKC chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State
We have invited two speakers to outline the history of their respective denominations.
Then the review of selected proposed bills that we feel cross the line between religious POV and civil rights as defined in our state and federal constitutions.
Q & A from audience.
Free to the public.
Theme: Crossing the Line in the Sand
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Hindus want space for Lordly monument on Okie Capitol Grounds
Hindus want space for Lordly monument on Okie Capitol Grounds
The current 10-commandment monument might be getting some company.
One of the self-serving arguments the flat-earthers used to justify their religious zeal was that the public grounds were going to be developed into a historical park. Now they can put up or shut up. I love the impending circus.
One of the self-serving arguments the flat-earthers used to justify their religious zeal was that the public grounds were going to be developed into a historical park. Now they can put up or shut up. I love the impending circus.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
The Bible as Bludgeon
The Bible as Bludgeon
clip YOU can make a successful run for political office in this country
without an especially thick résumé, any exceptional talent for
expressing yourself, a noteworthy education or, for that matter, a basic
grasp of science.
But you better have religion. You better be ready to profess your faith
in and fealty to God — the Judeo-Christian one, of course. And you
better be convincing. A dust-up last week in the 2014 race for a United
States Senate seat from Arkansas provided a sad reminder of this,
showing once again that our ballyhooed separation of church and state is
less canyon than itty-bitty crack.
complete at:
._
,_.___
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