http://www.aaeteachers.org/case.shtml

Much has been written about religion being inventions of men to influence character developement, to maintain order, and ultimately to control the masses.

This link http://www.aaeteachers.org/case.shtml shows those goals are strong as ever. Difference is they now want to accomplish this through some as yet undefined “character developemnt”. The move to kick religion out of American institutions is coupled with a drive for “character” and “values” education. (Read that indoctrination).

Should the government schools undertake this? Is character developemnt not the duty of first the family, then the society one lives in via its written laws and social norms? That the values one tries to instill are shaped by one’s particular religious beleifs, or lack of them, is not the problem. The attempt to interfere in that process – that should be the realm of the family – by government ordained programs and agendas is the problem.

Note that this article correctly states that the founding fathers correctly emphasized the need for eduction. I mean, duh, they were learned men who knew that lack of education leaves one oblivious to how those in authority can manipulate and control the individual as well as the masses. But they were not calling for any type of “character education” in the form being advocated today. The founders envisioned each state & locality setting up their education system as best they could with the spirit to strive and make it as good & complete an education as possible. Learn your reading, writing, history and sciences and you’ll be equipped to persue your happiness, and to protect your God given rights. That each locality would conduct thier schools in the manner that they best knew would have influences from their religion. Said notions include respect of teachers/authority, trying one’s best in given tasks, honesty, etc. Social values are a given if one has the right to exercise “character education” at home. Schools, like society in general, should only enforce the notions that are the norm for that society, not try to change and remake them.

What we seem to have is the State looking to raise our children and to control society, while at the same time working to undermine the exercise of religion and the expression thereof.
http://philosophy-of-religion.group.stumbleupon.com/forum/23923/

usmjam’s days as a sponsor, supporter, SUpporter, pporter, what-have-you, are numbered. 1 days to
I’ll be feeling rather “blue” pretty soon….

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/7006/patrick.html

Strong believer in citizens’ right to bear arms, on March 1775, he urged fellow Virginians to arm in self-defense, in a speech at St. John’s Church in Richmond, where the legislature was meeting. This helped to mark the beginning of revolution in Virginia. It ends with his immortal words:
“If we wish to be free– if we mean to
preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been
so long contending–if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle
in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged
ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest
shall be obtained–we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An
appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable
an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week,
or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a
British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather
strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of
effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the
delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand
and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means
which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of
people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as
that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can
send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone.
There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who
will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is
not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.
Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it,
it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but
in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be
heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable ­ and let it come!
I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace,
Peace ­ but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale
that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of
resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we
here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is
life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take;
but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!“

wait, who gave me a thumbs up ?!?

http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/photo/images/photo166.jpg

John Deere Chopper, hahahahaha.

BlueCloud, 1:31am
I Wonder why the lawn looks so shitty, cause u know…”Nothing Runs like a Deere.”

EDIT 9/27/2005: Well Bluecloud, maybe thats because its deer poop.

Catholic Bible – Early History

http://www.cathtruth.com/catholicbible/earlyhis.htm

“EARLY HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC BIBLE”

http://www.drgenescott.org/stn43.htm

From the page: “If the Rheims New Testament has an overall problem, it is its excessive “Latinism,” reliance on words derived from the Latin where simple English words could have been used. Its slavish reliance on the “approved” Latin Vulgate version was tempered by the ability of its translators to correct a passage based on the Greek text under the guise of “perfecting the translation.””

http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=1061

Catholic Culture : Library / Documents

http://www.catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=1061

From the page: “Actually, work on the Bible began in the city of Rheims, where the college had relocated temporarily in 1578. The principal translator was Father Gregory Martin, who had joined the exiles at Douay in 1570 so he could freely practice his religion. He began work on the translation in 1578, assisted by Father Allen and others. Father Martin used the Vulgate (the Latin translation of the Bible) as his basis. An accomplished scholar in Hebrew and Greek, he consulted early texts in those languages, as well as earlier English sectarian translations before arriving at his own final text. The result was the translation that would become the basis for Catholic Bibles in the English language for nearly the next four centuries.

Due to limited resources, only the New Testament was published first, in 1582. It included an extensive body of apologetic annotations written in the controversial tone typical of the time and refuting common biblical interpretations that had been used against the Catholic Church. It was called the Rheims (Anglicized to Rhemes) New Testament for the city of publication. The Old Testament was later published in two volumes in 1609-1610, after the college had returned to Douay.

That’s why the complete Bible is known as the Douay-Rheims, or simply the Douay, Bible.”

http://www.drgenescott.org/stn43.htm

From Revolution to Reconstruction: Documents: Causes and Necessity of taking up Arms

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1751-1775/war/causes.htm

“Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of taking up Arms
July 6, 1775″

StumbleUpon.com: SU: American Heritage

http://american-heritage.group.stumbleupon.com/

Land of the free, and the home of the brave.