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It’s been a tame couple of days in Pius Pontus but I feel renewed and ready to mix it up at my next stop in Trô-Près. On my way out, I did manage to find a shop called MOKSHA-512 which sells a variety of soul-replenishing products more compatible with my personal spirituality. #healinglight #newagespirituality #soulsavers #angeldust #secularist #homeremedies #digitalnomads #artdiscover https://www.instagram.com/p/CorjybwOlbW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Origins of “Separation of Church and State”
The phrase “separation of Church and State” originates in a letter that our third president, Thomas Jefferson, wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut in 1802. Understanding the background of this letter is key to understanding the meaning of this infamous phrase.
Despite fleeing to the New World to escape religious persecution in Europe and seek religious liberty, many of the settlers of the early colonies did not extend religious freedom to minority religions. During the 17th and 18th centuries, it wasn’t uncommon for local governments to levy taxes on citizens to support local clergy. In a society where there were many people of various religious persuasions (mostly Protestant denominations), the question then became, “Whose clergy will be funded through taxation?” In the Congregationalist-dominated Northeast, it was usually a Congregationalist minister. In other parts of the country, the Church of England held sway. Thus, minority denominations such as Baptists and Quakers were left being forced to pay taxes to support religious beliefs that they disagreed with. Many who refused had their property confiscated or were beaten, hanged, or jailed.
Fast-forward to 1801, after the formation of the United States government and the ratification of our Constitution and the First Amendment. Thomas Jefferson had won the election of 1800. The Danbury Baptist Association was worried that the Constitution did not go far enough in protecting religious minorities from the overreaches of government. They wrote a letter to Jefferson, urging that the same mistakes of the past not be made, that “no man ought to suffer in Name, person or effects on account of his religious Opinions—That the legitimate Power of civil Government extends no further than to punish the man who works ill to his neighbor.”
Jefferson wrote in response,
“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.”
Jefferson, quoting the First Amendment to the Constitution, sought to reassure the Danbury Baptists that what was written was sufficient to protect their rights and that he was a friend to their cause.
Thus, it’s fair to say that Founders like Jefferson meant for some kind of separation between church and state to be present. The government could not establish a state-sponsored religion, but neither could it prohibit others from freely practicing their religion. However, it’s also fair to say that opponents of religion in the 20th and 21st centuries have misused this phrase to try and separate religion from the public sphere far beyond what was originally intended.
~ Neal Hardin
#secularism #secularist #pseudolife #hinduism https://www.instagram.com/p/CMUn-VrJzt3/?igshid=6sglkp3a6ila
#secularism #secularist #secular #secularwitch #constitution https://www.instagram.com/p/CDt2QKdJnvN/?igshid=ssgwlmy4iot4
Muslim world witnesses historic moment as Turkey holds Friday prayer in restored Hagia Sophia Mosque
Kuala Lumpur, 26 July 2020: On Friday, Turkey has again held the weekly Muslim prayer in its Hagia Sophia Mosque at the country’s Üsküdar, after reconverting it to a mosque after nearly 100 years.
Thousands of people have started to gather around the mosque to celebrate the occasion, which has been termed as a historic moment for the Muslim world.
The building of Hagia Sophia was operating as a museum since 1934, when the secularist leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk converted it into a museum. At its beginning days, it was a Cathedral built by the Christian establishments in the sixth century, which was converted into a mosque by the Ottoman empire in 1453.
Decision to reconvert it into a mosque was seen as upholding Turkey’s freedom itself by many, who criticized Ataturk’s conversion of the mosque into a museum as a giveaway to pressure from the West after the First World War, rather than justifying it on pure secularist motives.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the leader behind restoring Hagia Sophia as a Muslim prayer hall, has also came under bashing in the social media from secularists.
“This is the day that I had been waiting for decades. Now, Turkey is a free country,” said a man who was crying outside the mosque as the prayer took place.
“24 July, 2020, is the date of the resurrection of this nation,” said another.
A Turkish citizen who lives in France has said, “As a Turk, it was impossible for me to miss this historic moment. So I came all the way by driving.”
Fatih, a retired teacher, has told Middle East Eye, a newspaper focused on the Arab world, that “If you want to understand whether the re-conversion decision was right, look at what the West is saying. They love interfering in our domestic issues. But they forget that Turkey is now free. Look, we even opened Hagia Sophia!”
A battle has been raging over the issue of whether the historic Hagia Sophia should operate as a museum or a mosque between Turkey and the Western nations. The secularist allies of the West from all over the world have criticized Erdoğan’s decision, which also includes the Turkish novelist and Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk.
But on Friday, the mosque has seen people and supporters from the Muslim world, especially from Pakistan, Somalia and Syria, gathering around the venue to join in celebration.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, markers chalked out separate spots on the prayer hall to ensure social distancing, and people across the Muslim world joined the prayer with masks on their faces.
Pictures of the newly restored mosque’s Imam holding a sword has been making rounds in the social media in many Muslim countries as well.
As it has sent shockwaves to nations around the world, the Muslim Ummah has again came together to celebrate the “Victory against Western colonialism”, while being opposed by secularists.
Erdoğan himself was present during the celebration, and he recited verses from the Holy Quran - as the first Friday prayer in the Hagia Sophia mosque began to proceed.
26 July 2020, 07:15 PM
#secularist https://www.instagram.com/p/CAouudyJhVB/?igshid=j7jyy8px6vqr
"Freedom of Religion" is by definition, all-inclusive...
Y'all want Jesus in our government? Legally and morally speaking, you need to make room for Satan, Allah, and everybody else too...
Flag of Secularist Saudi Arabia
from /r/vexillology Top comment: The black, white and red stripes are based on the Arab revolt flag, and the black swords stand for the strictness in applying justice.
