Exemplification Essay: Separation of Church and State -- Expository Ex

Because of my strong beliefs, I contain been called the Antichrist, a witch, an atheist, and a Satanist. Fervent Christians have told me that my kind is solely accountable for the downfall of American morals. Actually, none of these labels fits me. I am non a witch because the only modern religion to practice witchcraft is Wicca (American hereditary pattern 1381), and I am not a Wiccan. I am not a Satanist because modern Satanists do not believe in Satan as an actual entity instead, they follow a religion of the self, as the founder of the Church of Satan, Anton LaVey, put it. (LaVey 1) Satanists also belong to an organization such as the Church of Satan or the Temple of Set, and I do not belong to any such organization. I do not call myself an atheist because atheists tend to not have well-developed ethical systems. I am a secular humanist. This means that I have no belief in supernatural beings or forces (gods or goddesses, angels, demons, leprechauns, etc.) that rational estimation is more important to me than blind faith and that I value immunity of expression, belief, and inquiry. Now, because I value freedom of belief, it doesnt bother me that people think these things about me. If they want to believe that I fly through the air on a broomstick to a Satan-worshipping orgy, thats their misunderstanding. If they want to think my life is more exciting than it really is, theyre welcome. What bothers me is the way that religious bigotry extends to the highest levels of government. George Bush was quoted as saying, I dont know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God. (Quotes 5) The problem is that the first amendment states that C... ... of the majority, the minority endures oppression. The quality of government suffers when it has been conglomerate too much with religion, and the quality of religious motives suffer when they have been polluted by political motives. Lets move to a true separation of perform and state. Works Cited American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd. College Edition. Boston Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982. Blue Laws. Barrons Concise Students Encyclopedia. 1993 ed. LaVey, Anton. The Worlds virtually Feared Religion. Cloven Hoof, Issue 127. Scott (Last name unknown). Quotes. 6 pp. Online. Internet. 13 Jan. 1997. Available http//www.paranoia.com/wcs/quotes.htm Worbois, Dean. mental institution Faiths. 3 pp. Online. Internet. 13 Jan. 1997. Available http//www.postfun.com/worbois.html Note this document has been moved here --webmaster, 11/25/97