Protecting the separation of church and state is "against religion"?

I think the Republican candidates need to go back and read the First Amendment to the Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

I find this incredibly ironic, given the painting many Republicans have been circulating on Facebook. The artist, Jon McNaughton, actually says that it's not meant to be a partisan painting--he believes that both Democrats and Republicans are equally guilty of trampling on the "common man's" rights. In his view, President Obama is only the latest of all the presidents to govern poorly. He is appealing for a return to the Constitution and limited government. Sounds more like a Libertarian viewpoint than a Republican one.

Santorum has been repeatedly attacking President Obama for his grounding his policies in a "phony theology." Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said today that Obama's administration has "fought against religion" and sought to substitute a "secular" agenda for one grounded in faith.

Franklin Graham, son of the famous evangelist Billy Graham, questions again publicly whether Obama is a Christian and supposes that he is probably a Muslim. "All I know is under Obama, President Obama, the Muslims of the world, he seems to be more concerned about them than the Christians that are being murdered in the Muslim countries," he said. "Islam sees him as a son of Islam...Islam has gotten a free pass under Obama." He also questions whether Mitt Romney is a Christian because of his Mormon faith. Of course, he believes that Newt Gingrich is a Christian: "Newt's been married several times... but he could make a good candidate," Graham said. "I think Newt is a Christian. At least he told me he is."

So why doesn't he believe President Obama's own repeated statements that he is a Christian? "Now he has told me that he is a Christian. But the debate comes, what is a Christian? For him, going to church means he's a Christian. For me, the definition of a Christian is whether we have given our life to Christ and are following him in faith and we have trusted him as our lord and savior."

Insanity. The one who is advocating for the poor, the marginalized, and the downtrodden is the one whose Christianity is being called into question. This is what Christianity means to me. (Lyrics below the video.)


The Rebel Jesus - Jackson Browne (1997)


All the streets are filled with laughter and light

And the music of the season

And the merchants' windows are all bright

With the faces of the children

And the families hurrying to their homes

As the sky darkens and freezes

Will be gathering around the hearths and tales

Giving thanks of God's graces

And the birth of the rebel Jesus



Well they call him by the "Prince Of Peace"

And they call him by "The Saviour"

And they pray to him upon the sea

And in every bold endeavor

As they fill his churches with their pride and gold

And their faith in him increases

But they've turned the nature that I worship in

From a temple to a robber's den

In the words of the rebel Jesus



We guard our world with locks and guns

And we guard our fine possessions

And once a year when Christmas comes

We give to our relations

And perhaps we give a little to the poor

If the generosity should seize us

But if any one of us should interfere

In the business of why they are poor

They get the same as the rebel Jesus



But pardon me if I have seemed

To take the tone of judgement

For I've no wish to come between

This day and your enjoyment

In this life of hardship and of earthly toil

We have need for anything that frees us

So I bid you pleasure and I bid you cheer

From a heathen and a pagan

On the side of the rebel Jesus