A “Snaketivity” Display in the Illinois Capitol is Still Angering Conservatives

[Worldtraveller]

From Patheos:

Link to story.

This quote amuses me to no end:

Over the weekend, a Pennsylvania-based Catholic group called the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property held a protest against the display outside the Capitol.

“No government entity should promote the father of lies, as this is contrary to the good they are called to uphold in society,” Preston Noell, with the society’s Chicago chapter, said Sunday. “These public Satanic offenses are a direct mockery of Christ’s nativity and these attacks must be met with opposition, which we are adhering to with prayer.”

So the believers, who fully support the nativity being displayed on government property (that was previously maintained by the government) consider this privately funded, privately supported symbol that just happens to be on government property to be "promoted by the government"? Interesting.

I arrest my case, your honor.

This is why I have been saying for years (decades now) that all the 'ceremonial deism' and other legal BS that the courts often use to try to justify breaches in the 1st amendment are continually put to lie. Not by those of us who are against the displays, but by those that support them!

[ideologyhunter]

Equally grating: court decisions that favor the In God We Trust on money or the opening prayer at city council with the official logic that neither of these constitutes 'establishment of religion.' No, of course not. Praising a deity is just pro forma bowing to history and tradition. With the SCOTUS we have now, it is likely that a school prayer case would reverse what we've had for 50+ years. It's gonna be a long century.

[Worldtraveller]

Equally grating: court decisions that favor the In God We Trust on money or the opening prayer at city council with the official logic that neither of these constitutes 'establishment of religion.' No, of course not. Praising a deity is just pro forma bowing to history and tradition. With the SCOTUS we have now, it is likely that a school prayer case would reverse what we've had for 50+ years. It's gonna be a long century.

And just like in these cases, if these things really weren't about the government endorsing religion, why do xians (and xians only) scream so loud about taking god out of things? Yeah, the whole 'reasonable observer' thing the court uses is bullshit.

[T.G.G. Moogly]

Equally grating: court decisions that favor the In God We Trust on money or the opening prayer at city council with the official logic that neither of these constitutes 'establishment of religion.' No, of course not. Praising a deity is just pro forma bowing to history and tradition. With the SCOTUS we have now, it is likely that a school prayer case would reverse what we've had for 50+ years. It's gonna be a long century.

And just like in these cases, if these things really weren't about the government endorsing religion, why do xians (and xians only) scream so loud about taking god out of things? Yeah, the whole 'reasonable observer' thing the court uses is bullshit.

Sometimes I wonder if these justices aren't simply attempting to keep the society from ripping itself apart, or at least to prevent another John Brown or Oklahoma City type incident. Yes, it is certainly appeasing religious terrorism but maybe it's for the greater good to just let the imbeciles think they're correct and important, only pushing far enough that they don't crack and go off the deep end.

[scombrid]

I think that the Supreme Court may have been trying to balance progress toward a more full application of the 1st Amendment with placating the masses during the last half century or so. I worry now that the court balance has been shifted to point where it can be a partner to the GOP using religion as a wedge. It is an effective wedge.


I recently had to go to public meeting in rural Florida regarding some stakeholder concerns with a lake and wildlife management area. The economy in this particular place is cattle ranching and the fish camp on the lake; full stop. They are 100% Trump/Rick Scott/Ron Desantis. They are beside themselves with anger about some water quality issues. However, they view liberals as akin to Satan. That prayer at the beginning of their meeting is part of their white southern identity. You attack that prayer (and inclusiveness is seen as an attack to them) and you attack their very core. You defend that identity and you can poison the shit out of their lake (or suck it dry or whatever) and they'll look the other way. Oh, they'll shit all over the state biologists that oversee the lake but they'll keep re-electing the Trump/Scott/Desantis who happen to be the ones that actually control the EPA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

There's a lot of issues where these folks are at odds with the GOP but the GOP has their back on religious identity so that is where they are parking their trust. They blame the liberals for the algae blooms and low water when the GOP has had control of FDEP for decades now.