https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letters-to-the-editor-we-need-to-thank-teachers-every/article_fa3f82dc-85fa-11e9-8ec1-1b524c772ae5.html
A letter writer in the May 29 Post and Courier said that separation of church and state is largely responsible for the violence in our schools and throughout society, though he provided no evidence for such an outrageous claim. He said we should act more like a Christian nation and mentioned that the Supreme Court has the Ten Commandments and the president takes the oath of office with a hand on the Bible. To the contrary, the Supreme Court does not have the Ten Commandments. There is a representation of Moses depicted as one of several lawgivers, not as a religious figure, along with Confucius and Solon.And, it is only a custom that most presidents take the oath of office with a hand on the Bible. Several presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, did not.
The writer also quoted Martin Luther King Jr. telling us to love our enemies, which does not make us a Christian nation. In fact, King was an advocate for the separation of church and state. He supported the Supreme Court’s decision striking down government-sponsored prayer in public schools.
Having seen the religious wars in Europe, our founders viewed religion as a private matter, without government involvement. That’s why there is no mention of God or Jesus in our Constitution. Those who wish to promote Christianity, other religions, or atheism are free to do so, but without government assistance.
HERB SILVERMAN
A letter writer in the May 29 Post and Courier said that separation of church and state is largely responsible for the violence in our schools and throughout society, though he provided no evidence for such an outrageous claim. He said we should act more like a Christian nation and mentioned that the Supreme Court has the Ten Commandments and the president takes the oath of office with a hand on the Bible. To the contrary, the Supreme Court does not have the Ten Commandments. There is a representation of Moses depicted as one of several lawgivers, not as a religious figure, along with Confucius and Solon.And, it is only a custom that most presidents take the oath of office with a hand on the Bible. Several presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, did not.
The writer also quoted Martin Luther King Jr. telling us to love our enemies, which does not make us a Christian nation. In fact, King was an advocate for the separation of church and state. He supported the Supreme Court’s decision striking down government-sponsored prayer in public schools.
Having seen the religious wars in Europe, our founders viewed religion as a private matter, without government involvement. That’s why there is no mention of God or Jesus in our Constitution. Those who wish to promote Christianity, other religions, or atheism are free to do so, but without government assistance.
HERB SILVERMAN
