“Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.” PeopleHeartRealGovernmentChristianSpiritualEffortChristianityProjectsTrainingTransformationInternationalAtheistConvincedAidsEnormousContributionSecularRebirthEvangelismSpiritual TransformationChange Is Good Author:Matthew Parris
“This contest between the secular and religious visions of government is really the main choice to be made. It won't be decided in one election, but it is a basic choice between an open and progressive Iraq and one that is backward and continues to fall behind.” MadeGovernmentChoicesFallReligiousBehindsVisionDecidedElectionIraqMade ItProgressiveSecularContests Author:Adnan Pachachi
“History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.” PeopleBelieveGovernmentReligionI BelieveReligiousChristianityAtheismExampleSeparationPriestsVotersFoundersSecularFoundingMaintainingChurch And StateSeparation Of Church And StateCivil LibertiesOur Founding FathersFounding Fathers ChristianState GovernmentPhilosophy Of ReligionOrganized ReligionUs Founding FathersTheismFounding Fathers ReligionSeparation Between Church And StateFounding Fathers ReligiousInfidelReligion GodChristian ChurchFree GovernmentFounding Fathers Anti ReligionFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersFounding Fathers AtheistReligious PhilosophyChristianity From Founding FathersChristian AtheistReligion ChristianChristian FatherPhilosophy And ReligionReligious LeadersReligion And GovernmentChristian RightAnti ReligionFaith ReligionChristian GodReligion PoliticsChurch HistoryGovernment PoliticsChristianity And GovernmentReligious HistoryChristian PhilosophyLaws And Government Book:Jefferson: Political Writings Source: Jefferson: Political Writings
“It is wrong for a secular government to promote prayer. We think the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. What if the president declared a National Day of Cursing God because He failed us on September 11? Americans would say, "You've overstepped your authority." That's how we feel when he promotes prayer.” IfsThinkingFeelsGovernmentPresidentPrayerAtheismAuthorityPositive AtheismWhat IfSecularSeptemberSeptember 11CursingUnconstitutionalNational Day Of Prayer Author:Dan Barker
“It goes beyond mere 'acknowledgment' of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context. In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience.” MatterGovernmentPurposeIndividualLeftSidesReligiousPrayerTakenAtheismCitizensExerciseConscienceFunctionMerePositive AtheismInstanceSoleSecularAcknowledgment Author:Barbara Brandriff Crabb
“Nonbelievers are protected by the religion clauses of the Constitution not because secular humanism is a religion, which it is not, but because when the government acts on the basis of religion it discriminates against those who do not "believe" in the governmentally favored manner.” BelieveGovernmentAtheismBasesConstitutionHumanismPositive AtheismProtectedSecularClausesSecular Humanism Author:Norman Dorsen
“The purpose prong of the Lemon test requires that a government activity have a secular purpose. That requirement is not satisfied, however, by the mere existence of some secular purpose, however dominated by religious purposes... The proper inquiry under the purpose prong of Lemon, I submit, is whether the government intends to convey a message of endorsement or disapproval of religion.” GovernmentPurposeReligiousExistenceAtheismActivityMessagesTestsMereSatisfiedSubmitSecularRequirementsInquiryLemonsEndorsementsDisapproval Author:Sandra Day O'Connor
“Trusting each other is the beginning of a certain secular faith, a faith that allows us to live in families and communities and nations. Democracy, above all other forms of government, requires this faith.” GovernmentFormCertainNationsCommunityDemocracySecularForms Of GovernmentTrusting Each Other Author:Sue Halpern