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Gunnar_Zarncke comments on Open Thread March 21 - March 27, 2016 - Less Wrong Discussion

3 Post author: Gunnar_Zarncke 20 March 2016 07:54PM

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Comment author: Lumifer 21 March 2016 11:52:34PM *  0 points [-]

Well, what's a wall of separation?

We all know there could be MORE religious stuff going on in government, like it could be establishing a state religion.

And we all know there could be LESS religious stuff going on in government, like all governmental officers could be forbidden from praying.

Sigh. The separation of church and state has quite well-specified meaning in the constitutional law. If you want to define it, look up the appropriate legal authority. Hint: it doesn't have much to do with forbidding government officials to pray.

Comment author: Gunnar_Zarncke 22 March 2016 07:39:44AM 1 point [-]

"no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States"

-- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state_in_the_United_States

Comment author: Bound_up 22 March 2016 03:35:51PM *  1 point [-]

Ah, yes, but is that really a "wall of separation of church and state?"

Comment author: [deleted] 23 March 2016 03:38:31PM 0 points [-]

Here's a religious test: does the official NOT pray on the job?

Separation of church and state is a requirement for official agnosticism, not official atheism.