opus123

Theism and atheism are both abstract concepts. Neither have proof. Which is why I am agnostic.

Morals and ethics change over time and not set in concrete by either theists or atheists. I went to the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit today and it was amazing the large number of deletions, mistakes, and additions to the bible over a thousand years. The Psalms were particularly edited, cut, and revamped many many times. And even the messiah myth of the coming of the son of God changed many times as well. At some points the messiah was to be a violent warrior and later he was rewritten to be a bringer of peace and healer.

Some of the changes could be due to translation errors, but other deletions could only be scribes and priests changing their ethics and morals as they saw fit.

Jonathan

Actually the US was mainly formed as a defense against England. Individual states were given huge powers to govern themselves as they saw fit. Some of the states actually kept it so only one or maybe two religions were allowed power in that particular state. Congregationalists held most all power for a long while in certain states. And some states had religion and government which were not very separated. It wasn't until I think Rhode Island was a state that allowed the most religions, but it was mainly Baptist. The Rhode Island charter expressly talked about the freedom of any religion and Jews went there in great numbers as they were persecuted in many other states.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_...ce_Plantations

And for awhile Massachussets had laws against Quakers, Amish, and other religions. I think they had 2-3 days to leave the state or they would be hanged. However some cities were more liberal than others. That is why MA is still called a Commonwealth to this day. However, I don't think many people were hanged during the Revolutionary war because of religion. Mostly just for being Loyalists to the English Crown. Which some of them were actually Anglican faith and maybe they never were doing anything like treason. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachussets

It wasn't until 1818 that Connecticut separated church and state.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_Colony

Virginia had 4 religions and they all banded together mostly to fight the English.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Virginia

New Jersey allowed all religions, but probably mainly encouraged Christian religions only. I couldn't find much info on New Hampshire.

Another good thing to read is this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separat...urch_and_State

Jonathan

__________________
"We are sure to be losers when we quarrel with
ourselves. It is a civil war, and in all such
contentions, triumphs are defeats." Mr Colton
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