Dr. Geek wrote:

Mark Hansen wrote:

Dr. Geek wrote:We should strip atheists of all their rights!

As George Bush said, " . . . I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."

Bush didn't really say that, did he?

Senior, yes.

Jesuuus.

unarmedman wrote:I think he also focuses on those who choose not to believe in God because those who do believe in God - like myself - are in the vast minority here.

Of course I don't speak for him, so he may clarify/correct me on any/all of this!

I'm pretty sure he targeted atheists because he's had a bug up his ass about "atheists" ever since that one thread in C/NC wherein he tried to argue that "Intelligent Design" was scientifically valid and got his own ass served to him on a plate.

Rick Reuben wrote:From the Declaration:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Endowed, by their Creator. Get it?

Declaration of Independence != U.S. Constitution

Find a mention of God or Jesus or Bibles or Spaghetti Monsters in the more important of those two documents.

Rick Reuben wrote:All I'm saying is this: if you want your unalienable rights, you need to accept the language that gave them to you, and that means that you need to accept that these rights were sourced to a Creator.

But, what's the Creator? Is it a sentient being? A power inherent in nature? Some ancient common ancestor? It doesn't quite say where the rights are sourced, and to the best of my knowledge that vagueness was purposeful to allow non-Christians and atheists entrance into United States' society.
After all, as Jefferson has also said, "Christianity neither is, nor ever was, a part of the common law." According to Jefferson himself, these natural laws exist outside of his or anyone else's concept of God. Therefore, atheists have as much right to believe in unalienable rights as anyone else.

Rick Reuben wrote:The Declaration preceded the Constitution. Do you know why, immigrant?

While technically correct, that still sounds pretty douchebaggy and condescending.

Regardless, my point wasn't refuted as it pertains to the argument at hand.

To the best of my inferior immigrant knowledge, US citizens don't vote on amendments to the Declaration. It has no legal authority in courts, nor is it cited as precedence. None of it is regarded as law. Slaves were not released when it declared all men equal.

The Declaration is an important and well-written document, but more a by-product of the process of the establishment of government. The Constitution however, is the basis and foundation of the government. That's a big fucking difference.

Therefore: Constitution > Declaration.

And I'm well fucking glad that god isn't mentioned in the more important document.

Rick Reuben wrote:The atheistic bigots do not belong in this country if they cannot tolerate the reasoning that supports their unalienable rights. If they mean to expunge the concept of a Creator from this nation's principles, then they are engaging in terrorism

I do believe you just called me a terrorist, and that I don't belong in this country because I don't believe in God.

You are 100% fucking loo-laa.

i was created by my mom and dad.

jayryan wrote:i was created by my mom and dad.

Wanna start a religion?

As George Bush, Sr. said, " . . . I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."

Rick Reuben wrote:The Declaration establishes the rights of the people, that exist with or without a government.

Weird. So what does the Bill of Rights do?