Religion in Congress (1 Viewer)

[tecoyah]

Do you agree with the mindset of exclusion in the United States based on Religion?

"Congressman faulted for Quran at oath



WASHINGTON -- Keith Ellison, who will become the first Muslim member of Congress next month, has offended some conservatives with his plan to use the Quran during his ceremonial swearing-in. The decision by Ellison, D-Minn., to use the Muslim holy book for the ceremony instead of the Bible triggered an angry column by Dennis Prager on the Web site Townhall.com this week.

Headlined, "America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on," Prager argued that using the Quran for the ceremony "undermines American civilization."

"Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible," he wrote. "If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress."

Congressman faulted for Quran at oath

 

[RightinNYC]

I chose "I dont really know....Lemme ask God"....


I'll let you know what he says when he gets back to me.

 

[RightinNYC]

Just had a nice little chat with God. He says

"What the **** is wrong with you people? Do you guys actually think I give a rat's *** what version of a dead tree some douchebag from the midwest puts his hand on for a photo-op? Get a life, and stop bothering me with this ****. A Law and Order marathon is starting soon, and I want to watch it in peace."

 

[hipsterdufus]

Do you agree with the mindset of exclusion in the United States based on Religion?

"Congressman faulted for Quran at oath



WASHINGTON -- Keith Ellison, who will become the first Muslim member of Congress next month, has offended some conservatives with his plan to use the Quran during his ceremonial swearing-in. The decision by Ellison, D-Minn., to use the Muslim holy book for the ceremony instead of the Bible triggered an angry column by Dennis Prager on the Web site Townhall.com this week.

Headlined, "America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on," Prager argued that using the Quran for the ceremony "undermines American civilization."

"Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible," he wrote. "If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress."

Congressman faulted for Quran at oath

Talk about a strawman! Congress does not even require being sworn in with a bible, or any book for that matter.

Prager and his followers are the same people that would have a problem with Jews being sworn in with the new testament.

The American Taliban....

 

[jfuh]

WHO THE **** CARES? These ppl need to get that ****ing head out of their asses.

Hang on there, can I start writing *** now without the ***'s??

Nevermind only the plural form asses

 

[tryreading]

Talk about a strawman! Congress does not even require being sworn in with a bible, or any book for that matter.

Prager and his followers are the same people that would have a problem with Jews being sworn in with the new testament.

The American Taliban....

You want to hear something funny? I believe Prager is a Jew, a religious one. I read it somewhere, will have to look it up again.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

What everyone else said, but with fewer asterisks. If by some freak accident I should ever be elected, I will swear my oath on a hammer or nothing at all-- and if any so-called "conservative" even looks at me funny for it, I will personally beat the stuffing out of him.

Absolutely disgraceful. This is a shameful insult to the dignity of the Congress itself.

 

[jfuh]

What everyone else said, but with fewer asterisks. If by some freak accident I should ever be elected, I will swear my oath on a hammer or nothing at all-- and if any so-called "conservative" even looks at me funny for it, I will personally beat the stuffing out of him.

Absolutely disgraceful. This is a shameful insult to the dignity of the Congress itself.

Masonry equipment? just kidding

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

Masonry equipment? just kidding

Mjolnir. Far as I'm aware, Masons are more than happy to swear on the Bible.

 

[Stupiderthanthou]

Do you agree with the mindset of exclusion in the United States based on Religion?

Congressman faulted for Quran at oath

"Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible," he wrote. "If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress."[/I]

Congressman faulted for Quran at oath

Aside from what everyone else has already said, this struck me as interesting: assuming that holy books were used at the actual swearing in, wouldn't you want your representative to be sworn in on his own holy book, if for no other reason than to be sure that he actually felt bound by his vow? To force a Muslim man to be sworn in on a Bible would be to say, in essence, "we care more about how you deliver your oath than how well you'll honor it," yes?

 

[tryreading]

What everyone else said, but with fewer asterisks. If by some freak accident I should ever be elected, I will swear my oath on a hammer or nothing at all-- and if any so-called "conservative" even looks at me funny for it, I will personally beat the stuffing out of him.

Absolutely disgraceful. This is a shameful insult to the dignity of the Congress itself.

It is shameful, especially since the oath is to the Constitution, and nothing else. And like HD said, a Bible is not required for the oath.

 

[PoliticalActivist]

Ummm Keith Ellison in Congress? Yeah I support the idea of a muslim Brother serving in Congress. You know I can't understand why Americans seem to find something to bitch about everyday all day. Sure this is suppose to be the land of the free, but all I see is people pissed because one political party is losing grounds, and the other party is gaining grounds in Washington. People who think negative is usually the racist and the bigots. What does a certain religion have to do with being on Capital hill? When enlisting to serve in the arm forces they don't go by what you believe in, but only in what you want to get out of serving, and again for people to discriminate with the mind is stupid and senseless. I am glad that Keith Ellison is coming to Washington DC to join Senator Obama, and with a new Congress and Senate they both will do very well.

 

[Stinger]

Prager's acting like a blowhard. The offical ceremony uses no book at all you simply raise your right hand. The congressman can do what he wants in his confirmation, then let his constituents decide. Or better yet get rid of the ceremonials which have no offical function.

 

[saggyjones]

Prager is a racist prick, and that's all there is to it.

Edit: I'm surprised it didn't blank that out...

 

[Jerry]

Do you agree with the mindset of exclusion in the United States based on Religion?

"Congressman faulted for Quran at oath

WASHINGTON -- Keith Ellison, who will become the first Muslim member of Congress next month, has offended some conservatives with his plan to use the Quran during his ceremonial swearing-in. The decision by Ellison, D-Minn., to use the Muslim holy book for the ceremony instead of the Bible triggered an angry column by Dennis Prager on the Web site Townhall.com this week.

Headlined, "America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath on," Prager argued that using the Quran for the ceremony "undermines American civilization."

"Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible," he wrote. "If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress."

Congressman faulted for Quran at oath

Atheists may use nothing <the foundation of their authority> to swear in, so of coarse a Muslim may use his Holy book of choice.

"Dirka Dirka Mohommid Jihad!...so help me Alah."

I chose "I dont really know....Lemme ask God"....

I'll let you know what he says when he gets back to me.

In order to find his equal an Irishman is forced to talk to God--Yes Father.....the Lord says quit changin the subject and answer the phuckin question!

 

[hipsterdufus]

Atheists may use nothing <the foundation of their authority> to swear in

As a devout atheist, I think I would choose to be sworn in with my hand over the constitution.

Isn't that what it's all about?

 

[Jerry]

As a devout atheist, I think I would choose to be sworn in with my hand over the constitution.

Isn't that what it's all about?

Premise: Atheism is founded on the word of man.

That would be consistent.

 

[26 X World Champs]

Prager's acting like a blowhard. The offical ceremony uses no book at all you simply raise your right hand. The congressman can do what he wants in his confirmation, then let his constituents decide. Or better yet get rid of the ceremonials which have no offical function.

DAMN! I AGREE!!!! Hell has frozen over.....

 

[hipsterdufus]

DAMN! I AGREE!!!! Hell has frozen over.....

Me too! Brr.... it's cold down here in hell.

 

[Befuddled_Stoner]

Woo! Here's something relevant I learned in Humanities class. The word "testify" orginates from the Greeks, who placed their hand over their testicles whenever taking an oath. (its also where we get the word "testes" from)

Can you imagine all the feigned indignation these wankers would be spewing if someone tried to testify old school?

 

[1069]

Woo! Here's something relevant I learned in Humanities class. The word "testify" orginates from the Greeks, who placed their hand over their testicles whenever taking an oath. (its also where we get the word "testes" from)

Can you imagine all the feigned indignation these wankers would be spewing if someone tried to testify old school?

Sorry to disillusion you, but that's an urban legend.
The word does not derive from "testicle", nor did the Greeks swear oaths on their private parts.
"Testify" is from the latin, "testis", which means to witness (verb) or a witness (noun).

 

[Befuddled_Stoner]

Guess I'm going to have to demand back my tuition money next time I see Prof. S.

Meh, don't feel bad about disillusioning me, I've still got more than enough to maintain my delusions.

 

[doughgirl]

Sliding faster down that slippery slope.....................bye bye America

 

[dragonslayer]

Why should one have to swear on the bible, if the bible means nothing to the person? What the swearing in means is in the mind and heart of the one being sworn. Not in the thing he or she put their hand on. Do some folks balk at being sworn on version of the bible that is not their version? There are several different versions being used in the USA. How about a Mormon being sworn on the Book of Mormon, pagan on a small statue, an atheist on nothing, a muslim on the Koran, or a Jew on a torah. How about a Wiccan being sworn on the witches bible? It all depend what is in your heart, and only your heart reflects ones loyalty to the USA. One can be a good hard working, and law abiding American no matter what your religion. We have freedom of religion as part of our constitution.

Look how incredibly bad Bush has done and he swore on a bible. The Bible means nothing. If one is a jerk, one is a jerk.

 

[americanwoman]

I guess this just shows our tax money is being used to forward our country with such important matters as what book they are getting sworn in with. I really would hate to think they would be at a standstill wondering what to do in Iraq to be able to work things out over there. I think it's great to know they are really putting some time and effort working things out in Washington. Now if they will only reach a decision on gay's rights, maybe they could vote themselves another pay raise. ...../end sarcasm/.....