Originally Posted by AirbusFO

I do so love this discussion! I think that both sides have excellent points--Rog--nice job concisely explaining that side of the argument--I slightly disagree with your conclusion (but not by much) . The issue isn't about Freedom of Religion or Expression in our country--everyone on all sides of the argument completely agrees in principle with these sentiments--the actual fuzzyness of where the lines are will be endlessly debated for all times--as long as we are able to have the debate--that is a good thing!! My opinion is that from the initial colonists (English and Dutch Protestant separatists) to the founding Fathers (60+% Christian, 30+% Deist to a God that looks like the God of Jesus), to the modern times--Christianity has always had a special place in the traditions of our country. What is being challenged these days is not the freedom of Religion (Particularly Christian Religion) or the exercise thereof--but the notion that Christianity should have that special place in our country. Other belief systems--largely due to the expansion of multiculturalism and in the quest for diversity have allowed other beliefs to ask for the same rights and privileges that Christian have had for 200 years. To me this is the essence of the debate--should this expansion be accepted and celebrated (and the resulting loss of special status for Christianity) or should it not? What I specifically have not mentioned, and will now just to further stoke the fire--Is is that special relationship one of the main things that have made our country great? Will the changing of that relationship diminish our status in some way due to different moral codes and alternate guiding principles...And my favorite--has the recent (40 yrs)expansion of Islamic Nationalism resulted in a similar expansion of Christian Nationalism--that is making this debate more wedge like that it ever has been...