Comments on: Understanding American Voters: ‘In God We Trust’ http://themoderatevoice.com/19169/understanding-american-voters-in-god-we-trust/ An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:44:39 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: runasim http://themoderatevoice.com/19169/understanding-american-voters-in-god-we-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-128534 runasim Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:59:20 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/columnists/19169/understanding-american-voters-in-god-we-trust/#comment-128534 While a lot has been written about the separation of church and state and how that benefits both , I've read little to nothing describing accurately the relationship of church and state in the US. <br><br>The fact is that church is not quite as separate from the state as the statement implies. Church' s interests are specifically protected by laws related to tax exemptions and special privileges of various kinds (official holidays, etc.) . At the very least, church is a very special interest group influencing the state, one not ever seriously questioned by state itself. <br><br>The net results of this special relationship have been measured intuitively and by philosophical and anecdotal arguments, not ever dispassionately or academically. (as in being purely fact-based) .<br><br>No wonder Europeans and other parts of the globe don't understand 'In God We Trust'. Americans have never seriously tried to understand it themselves. In fact , they resist doing so.<br><br>It might be better to let sleeping dogs alone; But we should not pretend that the relationship is without contenton or cause for concern as well as celebration. While a lot has been written about the separation of church and state and how that benefits both , I've read little to nothing describing accurately the relationship of church and state in the US.

The fact is that church is not quite as separate from the state as the statement implies. Church' s interests are specifically protected by laws related to tax exemptions and special privileges of various kinds (official holidays, etc.) . At the very least, church is a very special interest group influencing the state, one not ever seriously questioned by state itself.

The net results of this special relationship have been measured intuitively and by philosophical and anecdotal arguments, not ever dispassionately or academically. (as in being purely fact-based) .

No wonder Europeans and other parts of the globe don't understand 'In God We Trust'. Americans have never seriously tried to understand it themselves. In fact , they resist doing so.

It might be better to let sleeping dogs alone; But we should not pretend that the relationship is without contenton or cause for concern as well as celebration.

]]> By: correct symbol http://themoderatevoice.com/19169/understanding-american-voters-in-god-we-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-111892 correct symbol Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:06:57 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/columnists/19169/understanding-american-voters-in-god-we-trust/#comment-111892 [...] [...] [...] [...]

]]> By: Coverage » Understanding American Voters: ‘In God We Trust’ http://themoderatevoice.com/19169/understanding-american-voters-in-god-we-trust/comment-page-1/#comment-111890 Coverage » Understanding American Voters: ‘In God We Trust’ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:03:02 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/at-tmv/columnists/19169/understanding-american-voters-in-god-we-trust/#comment-111890 [...] Left In Alabama Connecting Progressive Voices in Alabama Politics wrote an interesting post today on Understanding American Voters: â??In God We Trustâ??Here’s a quick excerptREAD ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the U.S. election. [...] [...] Left In Alabama Connecting Progressive Voices in Alabama Politics wrote an interesting post today on Understanding American Voters: â??In God We Trustâ??Here’s a quick excerptREAD ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the U.S. election. [...]

]]>