Thread: Religious Income Tax Exemption Ruled Unconstitutional

Originally Posted by -Lazarus-

Raping a 15 year old is evil. It's a scurrilous, unproven accusation with no basis in fact, and it's shameful that any American would continue to propagate such a disgusting story about a man as fine as Jefferson. The simple fact that Jefferson owned slaves meant very little given the day and age he lived in. In fact, he had a good relationship with them, and always refused to sell them for fear of what another owner might do to them. He also was a major proponent of the end of the slave trade as I cited earlier.

So, if he cared so much for his 'slaves', why didn't he just free them?

Originally Posted by WickedTribe

Your moral relativism her is humorous when compared for your disdain for moral relativism when Dawkins used it.

Your logical deduction and the relativism you are using here is humorous given the fact that you are an atheist and deny the existence of God based on a lack of evidence, but you would disparage Thomas Jefferson despite a lack of evidence...

Your disdain for a lack of evidence seems to be... Flexible.

The amount of actual evidence for one so far outshadows the other that it is beyond humorous. It's sad that some people are so thick headed to believe one and deny the other.

Originally Posted by -Lazarus-

Your logical deduction and the relativism you are using here is humorous given the fact that you are an atheist and deny the existence of God based on a lack of evidence, but you would disparage Thomas Jefferson despite a lack of evidence...

Your disdain for a lack of evidence seems to be... Flexible.

At least with Jefferson, there's DNA.

Originally Posted by triggerhappy2005

So, if he cared so much for his 'slaves', why didn't he just free them?

I always find it odd how people argue over what Jefferson thought about slaves when HE WROTE DOWN AND PUBLISHED his thoughts on slavery in his lifetime. Its like someone read it, said BS this isn't what Jefferson thought, then wants to speak for him instead of quoting him. Read "Notes on the state of Virginia", and suddenly you don't have an argument.

Originally Posted by -Lazarus-

He also was a major proponent of the end of the slave trade as I cited earlier.

I looked back in the thread and did not see you cite anything about him being a major proponent of ending the slave trade. I'v read everything that is publicly available that Jefferson wrote and read at least three biographies of him in the past ten years and am curious where you got that idea.

Originally Posted by -Lazarus-

In case there is any question, the Declaration of Independence is where you will find the quote referenced above - "endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights".

I like how you quote Mark Levin misquoting the declaration of independence but then you quote it correctly with "their Creator" instead of variations of "the", "our" or "your". This is a bit of a pet peeve of mine and let me explain why.

If you say "our" Creator, you are claiming to know who my Creator is and that we have the same one. If you say "the" Creator you assume we both agree on who that Creator is. If you say "your" Creator you are possibly implying that you believe we may have differing Creators or some knowledge at least as to who my creator is. If you say "their" Creator you as the speaker are leaving it up to the individuals in the audience as to what or who that creator is, with out making assumptions either way as to its nature.

This is why the "Christian Nation" people will almost always misquote it. Its original language being secular hangs on one word, change the word and its no longer a secular statement, its one with airs of religious authority. Jefferson wrote most of the declaration with some rewording by Franklin, now if you are of the opinion that Jefferson, let alone Franklin, were "Christians" in any real sense you may want to actually read the stuff Jefferson wrote. I would start with reading the Virginia Statute on religious freedom. Then tell us all how "Christian" Jefferson is.


A little back on topic I have always been of the opinion that a church that is organized for the accumulation of wealth should pay taxes like any other money making enterprise. If its set up to keep the roof from leaking it should be exempted. The only issue is its very subjective as to which is which.

PoB

Originally Posted by Pint

...

I like how you quote Mark Levin misquoting the declaration of independence but then you quote it correctly with "their Creator" instead of variations of "the", "our" or "your". This is a bit of a pet peeve of mine and let me explain why.

If you say "our" Creator, you are claiming to know who my Creator is and that we have the same one. If you say "the" Creator you assume we both agree on who that Creator is. If you say "your" Creator you are possibly implying that you believe we may have differing Creators or some knowledge at least as to who my creator is. If you say "their" Creator you as the speaker are leaving it up to the individuals in the audience as to what or who that creator is, with out making assumptions either way as to its nature.

This is why the "Christian Nation" people will almost always misquote it. Its original language being secular hangs on one word, change the word and its no longer a secular statement, its one with airs of religious authority. Jefferson wrote most of the declaration with some rewording by Franklin, now if you are of the opinion that Jefferson, let alone Franklin, were "Christians" in any real sense you may want to actually read the stuff Jefferson wrote. I would start with reading the Virginia Statute on religious freedom. Then tell us all how "Christian" Jefferson is.


A little back on topic I have always been of the opinion that a church that is organized for the accumulation of wealth should pay taxes like any other money making enterprise. If its set up to keep the roof from leaking it should be exempted. The only issue is its very subjective as to which is which.

PoB

Exactly my point. Thanks PoB.
Come on back to Dayz if you want We could really use your help!