The only way to be true to our American tradition is to maintain absolute governmental neutrality regarding religious beliefs and practices.
quote by Bill Bradley

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The African Tradition
Libation! It is the African tradition;
It is the centre culture of our tradition;
The power of the African child,
The network of the information from the household gods
And the gods of kingdom, the gods of our identity.
We libate with schnapps, awake the spirits
Of our ancestors so speed us in action an' reaction
But done upon the gad at ease we no longer
For our centre culture active no more as things fell apart
But who is he that makes our minds troubled?
And walk we abroad and forgot our tradition,
Our culture, belief, our vehicle and our tradition
Woe to you foreigner for deception is you;
The betweeness between us took you away from us
And our offspring you turned rebels with your foreign ideas.
The networks of our wise ones you intercepted
And your strange God now we serve with you
While our wise ones slave for your topless.
No to you foreigner, for me, myself and I shall awake
And maintain my fathers' beliefs, culture and tradition
Which I have come and seen, for it is my true identity,
For I am a true African child.
poem by Lightcheerful Briggs

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When they talk about family values, it's in a repressive way, as if our American tradition were only the Puritan tradition or the 19th century oppressive tradition. The Christian tradition.
quote by James Hillman

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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These maxims and the art of interpreting them may be said to constitute the premisses of science but I prefer to call them our scientific beliefs. These premisses or beliefs are embodied in a tradition, the tradition of science.
quote by Michael Polanyi

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Wonder of His Creations
Maintain you beliefs!
The ones that keep you restricted,
To limits and isolation.
I am not here to debate your outlook,
Or your fate!
That has been done,
By an indoctrination you satiate.
And baited to remain...
In a routine that you maintain that sustains,
Your joy!
Nor am I the one to convince,
That a higher consciousness...
Expands and not condenses.
To retrieve and leave those arguments...
Left behind walls and locked up fences.
Subtracting and contracting minds,
As is observed and evidenced.
Since I've already witnessed,
The lack of benefit...
To that restrictiveness.
Maintain you beliefs!
The ones that keep you restricted,
To limits and isolation.
I have been there myself.
That is why I have chosen,
The wealth of mind expansion.
Receiving all of God's gifts,
With blessings He delivers.
Without religious affiliation.
Or congregating with those...
Who oppose how I have chosen
To be devoted!
I know He is 'there'...
And so am I,
Here where He has delivered.
And I know the Almighty exists.
Without debating such 'wonder' of His creations.
Or where He chooses to sit,
Within His Kingdom.
So wherever you go to supply your satisfactions...
May you keep attraction them to fulfill your needs!
I am not the one to plead with you,
Which road taken...
Leads to Him any quicker.
Since my insight tells me His presence is near.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Fundamental of Liar Chapter XCVIII: Absolutely Relative
Expensive is absolute, cheap is relative
Far is absolute, near is relative
Ugly is absolute, beauty is relative
Weird is absolute, crazy is relative
Stubborn is absolute, brave is relative
Stupid is absolute, smart is relative
Weak is absolute, strong is relative
Old is absolute, mature is relative
Lose is absolute, win is relative
Rich is absolute, poor is relative
Sad is absolute, happy is relative
Misfortune is absolute, lucky is relative
Safe is absolute, fear is relative
Love is absolute, hate is relative
Important is absolute, forgotten is relative
Easy is absolute, difficult is relative
Wrong is absolute, right is relative
Bad is absolute, good is relative
Lie is absolute, truth is relative
poem by Maria Sudibyo

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Most Religious People
Most religious people believe their god is the only god though their god they never see
If this be so there are many gods it would seem to me
Each religious grouping claims god as their own
With religion the numbers of unseen gods has grown.
And though to every religious grouping respect one ought to pay
I do not have a god to believe in or to which I could pray
We all look at life in a different sort of a way
And to each their own as some are known to say.
I respect them for their beliefs the respect everyone's due
And for as long as to the higher self one remains true
And to help those in need of help go out of one's way
The god you believe in does seem quite okay.
But you can have it from me one who pens doggerel
A non believer to some and to many an infidel
That the god you believe in you do not represent
If your anger on others you are known to vent.
poem by Francis Duggan

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What other nations call religious toleration, we call religious rights. They are not exercised in virtue of governmental indulgence, but as rights, of which government cannot deprive any portion of citizens, however small.
quote by Richard Mentor Johnson

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Who Practices Abstinence
There's always talk about...
The getting of sex.
There's always talk about...
An innocence to protect.
And there's always talk about...
What children will do next,
If they don't ignore temptation...
And practice abstinence.
Who practices abstinence...
When the meaning's lean on doing.
And who practices abstinence...
When we're marketed to be teased,
To please...
The senses,
With a pleasure to release.
Who practices abstinence.
Who practices abstinence.
There's always talk about...
The getting of sex.
Yet...
Who practices abstinence.
Yet who practices abstinence.
There's always talk about...
An innocence to protect.
Yet...
Who practices abstinence.
Yet who practices abstinence.
When the meaning's lean on doing.
And who practices abstinence...
When we're marketed to be teased,
To please...
The senses,
With a pleasure to release.
Who practices abstinence.
Who practices abstinence.
Who practices abstinence.
Who practices abstinence.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Friends, Associates and Close Family
On the sidelines jeering!
Deafening boos are heard leering...
With catcalls and other strange sounds.
And signs of failure,
Thunderously applauded.
'Who' are these folks,
You claim to have your back? '
~That is their way of expressing their support.
As well as undefined devotion.~
'But...
Didn't you say they were your friends, associates
And close family? '
~Yeah!
We are still working on that.
Especially that community spirit 'thing'.
Outside of those religious practices, of course.
However...
One thing is certain,
They can not be faulted for their beliefs.
Nor for that 'togetherness' arguably maintained!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.
quote by Dante Alighieri

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I am not going to answer any questions as to my association, my philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I voted in any election, or any of these private affairs.
quote by Pete Seeger

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality.
quote by Alighieri Dante

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Am Not Religious
My friend, religious I am not, when by you I’m put on the spot,
My belief is found in only one; God’s Only Risen, Eternal Son.
This isn’t a belief found in men, but, in one who died for them,
And Christ, who died, rose again, to offer New Life to all men.
Religion’s a man’s institution; a fallen man’s religious solution,
Devised upon this earthly sod, in man’s attempt to reach God,
Embracing indeed a broad array, of beliefs in our present day,
Beliefs men embrace religiously, so other men around can see.
Our salvation is all of God’s Idea, to regain for us life eternally,
That’s why I cling only to Christ, the very Author of Eternal Life.
Religion calls The Author a liar, as it sets its belief much higher,
Than the True Sovereign Lord, leaving many Truths unexplored.
Religious is a common phrase, used by men in different ways,
And many can be religious friend, not knowing God in the end.
The religion that I speak of, compromise God’s Truth and Love,
Having a form of godliness, as it lacks Christ’s Righteousness.
Friend religious I may have been, back before I was Born Again,
But now religion plays no part, with Jesus living within my heart.
Now all my life I live for Him, Christ, who saved me from my sin,
Not to live the present religiously, but to live with Christ eternally.
(Copyright ©05/2008)
For 180 years, we voted in English. That is the true American tradition, and this amendment is true to our heritage, not what has existed unnaturally for the last 20 years.
quote by Spencer Bachus

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The concept of neutrality can lead to a brooding and pervasive devotion to the secular and a passive, or even active, hostility to the religious. Such results are not only not compelled by the Constitution, but, it seems to me, are prohibited by it.
quote by Arthur J. Goldberg

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Alliterativism
See the flying French depart
Like the bees of Bonaparte,
Swarming up with a most venomous vitality.
Over Baden and Bavaria,
And Brighton and Bulgaria,
Thus violating Belgian neutrality.
And the injured Prussian may
Not unreasonably say
"Why, it cannot be so small a nationality
Since Brixton and Batavia,
Bolivia and Belgravia,
Are bursting with the Belgian neutrality."
By pure Alliteration
You may trace this curious nation,
And respect this somewhat scattered Principality;
When you see a B in Both
You may take your Bible oath
You are violating Belgian neutrality.
poem by G.K. Chesterton (1914)

Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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In Lincoln's day a President's religion was a very private affair. There were no public prayer meetings, no attempts to woo the Religious Right. Few of Lincoln's countrymen knew anything at all of his religious beliefs.
quote by David Herbert Donald

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Political organizations have slowly substituted themselves for the Churches as the places for believing practices. Politics has once again become religious.
quote by Michel De Certeau

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Do All Religions Give The Same Light?
two famous folk singers
once said at their concert
that all earth's religions
give the light
but is this
the same light?
Do all these religions
teach believe
the same teachings?
Do true faithful advocates
of each of these religions
believe the same beliefs?
Christianity teaches
Jesus is the only begotten
Son of divine God
Jesus claimed
he was the way
the truth the light
that none no one
comes to God
except through him
an exclusive claim
Islam declares
God has no sons
Jesus is but one
prophet like Moses
Noah Muhammad
Jesus never died
on sacrifice cross
was no Messiah
to take your sins
supreme is finality
faith in prophethood
chosen Muhammad
Five Pillars Of Islam
five duties incumbent
on all every Muslim
Shahadah
profession
of faith
Salat prayers
Sawm fasting
Zakat giving of alms
specifically
during
Ramadan
Hajj
pilgrimage
to Mecca
five practices
essential
to all Muslims
Hinduism the most
important Indian religion
characterized by a belief
in reincarnation
belief in a large pantheon
of gods and goddesses
Buddhism is a religion
philosophy encompassing
a variety of traditions
beliefs practices
inspired based
on many teachings
attributed to Siddhartha
many religions
many differences
many sources
different sources of light?
yet some concepts
are paramount
to all true believers
tolerance compassion
vengeance belongs to God alone
love worship holy God
remove huge rafter of sin
from your own eye before
straw from another's eye
poem by Terence George Craddock

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The Latest School
See the flying French depart
Like the bees of Bonaparte,
Swarming up with a most venomous vitality.
Over Baden and Bavaria,
And Brighton and Bulgaria,
Thus violating Belgian neutrality.
And the injured Prussian may
Not unreasonably say
"Why, it cannot be so small a nationality
Since Brixton and Batavia,
Bolivia and Belgravia,
Are bursting with the Belgian neutrality."
By pure Alliteration
You may trace this curious nation,
And respect this somewhat scattered Principality;
When you see a B in Both
You may take your Bible oath
You are violating Belgian neutrality.
poem by Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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