Allright, lets see 12 "informed" mccain voters answer those questions.
I hear Palin didn't realize Africa was a continent either. She also couldn't name the members involved with NAFTA. I believe some might call her a McCain supporter.
You'll always find idiots be they democrats, republicans, 3rd parties or independents.
BTW binaryterror, the reference you made to separation of church and state is nowhere in the constitution
I said it is the first amendment, which is in the constitution as the Bill Of Rights (Amendments 1-10) and has been since the ratification of the First Amendment in 1791.
Since you can't do a google search yourself to see what the true text of the First Amendment of our great Constitution, here is the exact wording of the First amendment as per the
www.usconstitution.net's copy:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
you need to read the whole writing by Thomas Jefferson to understand what he was talking about.
Sorry to burst your bubble, Mr Jefferson can not truely be classified as any religion. Many consider him Unitarian, Deist, or Christian; unfortunately all are wrong. Seems Mr. Jefferson believed in little pieces of each which sculpted his views once he was old enough to think and be of his own mind. He however has never been tied to Free Masonry.
As I delve deeper it seems this topic isn't as cut and dry on exactly who could be called out as Deist. One quote or story points to Deism, another to Unitarianism, and some even very Christian in nature. One must also remember in those times it was typical to be brought up as your family in their church so many specific quotes and texts seem to be questionable.
Though you must be warned Deists still believe in a God and afterlife, however their major difference is that they feel God does not favor any one/group/nation of another nor does God interfere in humanity. That last 2 pieces are what truely seperates Deism from the Monotheism of Christianity and many other religious beliefs.
Free Masons, who indeed are Christians which is one of the primary requirements of being a Free Mason. Before someone starts bashing Free Masons though, do research first and it actually helps to know Free Masons.
Freemasonry is a fraternity, and as you mention does have requirements (I am part of a Fraternity, Lamda Chi Alpha). However there is no requirement to be a Christian and only a Christian; you must just believe in a
Supreme Being. Freemasonry openly states that is it not a religion or a substitute for one. Freemasonry does allow non-Christian people who believe in a
Supreme Being such as Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and even Sikhism. The only thing that could keep out other religions is in the secret voting in process which they could black ball someone over religion (much like a college fraternity black balling a short person or fat person should they so see fit)...but again the term per Freemasonry is
Supreme Being not Christianity.
The only known group of Freemasonry that requires Christian only membership in its doctrine is that of the Swedish Rite in Sweden.