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Posts tagged ‘separation of church and state’

 

In the United States, You May Face Hate Crime Charges for Fighting Satanism

Despite previous wins, the Satanic Temple has lost a lawsuit in Boston alleging discrimination based on their religion.

March 14th, 2024

Many Americans forget that the United States is a constitutionally secular republic with no official religion. Although one might argue that the country was founded on Christian values, the government is usually careful to separate church and state. Any overlap between these two realms can potentially lead to lawsuits – and we have certainly seen Read More


How to Become a Deacon

To become a Deacon, you traditionally had to convert to Catholicism, but the Universal Life Church enables you to become one instantly.

January 26th, 2024

For many religious individuals, attending church is not enough. They wish instead to become more active members of the church, and they strive to hold official positions within the church’s hierarchy. For Catholics, one potential option is to become a deacon. But what exactly is a deacon, and how do you become one? What is a Deacon? Read More


Veteran Beheads Baphomet Statue in Iowa

Despite previous wins, the Satanic Temple has lost a lawsuit in Boston alleging discrimination based on their religion.

December 29th, 2023

A veteran recently admitted to beheading a Baphomet statue inside the Iowa State Capital, calling his actions “Christian civil disobedience.” This has not stopped him from facing criminal charges of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, but numerous individuals – including local Satanists – aren’t exactly happy. This has sparked a wider debate over potential Read More


State of Tennessee Settles Lawsuit with Universal Life Church

The Universal Life Church recently won its lawsuit against Tennessee over a law barring its ministers from officiating weddings.

December 19th, 2023

After the Tennessee state legislature passed a law explicitly barring ministers who were ordained online from solemnizing legal marriages in 2019, the Universal Life Church (ULC) immediately filed suit and were successful in obtaining a restraining order blocking the law from taking effect. In August of 2023, the ULC began the trial against the Tennessee Read More


Can You Legally Start Your Own Religion in the United States?

Religious groups recently sued the IRS over the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits tax exempt organizations from engaging in political speech.

December 8th, 2023

What is the legal definition of a religion in the United States? When you strip away the ideology and tax benefits, religion is simply an organization of people who agree to come together and follow certain rules. With this simplistic view, an obvious question often arises among so-called non-believers: Why can’t I create my own religion and Read More


Churches Fight to Leave the United Methodist Church

There is a fierce debate in many religious communities about LGBTQ issues, and the United Methodist Church is certainly no exception.

December 5th, 2023

There is a fierce debate in many religious communities about LGBTQ issues, and the United Methodist Church (UMC) is certainly no exception. Due to the unique legal structure of the UMC, this debate is triggering a serious fracture within the church – one that is causing many individual congregations to leave. The process of leaving Read More


Religious Organizations Face Consequences for Alleged Financial Crimes

Two religious organizations in the U.S. are facing large fines for alleged financial crimes linked to tuition and tithing.

November 28th, 2023

While religious organizations in the United States enjoy many financial freedoms and exceptions, these organizations still run the risk of serious consequences if they operate in an unlawful manner. This was made clear after two religious organizations in the United States were accused of financial crimes.  Christian University Accused of Financial Crimes over Tuition Tuition Read More


Dissent Among US Government Employees is Reaching Dangerous Levels

What happens when diverse views within the United States government become a liability rather than an asset?

November 24th, 2023

The Biden Administration has prided itself on embracing diversity, appointing a wide range of individuals to key government positions. One of the inescapable realities of diversity is not only the variations in skin color or religion but also variable points of view. What happens when government employees begin fighting among themselves over divisive issues like Read More


What if You Do Not Want to Swear an Oath to God in the United States?

While America is not a Christian Nation from a constitutional standpoint, the drumbeat of those arguing otherwise is getting louder.

November 17th, 2023

Despite America’s official secular stance, there are many situations in which an American citizen might be asked to swear an oath to God. For example, someone might be ordered to swear that they will tell the truth before testifying during a trial. Often, the witness is required to swear on a Bible. In addition, elected Read More


California Pays Almost $200,000 to Pro-Life Group

Regardless of whether you're pro-life or pro-choice, it is always alarming when a law could put you in jail for expressing your views.

November 7th, 2023

In the United States, the right to express one’s political or religious views is protected. But how far do these protections really go? Time after time, state and federal governments have sought to limit these rights and even penalize those who have expressed their viewpoints in public. A recent case in California initiated by a Read More