"The word ‘messiah' is a title, and it's a title that has only been earned by one person, and that one person is Jesus Christ."
This was the quote given from a Tennessee judge after ordering a baby's name be changed from 'Messiah' to 'Martin.' This article states that recently he has (justifiably) been cited for an inappropriate religious bias in violation of the state judicial code of conduct.
Reading this story really bothered me. This judge believes that his personal religious beliefs are so important and superior that they must find their way into other people lives and delegate their own choices. We live in a country where Church and State are supposed to be separated. Those words aren't specifically written into the constitution, but it is clear that Government shall make no establishment of religion.
Are we really separate though? As we discussed in class, the President must end all public addresses with "God Bless America." If he didn't he would face enormous backlash-
"THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T BELIEVE IN GOD!!!!"- But why would that even matter? He should not let any religious affiliation effect a single thing that he does towards ruling the nation. Why do we swear on a bible in the court room? Why can't same sex couples be legally wed? Why is creationism taught in Texas? In my opinion, we are far from separate.
Do you think we are? Will we ever be?
I think that the points that you are bringing up are very interesting but I don't think that they all go together. Naming your child "messiah" is not okay in my mind. While the state maybe should not have gotten involved, who else was going to stop it? I've never really thought about the concept of swearing on the bible in the court room. I think that we do it because to the majority of people and many different religions, the bible is sacred. It is a way to force honesty on to criminals or just normal people who are loyal to their religions. The line between church and state is very fuzzy. If its going to help bring honesty to the law then maybe it is okay but only to some extent. I also think that same sex marriage being illegal is a separate issue from swearing on the bible and naming a child the messiah. While the issues are related by all being a part of the church brought into the state, they have too many other sides to be grouped together.
ReplyDeleteBilly, Fine job blogging this term, but I'm surprised you didn't pick a fav post. This one is interesting, but I wish you had gone a little deeper by analyzing the text of that article or by putting the article into conversation with other commentators. Since you also offer a music post, what do you make of Madonna, or Yeezus, or Young Jesus, or Jay-Z's alter ego Jay-Hovah? You might also consider the civil liberty issues here -- free speech and the right to self-determination, namely.
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