Secularization
“The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.”
President John F. Kennedy
A government, or society that has no connection to religion is in the process of moving toward becoming secularized. In a country that was formed under Judeo-Christian traditions, where citizens were “endowed by their creator”, and has “In God We Trust” on its currency, this trend is readily apparent. America’s population has become less spiritual over time, church attendance continues to decline.
Yet, protesters and congregants clashed on Sunday after a California church held indoor services in defiance of a judge’s temporary restraining order. Rob McCoy, the pastor at Ventura County's Godspeak Calvary Chapel held morning service on Sunday in the face of the judge's order supporting state and local health mandates aimed at preventing the spread of Wuhan Flu.
Recently the Supreme Court denied an appeal by a Nevada church, Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley, a church located in rural Nevada, to allow additional worshipers to join in-person services based on capacity amid the pandemic. Nevada had placed a 50-person cap on all places of worship, no matter the capacity of the building. However, casinos, restaurants and movie theaters, can have up to 50 percent capacity. The Casinos can have hundreds of gamblers, masked up and frittering away their children’s college fund.
“In Nevada, it seems, it is better to be in entertainment than religion. Maybe that is nothing new. But the First Amendment prohibits such obvious discrimination against the exercise of religion.” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in his dissent from the majority opinion.
“In my view, Nevada’s discrimination against religious services violates the Constitution,” Brett Kavanaugh opined. “But a State may not impose strict limits on places of worship and looser limits on restaurants, bars, casinos, and gyms, at least without sufficient justification for the differential treatment of religion,” added Kavanaugh, who also voted against decision
So, on the past weekend, millions who would like to attend their houses of worship were unable to unless they were the brave souls who choose to exercise their first amendment rights and attend banned services. Simply amazing that Target, Walmart, Costco and the like were full of mask wearing customers, but the churches had none. Social distancing only happens in the checkout line but nowhere else in these stores. The hypocrisy of these edicts is astounding.
Others exercised their first amendment right to free assembly without masks or social distancing to loot shops in Chicago and attempt to burn down a police union build in Portland. And the woke democrat politicians are more worried about school and church attendance rather than law and order in a free society.
For the folks in Nevada, seek a gambling permit from the state authorities, then consider the installation of slot machines in the church narthex. Attendance of more than 50 souls could take place in all houses of worship. A couple of craps or blackjack tables would be a nice touch as well.
Depending on states and local governments to protect our rights under the first amendment has become increasingly problematic and at times pathetically laughable. Now even the Supreme Court has essentially ruled against the First Amendment.
It is truly a national tragedy that more people rioted and looted this past weekend than attended their local house of worship.