I was looking at an article a few days ago wherein Michael Johnson of the House of Representatives actually stated that he would like to see the separation of church and state dissolved. I know that he displays himself as a very religious person, but I did not take his comments seriously.

I just read an article where it stated that Trump would like to create policy that would support a "Religious Liberty Commission", which would essentially limit or dissolve the separation of church and state. This sounds like a very bad idea to me.

Has anyone else heard about this? What do you think?

Gee

The GOP has been pushing this idea for some time, with the idea that the US is a Christian nation. It’s not, and most of the people in this administration only give lip service to the religion they claim to follow. It’s pretty clear that they are not familiar with the teachings of it, echoing their ignorance of the Constitution. They use it as a facade to seize and exert power. (see e.g. the new Pope’s feedback to JD Vance’s claims about Catholicism)

8 hours ago, Gees said:

wherein Michael Johnson of the House of Representatives actually stated that he would like to see the separation of church and state dissolved.

I know both are 'grifters', as apparently all the cardinal showing up for the Papal Conclave were showing up in limos and adorned with all sorts of gold ( my supervisor was vacationing in Rome ), but I would rather have the new Pope as head of the American Government than Donald Trump.

So much for the Christian teaching "the poor and meek shall inherit the Earth" ...

It's not religious liberty they want. It's government elevation of Christianity specifically. See also how these commissions and rules changes never seem to be in favor of Hinduism or Islam. How it's always biblical quotes they're putting in classrooms and nothing from the Quran or the Vedas.

10 hours ago, Gees said:

Religious Liberty Commission"

Closely followed, no doubt, by a Peace Commission, a Truth Commission, A Commission for Plenty , a Commission of Love. ...

10 hours ago, Gees said:

Has anyone else heard about this? What do you think?

Yes, we've been aware of the trend for some time. All that whining about "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" and not putting up nativity scenes on the the lawns of government buildings and no prayers in public school; how the poor Christians are being persecuted, even to being forbidden to persecute others. It plays well with Trump's 'beautiful Christian' right - who will never have to vote again, since king/archbishop/generalissimo Trump will fix everything to their satisfaction. (He doesn't know a single biblical passage, and his behaviour would make Jesus throw up.... but, never mind, so long as they're buying it - and the Trump 2028 teeshirts he's peddling.) The whole flea-circus is fake.

Edited May 21May 21 by Peterkin
yet another mistyped word

From the legal side of things, I suspect it depends a lot on what the commission does in practice. I think that the separation of church and state mostly stems from the first amendment:

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.

So, on its face I would think that if, as likely intended, the commission promotes Evangelism as the one true religion, it would clearly violate the constitution. If, on the other hand they use some backhanded means and frame it as promoting religious freedom it could pass initial muster. It could use similar tactics to allow e.g. school prayers but framing it around individual choice. This does result in de facto school prayers but make it seem less mandated, which can gradually shift perception. It will likely get challenged in court, where they will likely defend why whatever they come up with, will likely not apply to Islam or other religions. But that his all hypothetical at this point, of course.