Semper Reformanda

Indeed, I am offended, Mr. Sandefur: Tim Sandefur, in discussing a case filed against the City of Los Angeles for removing a cross from the city seal, asks whether Christians should be offended that public displays of religion are often defended based on their historical, and not religious, value. The argument bascially says, "Yes, the cross is a religious symbol, and thus might violate the Establishment Clause, but it's been there for so long and it's really just a civic acknowledgment of our religious heritage so we should keep it."

This argument is nonsense, and I take offense to it not chiefly because it offends me, but because I think it offends God. Things like crosses or stone monuments or images are not how God desires to be worshipped, and even in those ways that He has commanded us to worship Him, he takes no pleasure in it being heartless and not focused completey on Him. Consider the words of Isaiah on these matters:

"What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?
Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
I hate your new moon {festivals} and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing {them.} So when you spread out your hands {in prayer,} I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow." Isaiah 1:11-17

God takes no pleasure in a public display of honor to Him if it is devoid of any real meaning. In fact, it angers Him. So yes, I have major problems with arguments in favor of public displays of religion when those arguments run as far away from God as possible.

Mt. St. Helens to Erupt Again?: Seismic activity underneath Mt. St. Helens has geologists concerned that another eruption could happen soon. The new activity is supposedly very similar to the pattern observed before the eruption in 1986.

Thanks to TaxProf Blog: They posted a link about to my article on Cuno v. DaimlerChrysler.

Cuno v. DaimlerChrysler: I have an analysis of the Cuno decision (which invalidated an Ohio investment tax credit under the Commerce Clause) here. This is a potentially explosive decision.

Why Won't CBS Admit the Documents are Forgeries?: Powerline with a nice summary of the story and a logical explanation why CBS will not admit the documents are forgeries.

Short summary: because the Kerry campaign or other Democrat operatives forged the documents and sent them to CBS.

Rathergate: I am 99.9% convinced that CBS has relied on forged documents to attack President Bush's service in the National Guard.

A good post here attacking the latest from Dan Rather on the "authenticity" of the documents.

I'm guessing that CBS is standing by the veracity of these documents, despite stories questioning their authenticity from the Washington Post and ABC News, because revealing the source would blow up the presidential campaign.

Update: Someone has offered you $10,000 if you can duplicate the "documents" on a typewriter from the early 1970s when they were purportedly written.

Another election update: Pennsylvania moves into the President's column. With three of the last four polls showing a tie or Bush lead, PA would now go for Bush if the election were held today. Bush now leads Kerry by a margin of 305-233.

Incidentally, the two candidates are tied in Iowa, and Bush is within the margin of error in Minnesota, Maine and Michigan. Two of those states have not voted Republican for president since 1984 (Iowa and Minnesota), and the last Republican presidential candidate that Michigan and Maine went for was George H.W. Bush in 1988.

I would say that a strong speech from President Bush tonight would move those four states into the Bush column and make the race unwinnable for Kerry absent a stunning Kerry victory in the debates or a major international incident that embarrases the President.