Raskin said, “I’ve never pronounced upon the existence of a divinity before, and nobody has ever asked me.” The article stated, “If asked in the political sphere, he says he wouldn’t answer.” In a system that does not have a religious test for office, Raskin’s answer is sufficient. Voters do not have the right to get into someone’s head and heart on matters of faith to the contrary, matters of faith and religion have no place in political discourse. We are governed by a Constitution that requires separation of religion (and, by extension, religiously held beliefs) from public service, and demanding that a politician reveal his faith runs contrary to accepted doctrine and is itself discriminatory. Raskin made clear that if his constituents and opponents wanted to know what he stood for, they could refer to his public record. Raskin declined to say whether he adheres to an atheist philosophy, meaning he wisely chose not to expose privately held beliefs in a charged political arena where they do not belong. He’s not a fellow traveler.” That’s assuming facts that are not in evidence. The article concluded by saying that “it seems humanists will have to wait for that role model. . . As though being of Jewish descent is synonymous with believing in God. But the title of the article implied that he isn’t an atheist - he’s Jewish. So we do not know, nor do his constituents have any right to know, whether he believes in God. He said his fealty to the concept of separation between church and state matters only if politicians are free to hold public office irrespective of their religious or other faith-based beliefs. He never said he was an atheist he never said he was not. Trumps other attorneys Michael van der Veen. Raskin said he is of Jewish heritage - an immutable fact of his birth - but declined to comment either way on his privately held faith (or lack thereof) in God. Schoen, an Orthodox Jew, also told CNN that he still chooses not to wear his yarmulke inside the Senate chamber. ![]() Note that the definition includes “belief.” One common definition is “an integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior.” ![]() Readers who are puzzled by this seeming contradiction need to peruse “ The Interpretation of Cultures” by anthropologist Clifford Geertz. A chapter in this book is titled “Religion As a Cultural System.” The word “culture” is widely used in anthropological literature, and there are many definitions of it. I fully agree, as I am a member of the AHA and consider myself Jewish. He said that there is no conflict between the two identifications, since humanism is his philosophy and Judaism is his religion. Raskin (D-Montgomery), who just won his primary as a candidate for Congress, as a humanist, while Raskin said he considers himself Jewish. ![]() The May 5 Metro article “ Raskin an atheist? He begs to disagree” reported that the American Humanist Association touted Maryland state Sen. Raskin (D-Montgomery) on March 22 in Annapolis.
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