as long as it doesn't violate the founding documents, i.e. lobbying for a religous state is ok, establishing one is not. I absolutely agree. Remember, the Constitution is a limitation on the legislature, and thereby upon the will of the people--and that's exactly what it was written to be.

The interpretation of those founding documents then is where our discussion lies.

Regarding Hawking's definition of "god:" I'd have to say that I recognize people can have metaphorical "gods," i.e. they can have the same attitude toward their "god" that others have toward their literal god. Confusing these 'metaphorical gods" with religion can be dangerous. The most illustrative example might be that some people seem to worship "money," or have money as their "god." Calling this a religous affiliation is probably disingenuous word play. These gods should be seen as what they are: metaphors, to do otherwise would handicap most modern literature.

• In money we trust - yaniru - November 6, 2002 - 20:06 UTC