Re: OT - "lie" vs "error"

I know, I said I was done - this is quick (and should be uncontroversial)..

Chuck Stevens wrote: 
I don't think you yet understand my concern.

You wrote "We don't tell European and Mexican immigrants that they have to
renounce Catholicism, because we're a Protestant nation."

According to my understanding of English grammar (including the use of the
comma), the difference between this statement and "Because we're a
Protestant nation we don't tell European and Mexican immigrants that they
have to renounce Catholicism."

It appears to me the *assertion* is "We are a Protestant nation", and the
*conclusion* to be drawn from that assertion is "We don't tell ...
immigrants ...".

I was giving examples of things we *don't* say. Being that we have no state religion, we're can't really claim to be Protestant, Catholic, Unitarian, or Chicken-cultists. :)

We're supposed to be a free nation, for all religions. I seem to remember something about Congress not being allowed to make any provisions that "prohibit the free exercise" of religion. That part's not quite as alluring to folks as the first part of the phrase - but everyone likes the Constitution for their own reasons, I suppose. :)


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