WEBWIZARD ADDED: "Hence the Chief Justice of Alabama was giving a preference to one religion over others...which the Alabama Constitution is pretty clear about, whether you like it or not."
--------------------------------------
I AM RESPONDING:
No, he wasn't. The issue is NOT over establishing ANY SPECIFIC religion or prohibiting ANY SPECIFIC religion!!!!!
The laws of our land are HISTORICALLY BASED on the TEN COMMANDMENTS, NOT on any specific religion!!!!! Although Judiasm and Christianity are ALSO based on the TEN COMMANDMENTS, that in no way means that the TEN COMMANDMENTS establish ANY SPECIFIC religion.
I have talked with Hindus, Jews, Christians, Muslims and some atheists about the issue and NONE have had ANY problem when I explain it the way I see it:
Let's say you believe that there is ONLY ONE God (not necessarily the Judeo-Christian God). Would THAT ONE God want to have ANY OTHER god before him? Answer: No! Thou shalt have NO OTHER Gods.
Let's say you believe there are EXACTLY THREE gods. Would YOUR THREE gods want ANY OTHER gods before them? Answer: No! Thou shalt have NO OTHER gods!
Let's say you believe there are EXACTLY ONE MILLION gods. Would YOUR MILLION gods want ANY OTHER gods before them claiming to be the MILLION-AND-FIRST god if there are ONLY supposed to be a MILLION? Answer: No! Thou shalt have NO OTHER gods!
Let's say you are an Atheist and believe that there are NO gods--besides yourself, of course. Would YOU want ANY OTHER gods before YOU? Answer: NO! Thou shalt have NO OTHER gods!
Let's say you believed that cows were YOUR gods and you had pictures of cows and statues of cows all over your house, and you worshipped them at every opportunity. To YOU, the COWS are NOT graven images---they are YOUR gods!
How about if you are that Atheist and you had photos of yourself and statues of yourself all over your house. To YOU, those photos and statues are NOT graven images---they are photos and statues of YOUR god---YOU!
The point is that the TEN COMMANDMENTS are the HISTORICAL BASIS of our laws---and do NOT establish ANY religion.