[Jaine Perotti]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

So in the end, I often tend to believe that either the government totally keeps out of religion, or it allows any and every religion to equally speak its voice. The latter of which is preferable choice, as it does not restrict one's rights to freedom of speech and expression, yet does not imply government support of any single religion or ideology. (Rather, it shows government support to the freedom of expression.)

But what about atheists and agnostics? I would argue that atheism and agnosticism are a form of religious belief - just as mainstream Christianity/Judaism/Islam are. The words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance do not represent all religious beliefs equally. It respects only one form of religious belief - the ones which profess a belief in God - and no others.

Originally Posted by cooker52

When they wrote the Declaration of Independence, they wrote in there the belief in God, and that they built this country on the freedoms that He has given us. They built this country Under God. We don't necissarily need the Under God in our pledges because of everyone's beliefs, but because that is how our country was built. We are on nation, built under God.

With regards to how laws are made, the Declaration of Independence has no influence. It is not a legislative document - it's more like a mission statement. We must answer to the Constitution (the supreme authority on legislative matters) with regards to this issue.

What does it mean to "build a country under God"? Does it mean that religion should be legislated upon the people? The Constitution says "No". Does it mean that every citizen is entitled to practice the religion of their choice freely? The Constitution says "Yes"!

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Multitudes of other organizations including the Boy Scouts, Masons, and nearly every religion on earth also recognize that men and women who profess a belief in a being higher than themselves, act in a manner befitting someone of respect.

The belief in a higher power is absolutely NOT a prerequisite to acting "in a manner befitting of respect". I have seen both Atheists and Believers commit reprehensible and inappropriate acts; conversely, I have seen both Atheists and Believers act with dignity and leadership. The qualities which make someone a model citizen have nothing to do with religious belief - they have to do with one's ability to lead, think, empathize, and act responsibly.

Originally Posted by KarenH

But today there are many people who whine any time anyone in government says or does anything the tiniest bit "religious." All Americans--whether government officials or not--have the freedom to express religious beliefs. So if Congress wants to open with a prayer, the Constitution guarantees their right to do so. If a public school child is asked to write a book report on his favorite book, and he writes about the Bible, his teacher has no business telling him to choose another book.

If you don't like someone else saying "Under God," or talking or writing about their religious beliefs, you are entitled to your opinion. But you have no right, under the U.S. constitution, to try to force them to shut up. If you can't stand the religious freedom available in this country, then move to China or Vietnam, where the governments are busy arresting, jailing, and otherwise persecuting religious people.

I am not a member of the so-called "over-politically correct" crowd. I could care less if a person chooses to express their religious views publicly or otherwise. I have a problem only when such expressions are sanctioned by LEGISLATIVE actions. There is nothing wrong with a child writing a book report about The Bible in class. There is nothing wrong with Christmas trees in the mall, or a Menorah in a shop window. There is nothing wrong with letting people embrace their various religious beliefs in public, as long as it is not being mandated or funded by the Government.

As I have said before, by legislating that the words "under God" be included in the Pledge of Allegiance, the Government is recognizing an establishment of a particular religion (and is excluding other religious beliefs). Leaving the words "under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance is not suppressing anyone's right to free speech. There are plenty of other ways people can express their belief in God that are not written in legislation. It seems pretty silly to think that saying "under God" during the Pledge of Allegiance is the only way for a person to express that belief.

--Jaine