Thank you, Still Batty. Thank you.

Ceashell,
Thanks for adding--and after reading many letters to the editor, and having conversations with friends, I have to say I respect your thoughts there. I'm thinking and considering....

Ceashel, you're right. It's Topical. Thanks for the reminder.

And I agree with you completely. I just also have always thought it was kind of dumb to have small childern reciting a pledge that they don't really understand and are too young to be making an informed decision about anyway. Of course the Pledge isn't just for school kids, but those are the people who are coerced into reciting it daily.

There's a religious column in our paper written by a priest and rabbi who are fairly mainstream, I guess, who gave what I think is a pretty good defense of having God in there, but it only works if you really believe that there's no concept of right and wrong and human rights without a belief in a God. Basically they're saying that all inalienable rights must come from God if they don't come from the State. I don't even think you have to be an atheist to believe that those concepts can grow out of human understanding, and I think that the more separation of church and state the better.

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Pat, yes, thanks. It is Tropical. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15> It also is a very human issue and so at the root of what our country is all about. About those who celebrate God in a certain way being able to do so. So about bring-your-own god churches being able to do so. Therefore, so about those who do not believe in a supreme being--being able to do so. And not having to say otherwise.

We've all heard the expression,
"In God we trust, All others must pay cash."

Maybe it's more the American way to say,
"In cash we trust, all others, well..."
<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15> <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

I believe in a strong separation of church and state. And so, while something like the pledge or the money thing may seem insignificant, they are really symbolic of a much bigger problem.

The recent Supreme Court decision making it acceptable to promote religion with public tax dollars is the latest example of the nation the Right wants to create. I've always supported the right of people to relish the religion of their choice, so long as they keep it within their homes and churches. But that's not good enough for many religious folks. For these folks, it's really not about their faith, or spirituality, but rather about legislating morality (as they see it), and converting others to the truth (as they see it.)

For those who complain the loudest about "religious persecution", I have to laugh at their hypocrisy. They claim we are attacking them, and their values. While, of course, it remains open season on aetheists and the other non-Christians.

As the bumper sticker says: Dear Jesus, please protect me from your followers.

There is one major point that seems to be ignored by many. "The Deity" or "God," have very little of nothing to do with RELIGION.

Our money says, "In God we trust." Not "In Christianity we thrust."

The Pledge of Allegiance says, "One nation, under God..." Not "One nation under Judaism."

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For me, it boils down to:

<I>I've got a friend who cares for me,
My friend's name is Nobody.
Nobody loves me.
Nowbody cares.</I>

--from a song by <u>Trout Fishing in America</u>

If my friend Nobody is also my neighbor's God, that friend and neighbor are welcome in my Bring-Your-Own God Church.

If this makes no sense, It's alright, I don't mind.

Shelley

I've often wondered why we were told to "Pledge Allegiance to the FLAG"... rather than pledge to our nation...

Here is an interesting perspective that touches on that sentiment and many others as well... http://www.metroland.net/reckonings.html

Okay so now I have read the topic and I will express my views, bent as they may be.

anything which children are required to say without having giving any thought to, is in my book brain washing or at least unreasonable to force upon kids.

many church groups are opposed to their kids being asked to aline themselves with any form of goverment so the question is really beyond just the under God part...