The government doesnt back any religion. You have totally missed the scope of the first amendment. It wasnt to give atheists and agnostics legal recourse when they hear something they dont agree with. Im about as religious as...well lets just say not very but my logic wont let me twist the words of something intended for freedom of religious expression. The first amendment was never meant to be protection from others religious expression.

Well, I believe for our government to be fair and respect all religions it should not incorporate ANY religion in it workings at all. This includes schools, court houses, state buildings, etc...

When my children attend school, I do not want any religion being taught to them. It is my job to give my children the religion of choice. A school praying to the christian god is not giving them the freedom to pray to their own god.

If military personnel have no problem with public praying then I have nothing to say but if one of them feels put out by it, it needs to stop, to respect that one person's personal rights to practice the religion of choice.

As long as religion is kept at home where it belongs there will be no issues. People praying to themselves does not bother me one bit but to have it as part of the whole event I am attending is unnecessary. I do not want to bow my head and show respect to a god I do not believe exists, I feel foolish.

under the first amendment, the government wont ever require you to. This is all it guarantees.

Separation of church and state - idea that the government and religion should be separate, and not interfere in each other's affairs. In the United States, this idea is based on the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which states that the government cannot make any laws to establish a state religion or prohibit the free exercise of religion.

This is all it is. Atheists try to argue it means more than it was ever meant to. It was NEVER intended to allow protection from others religious expression.


This is the letter from Thomas Jefferson that created what would become twisted some 200 years later:

To messers. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.

Gentlemen

The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.

Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802.

Religions take as much control as they can when they get the opportunity and this is a problem. My children should not be praying in a public school. My children should not learn creationism in a public school. I do not want to go into a courtroom and have to swear to tell the truth on a bible or a god I do not believe in. I do not want to go to a ball game and have to pray because that is what they do there. I am there to watch a ball game if I want to pray I will go to church or visit some of my relatives.

Religious people feel that they are right, not just for themselves but for the world and this is a problem and need to be controlled. I expect my government to make sure that I am not forced to practice any religion. So therefore it must be kept out of public places.

The same could be said about opponents of religion.



Has anyone ever forced them?



Why?



You do not have to. You can choose affirmation.



Then I suggest you hang out among your peers. If wanted to go to a prayer meeting and they made me play baseball, I likely choose to go elsewhere myself. You know...because thats what they do there.




So they should give up their freedom of religious expression just because you showed up? Again, the first amendment doesnt work like this.



That pretty much would include any authoritative entity.



Again, when were you ever forced? Have you ever been arrested, cited, incarcerated, or other held accountable for not engaging or practicing any religion?




Why? Because you disagree? You can't make up your own rules to suit your own desire.

Regardless to your defenses, religion has no place in public places it is called respect. Practice whatever you want in your home and your church but keep it out of my childrens school and games, etc.... I will not interfere with your home religion and you stay out of mine, we will be cool.

Public expressions of religion can be allowed I have no problem with it but not part of the itinerary of the public event that is not respectful of my wishes to be god free.

Who said? This isnt written anywhere in the constitution or laws of the United States. Respect has nothing to do with it. As I recall, the premise of the argument is "church and state". Now you've expanded to include anywhere you happen to be.




Thanks for giving permission for something I was already aware I had according to the first amendment. I wasnt aware that I ever imposed my belief on you or your children.



How cool we are is irrelevant. I wasnt aware that I ever tried to impose my beliefs on you. I can assure you, i will never try to either.



has anyone ever forced you to participate? If not, then you have nothing to complain about. However, by insinuating that the public should cater to your desires because you dont believe something would be disrespectful to them...not to mention suppressing their freedom of religious expression.

Not only should we DEMAND separation of church & state, but we should also DEMAND that our representatives are able to discern, Ethics from religious morals.

http://www.victoryfund.org/files/listening.html

Sally Kern – Oklahoma Representative
What are your thoughts about any political figure who speaks in public as Kern has in the above?

What a nut case. She talks about things like higher suicide rate which in reality it is caused by people like her.

I completely agree with everything you say. Public schools don't force prayer. The only prayer they even have is one that is done by students. If you don't feel like praying you don't have to participate. The same goes for praying at a game. Just stand there and don't pray. The teams are owned by a person not the government. If that team owner wants to host praying thats his right.

As far as teaching Creationism, I think it should be taught. Its a view that a lot of the world has and it should not be ignored. They should also teach evolution and the big bang.

No need to demand it; this is implied in the first amendment.




This makes no sense. Ethics are derived from ones moral principles. Some 75-80% of the US population identify themselves as Christian.





Speaking one's mind is a desirable trait as a representative. The voters of Oklahoma will have their own voice come election time.

could some one show me in the constitution

where it say separation of church and state

good luck

it is not there

Ive already pointed out it isnt in the constitution but it is definitely implied by the first amendment. I think all should go research exactly what the Establishment Clause of the first amendment actually means. I think most people seem to think "separation of church and state" means "separation of religion and me- no matter who i meet, where i go, or what i do".

I can give you an easy example of where I was forced to pray. As a first grader I had to say the pledge of aligence and in there it say's "under god". Do you think a six year old has the ability to stand up to all of that power structure?

well indoctrination and all you know

but if you really wanted to you could have remained silent for those two words

not that i think they should be there

Yeah the brave 6 year old standing silently by trying to change the power structure of the nation for the better.


(that was dripping with sarcasim if you didn't pick up on it)

well did your parents ever take you to church

or permit you to go with someone else

then they shouldn't participate in it. but letting someone pray quietly (those that wish to) should be allowed to whatever belief they believe

and how long ago was that???? times have changed you know