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Why do people in america get so mad about god's name being mentioned on our money and in our pledge?
Religion is more like a Goverment. Tell me what you think about this story: * A man was sitting in a cave minding his own business. * A very bright flash of light appeared. * A voice spoke out one word: "Read!" The man felt like he was being squeezed to death. This happened several times. * Then the man asked, "What should I read?" * The voice said, "Read in the name of your Lord who created humans from a clinging [zygote]. Read for your Lord is the most generous. He taught people by the pen what they didn't know before." * The man ran home to his wife. * While running home, he saw the huge face of an angel in the sky. The angel told the man that he was to be the messenger of God. The angel also identified himself as Gabriel. * At home that night, the angel appeared to the man in his dreams. * Gabriel appeared to the man over and over again. Sometimes it was in dreams, sometimes during the day as "revelations in his heart," sometimes preceded by a painful ringing in his ears (and then the verses would flow from Gabriel right out of the man), and sometimes Gabriel would appear in the flesh and speak. Scribes wrote down everything the man said. * Then, one night about 11 years after the first encounter with Gabriel, Gabriel appeared to the man with a magical horse. The man got on the horse, and the horse took him to Jerusalem. Then the winged horse took the man up to the seven layers of heaven. The man was able to actually see heaven and meet and talk with people there. Then Gabriel brought the man back to earth. * The man proved that he had actually been to Jerusalem on the winged horse by accurately answering questions about buildings and landmarks there. * The man continued receiving the revelations from Gabriel for 23 years, and then they stopped. All of the revelations were recorded by the scribes in a book which we still have today.
What do you make of this story? If you have never heard the story before, you may find it to be nonsensical. You would especially feel that way once you read the book that was supposedly transcribed from Gabriel, because much of it is opaque. The dreams, the horse, the angel, the ascension, and the appearances of the angel in the flesh -- you would dismiss them all because it is all imaginary.
But you need to be careful. This story is the foundation of the Muslim religion, practiced by more than a billion people around the world. The man is named Mohammed, and the book is the Koran (also spelled Qur'an or Qur'aan). This is the sacred story of the Koran's creation and the revelation of Allah to mankind.
Despite the fact that a billion Muslims profess some level of belief in this story, people outside the Muslim faith consider the story to be imaginary. No one believes this story because this story is a fairy tale. They consider the Koran to be a book written by a man and nothing more. A winged horse that flew to heaven? That is imaginary -- as imaginary as flying reindeer.
So instead of A Christian God, Imagine somebody trying to impose that instead of God it will be changed to In Allah we trust.. What then?
As for the original question, my belief is thus: I feel that people believe that their own religious freedoms are being squashed. Every one has a right to believe, or to choose not to believe. The basic point is that they feel that Church and State should be separated as stated in the constitution.
However, that being said, I am a Christian, and I feel that if there is one religion most heavily persecuted (aside from the Jews) it would be Christianity. I think that the government felt they had a good reason to put in God we Trust on the bills, considering that it is a mostly Christian Nation. It doesn't matter when they put it on, it does matter that it was from those that came before us.
If you ask me, those who are trying to take away religious freedoms are the ones who are taking away any rights that Christians have to exersize their faith. They want to take away the in God we Trust from the bills, take away the pledge of Alliegence, as well as many other freedoms.
There is a petition that has been put before the federal government to disallow Christian preachers to put their services on air via the radio or the television. (If people don't want to hear it they should turn it off, the same way Christians do when they see sex and violence broadcast on those same airways). There is a growing population that is even saying that Christian churches should only be allowed on reservations. I have a Christian website and had to kick someone off the site for saying all Christians should be beheaded and frightening teenagers.
One of the main things we are taught in the Christian religion is not to judge others lest we be judged ourselves when the time comes, and some may not have listened, but that does not mean that all of us are forcing our religion down the throats of others. What is happening here is that immorality has become the norm, and Christianity, which does not follow the trend, is being pushed out as unmodern and non conforming. To think, Christians are the rebels again.
Sorry if this offends anyone, but a lot of the comments I have seen lately are offending me. Maybe people should start realizing that just because we aren't a minority, doesn't mean we should be discriminated against.
I really don't know why that is, but, all Americans that are either non christian or christian believe in god in their own way. When I was in elementary school, we always said the pledge of Elegence and used the word god. And, when I was a child, I never went to church but, I knew that god was there but, I just didn't feel his presents. I guess as far as the currency, we all have rights to our beliefs and, some of us are being violated of our rights and, we are all entitled to our opinions about religion and money. When I attend church, we pay what's called tithing which is ten percent of our income. We don't give that money to the collection plate like some of these other churches. Our money goes for church funds, building temples, chapels, and so forth. People can pay tithing when they need to so that they can get the blessings from the Lord. Now, I pay my tithing because I want too. Otherwise, if some people feel that we can't say the pledge, or give donations, then we as christians wouldn't be doing the things that we do to serve our god.
we christians shouldn have to sacrafice what we say just b/c people dont like hearin the name of God, im so tired of everyone babyin the other religions and people who dont believe in Him and us christians has to keep our mouth shuts and not breath a word, but its ok to show sex on tv and give out condoms in school instead of telling the kids dont do it, we christians if we say merry christmas, we better watch out b/c people gets offended bout it, ya know what, thats stupid, cant say merry christmas, you dont even say christ you pronounce it different, and it comes out thats its offensive PLEASE!!!, im so tired of us getting shot down b/c of a few people, like one kid that was muslim and they had a gradutaion in a church and he says he didnt get a fair graduation b/c it was in church, they had a graduation NOT church, theres a difference, I think people needs to step back and realize that God was what this country was founded on and if it wasn for Him we all could be livin like people in foreign countries...
I'll answer your question with another one: Would you be upset if the pledge had the words "one nation under no God because there isn't one," or if our currency read "in no God whatsoever we trust?" I'd bet you would be a bit irked if that were the case. The point of the argument that non-Christians or atheists have as far as the words in our pledge and on our money is more related to the principle of the thing. We are merely trying to preserve the idea of Separation of Church and State. Yes, the majority of Americans believe in God, but by including their beliefs in our nation's oath is just isolating the few percent that don't believe. It isn't fair, plain and simply put. It is not what our founding fathers would have wanted. Besides which, the "one nation under God" wasn't part of the original pledge, it was added in the midst of the McCarthy presidency, an attempt to protect us from communist-based rumors. The words should be removed.
People get so worked up because they believe that their rights are being violated. Most people in America identify as Christian. We are a largely Christian society. Non-Christians, such as myself, obviously do not particularly enjoy the God references in our schools and business interactions.
I myself do not mind the word God in the pledge of allegiance or in our currency. I have respect for all religions, as long as they aren't sacrificing virgins or something. If people want to say "under God", let them. I think it's great that Christians are able to publicly acknowledge their faith. People who are not Christian have the option of not saying it, or saying "under Allah" or "Under Buddha" and other such substitutions.
Freedom of religion is extended to Christians, and people seem to forget that.
I think that kevinmm has given a superb and balanced answer. Fillet's answer about when the wording which mentions God was added is very interesting. I should imagine that all those whose faith includes belief in a god or gods would find the wording acceptable, particularly if they are able to alter those words as kevinmm suggests.
However, I do understand that those who don't believe in any such being would feel hypocritical, and excluded, when they have to utter those words. It's interesting that in Britian, despite having a State Church and many of its representatives (the Bishops) in our Upper House of Parliament, we don't have words of that sort on our money. However, our National Anthem is: 'God Save the Queen', so I wonder about how atheist Brits feel about that? Any comments..?
Silverwings, we ARE A SECULAR NATION by design. The constitution is the foundation of our government, and no where, not even once, is god mentioned. That was purposeful. Some of the most prominent founding father were not practicing christians, including Washington and Jefferson. Why must you insist that everyone believe what you do? Removing mandatory prayer time from schools does not violate anyone's right to practice their religion on their own. But it definately violates the people rights to be free of goverment sponsered religious endorsement by forcing people to ackowledge god.
You need to realize that not everyone believes what you do. And your constant resorting to dogmatic rants is quite arrogant.
The only reason anyone would feel this way, is because they are not believers, and Satan is using them, to remove every vestige of the mention of God from this nation, while the multitude of believers look on in dismay.
All it took was one woman, with Satan on her side, to remove prayer from schools, in a few more years, if this trend continues, we will no longer be considered a Christian nation, we will be a secular nation, where the very mention of God will be a crime, if they can take it that far.
They believe by removing Gods stamp of authority, they will be in charge, and no longer accountable unto him.
Man in his rebellion is always trying to remove God from his consceinceness.
As far as I'm aware of there is no other currency that bears a reference to God. I may be wrong and if I am so be it. However, the phrase, "In God we trust" makes a firm reference to the Almighty. Governmental officials decided to honour God by placing that particular phrase on the green back. In a non theistic world it might have read, "God is dead" or "God doesn't care" or any other debasing remarks. BUT they didn't. They decided, amidst protests, that it would be best for the country. I would understand that many people feel that God is being thrust on them, but truthfully there are many so called Christians who don't trust in God either.
Filletofspam,
I disagree with your statement "Loyalty pledges have no place in a free society."
It is because of the sacrifice of our forefathers' time, talents, monies, and even lives, that WE have a free society. It is one of the burdens of a free society that its young people be brought up respecting what has gone before and be willing to protect the nation wherein they enjoy so many freedoms.
Hooch,
Our constitution guarantees EACH of us the right to freedom of and FROM religious influence by governmental mandate. God, in our pledge or on our money, is a governmental imposition that violates our constitutional rights.
You do realize, hooch, it was Thomas Jefferson (second president of the United States) that penned the "religious freedom act"...which guaranteed people freedom to worship (or not) as they chose, as he stood vehemently against "tyranny of the mind"...
...given that he was one of the founders of the country, it's a bit much to expect people would forget it's one of the pillars of the United States as a culture :)
Logically, freedom of religion includes freedom to have none, as it does include freedom from having any religion forced on you. That's what Thomas Jefferson referred to as the "tyranny of the mind".
When we all ratified the U.S. Constitution, we agreed that the government would be neutral on religion so that we could all be free. Government has broken its promise on the pledge and the money. It has nothing to do with Satan or disbelief or ill will. It has everything to do with us remaining a free society for all types of people - Christians of all stripes, Jews, Muslims, atheists, etc. All of us bound together under the Constitution as one. I am angry that the government bowed to political and religious pressure to break their oath. I'm deeply saddened to see that many don't understand why it's so important.
probably because you're taking their freedom of choice away from them. if you don't believe in 'god' as such, and believe in 'allah' or 'buddha' or some other religious symbolic figure, then by 'god' being in their pledge and on the money they earn, it actually seems like the biggest breach of freedom of speech I've ever heard!
surely, if you do pledge, you should believe in god, or your not truly believing in what your saying, and the sincerity of it?
equality and diverstiy is encouraged, and most of all respect for peoples religions... doesn't sound very 'equel' to me!
Hmm. But kevinmm makes a good case to show that Christians have, and should retain, freedom of speech, and he's not a Christian. I agree that it's silly, and oversensitive, to avoid words like Christmas. But you will find a lot of well-informed Americans rushing to tell you that the Founding Fathers of the American Constitution did not all have a Christian faith and in fact were careful to avoid mention of God in the foundation of the USA. I just thought I'd get in that fact as a Christian European ('a person living in a foreign country'!) before anyone else does.
The red scare 1950's was when our national motto was changed from the inclusive "e pluribus unum" to the exclusive "In God We Trust." That was also when "one nation under God" was added to the pledge.
I think we should change our motto back to the Latin one and I think the Pledge of Alegiance should be retired. If the Boy Scouts or other junior paramilitary groups want to pledge their love of a piece of cloth than that is fine; it is part of their indoctrination. Loyalty pledges have no place in a free society.
We who are against the GOVERNMENT putting "God" in the pledge or on the money are NOT against anyone exercising their right to practice their own religion or lack of religion.
We ARE against the GOVERNMENT implementing a religious belief in its actions. THAT is what is against the Constitution and is an infringement on our right to be free from government sponsored religious belief.
And, just for the record, I'm a Deist, so I do believe in God.
There are definitely good influences in our lives and evil influences - if there's anything evil does not want man to hear or consider, it's influence / it's teaching / the mere mention of His name / most of all, the praise and recognition given God - man by nature is uncomfortable with these because deep in his/here heart of hearts, man knows right from wrong / truth.
amblessed, good and evil, as you put it, are not homogenous, cognitive thinking entities. Neither can want something. Do you not understand that statements like this are highly insulting to non-believers. Because we don't want to be innudated with religious dogma from our government, as our constitution garantees, we are evil? That is the height of arrogance.
The last time I checked 'God' was not the name of any god. Do you not know the name of your god?
