Theists: Would you be happy if the U.S. government stopped endorsing religion?

Question

Currently the government endorses a general type of Christianity. This is like a teacher giving an athlete favortism in a class when the other students don't get any. The president speaks about his relationship with God in public speeches. God is on the money (put there by Lincoln). God is in the pledge (put there by Ford in 1953) There are religious overtones to much of the legislation taking place, such as stem cell research, abortion, gay marriage, and it obviously pervades into many areas. Would you be happy if the favortism stopped and everyone was equal, or are you the athlete? Can't you pass the class on your own?

Oops, which prez did put God in the pledge? (history shmistory)

Answer 1

Sorry, not a theist, but... I would LOVE it if they would stop endorsing religion.

George Bush senior said that he doesn't think atheists should be considered citizens of this country. God on money is, to a lot of people, an "eh" subject. They don't care enough and they don't know why anyone would make such a big deal about it. I don't think they realize that with every bill and coin printed or pressed, our OWN government is going AGAINST the constitutional "separation of church and state". If we allow ourselves to wallow in apathy, into what other murky religious waters will our government lead us?

Oh, I know that religion is being legislated into our secular law. You don't know how outraged that makes me. I really really don't care if someone wants to glue a thousand gold crosses together and wear it as a dress while proselytizing from their roof. I DO care that THEIR religious dogma is being used to sculpt the laws of my SECULAR land, the laws I have to obey as an American.

Forcing people to accept some particular idea or adhere to behavioral standards from someone else’s religion means that their religious freedom is being infringed upon. We DO have religious freedom in this country, or ideally we do. Realistically... Christianity has been allowed to run the show for far too long.

Answer 2

Not much. Unless the religions themselves can be exposed as fake to even the morons that refuse to look at the evidence, then they will continue to hold the majority of the votes, and therefore this will continue. Sure, atheists and theists agree on some things, but the majority of theists, especially in North America, oppose equality when it comes to things like homosexuality. So I also feel that it's a problem. Over in my country the Conservative Party (AKA Harper's gang) have been winning for a long time, and so the intolerant folks are the ones with the power. Thanks, religion.

Answer 3

Though we do not have a "State" religion we are quite one sided in the matter aren't we.

However, the over tones we speak of are not much of a bother as long as they are what they should be. Traditions that have been handed down to remind us of where we have been and give that feel good sensation about where we are headed. So as memoribilia is concerned, and despite being a fairly staunch atheist, I believe that God should stay on our money, in our pledge, and with anyone who chooses.

However, as a public official, the word should never come out of his mouth. If not for the simple fact that he no longer represents me and my minority, but that inciting the name of God is the type of things that Hitler, Constintine the Great, President Bush and the Iranian government does to justify "questionable" actions. Now I am not implying that GW is as bad as any of these characters but once "God" interferes with the rights of the people I have a serious problem with his believers.

Lincoln, although a racists by today's standards, freed the slaves, while the south said that God made the slaves subservient to his choosen people. Likewise in today's world we stifle the civil liberties of gays because of their "immorale" lifestyles and deny them their constitutional rights. If all men are created equal then doesn't that say enough.

Stem Cell research is a science. Science is a dirty word in most religions.

As an atheist I am a humanist and all life is precious, including the lives of those that don't share the same attitude. However I do support a woman's right to choose. Choose not to have sex and you will not get pregnant. That's how it words. Rape... well she did not choose to have sex now did she?

If the North and the West Coast (the most educated, densely populated, and most tolerant) refuse to have a voice, then the South and Mid-West (the most uneducated, non-cosmopolitian, bible thumpers (sounds like the middle east to me)) will be free to spread their hate and distain for all things different.

Answer 4

Yes, I would be happy.

I can see God coming out of the pledge, because originally there was no reference to God in the pledge. The Supreme Court's excuse is that all of these things (God on the money, etc) have been here for so long that it's "tradition," and would be too time-consuming to change it all now. I personally don't understand how they can be so lenient towards such an obvious blow to our Constitution's First Amendment.

So much for a separation between Church and State.

Answer 5

I think Id rather they didnt endorse any religion. There is a general type of Christianity as you say however, it makes other countries think we're a Christian nation that behaves VERY badly. Yes there is conflict in the country about gays, abortion, gun laws etc, however, these things (even though there are protests against them) are widely accepted. The president might claim to be Christian, but abortion is still legal in most states, we still have gay pride parades and a whole gay TV network so these things dont look as though they are unaccepted as a whole, thus, not making the country look Christian. And need I mention the HUGE amounts of greed and adultery? By the government claiming it is Christian and behaving this way makes everyone look bad.

Answer 6

Eisenhower was president in 1953. And England was NOT Catholic when the Pilgrims left. The last Catholic English monarch, "Bloody Mary" died in 1558. England has been officially Protestant since that date. It was fellow Protestants who persecuted the Pilgrims!

To get to the original question: You addressed this question to theists, so I probably should not answer, since I'm not one. But it would be WONDERFUL to get rid of the religious stranglehold this country has not yet been able to break! I am not asking that Christians be denied any rights, just that the rest of us have a right not to be second-class citizens.

Answer 7

The President in 1953 was NOT Ford. Read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Constitution states that the government may not establish a religion.
Hopefully you will study more history before making statements.

Answer 8

As a Buddhist, I would be quite happy if the US government stopped it's endorsement of Christianity as the unofficial national religion, but when it comes right down to it, I really don't care. They are, after all, simply playing to the masses in an attempt to sway voters. If the country was a majority Muslim, Jewish or Buddhist, you would see and hear different slogans on our money and in our songs. It's nothing more than a public relations gimmick.

Answer 9

I'm not a theist, but as a person who doesn't follow the hollow beliefs of christianity, I would be ecstatic if the government would keep god out of our politics. God has started more wars than anyone will ever admit.I for one don't think they should be endorsing or rejecting anything on behalf of the american population if they cannot separate their personal religous beliefs from their professional lives. And don't say that that is impossible, we do it every day when we deal with people we know for a fact don't believe the same things we do. Go to work and spout off about non-christians?I think not, same for the rest.We can't go to work and spout off every time a believer blesses us, or starts preaching to us. Like my Father used to say:"go to work and leave your personal baggage at home."

Answer 10

People usually acept what he is traditional habits. Treat it as trueth and reality. Their formal religious up to his own benefit will be the right and trueth, disregard others. These unequal concept occupied all his concept and mind. They don't know what is trueth and reality. It cause him painful and nerve and naive. The world turning this way, I cannot stop. I can only drift myself aside to avoid of damages.