To all athiests.....can you answer this?

Question

Whats the big deal about prayer at sporting events or schools or even saying under god in the pledge of allegiance?

If you dont believe in god, then why be bothered while us "nutcases" say a few words of prayer to ourselves? I don't see the big deal...we're not asking you to be baptized along with us...

This is a serious question and i am not having an attitude or anything, i really want to know the opposite end of the spectrum.

Some say seperation of church and state... but why? Tell me more...

ANTI CHIRST....obviously you didnt read or comprehend my question at all.....

Answer 1

do all of you not realize that ancestors before us, when that pledge was written, was what they believed in at the time...GOD! so if you don't believe in God..thats fine, but for not supporting our country and destroying precious pledges like that and ruining history is not acceptable!

Answer 2

"If you dont believe in god, then why be bothered while us "nutcases" say a few words of prayer to ourselves?"

You're exactly right. That's NOT a problem. If you want to pray privately, then go ahead. But the thing that a lot of people want is organized, teacher-led prayer, and that's what we're against... for the obvious reason that there may be many non-Christians in the room.

The "under God" part of the pledge is a little different, though. Let me say first of all that I don't really care that it's in there. It doesn't affect my life and I don't sit up at night worrying about it or anything like that. But I still think it's out of place. "One nation under God" implies that if you don't believe in God, you somehow don't belong in this country. It might not be a big deal to you, but that's the message that it sends to me. This is one nation regardless of what god or gods we worship. Again, it doesn't affect me personally, but I look at those words and just think to myself... why do they have to be there? Why add words that deliberately exclude people?

Answer 3

You are right. In places like sports events hosted by private businesses, the sponsors can do whatever they want. I (as an atheist) just stand for respect and observe. It does not bother me at all. In theory, I shouldn't even have to stand, but hey, we should all respect each other, no matter how silly one think the others are, correct? and we all have to share this planet.

I actaully don't think religions are silly or unnecesary. I might not understand or share your belief but I am perfectly willing to give you some of my time so you can practice your belief. Besides, I do plenty of things where others think I'm completely nuts.

The problem is, when a public entities such as school does this, it is endorsing practice of one particular religion. If they do one, why not others. Buddhism chants? Hindu statements? Muslim prayers? Why one over the other?

The answer is, because it is the most common and popular one. Why then, is this right, when all laws that we have states the government should have no preference over one religion or another?

It's not the separation of religion and the state. It's preference of one over all others.

I do agree with you on one thing. It should not be such a big deal on both sides. I draw a line where I will happily observe others to do whatever they want, PROVIDED they don't force me to do the same.

This all or nothing mentality got to stop. Most of today's world's ill has been started by "you don't believe the same god I do" mentality or variations of which.... You do see it, correct?

Answer 4

Because public prayer at a football game is the same pompeous attitude that your asking about in this question.

When asked "Why do you have to publically prayer at a football game" I have gotten the response "If you dont like it dont go to the game"

I also wonder if in prayer you and yours were interupted by a few prayers to "Allah" or some other God...would you accpet this....meaning a public prayer to another diety?
If I wanted to pray to the flying spaghetti monster would that be ok and again publically pray. Why should I have to do it silently while a bunch of others are speaking thiers out loud...this is obviously distracting...so theres no respect for anything different. Its rude and shows intolerance.

To me its not really the prayer I have a problem with yet the audacity of making it so public and then when questioned I am told "if you dont like it just leave"

A moment of silence allows everyone to pray to whatever they want.

Answer 5

As an unconfirmed Athiest, i really don't have any problems with having prayers and God mentioned during the Pledge and in other situations but what gets me is why all the religions and whatnot for only one apparent God? I mean, I think I'n more of a realist than an athiest, but hey, most times I go along to get along, so good question, and I hope i helped enlighten you a little bit. As for separation, try telling that to the people who run the show, and you'll soon find that they are viciously intertwined. Ciao

Answer 6

Sure, you can say a few prayers, then the muslims (make room for their rugs), how about the Hindus doing a little sitar next, and then we can have some Buddhists HUMMMING away. We could have some American Indians doing some peyote and run around tripping, and of course the grand finish of some Satanist lying inside a big upsidedown star and finish the whole thing off with some Voodoo chicken sacrifices.
Or we all can just sing the National Anthem and watch the ballgame.

Answer 7

The doctrine of separation of church and state relates, in part, to religious observances at government-sponsored business or gathering.

I don't mind if you pray. I mind if prayer becomes a part of school, or a public sporting event, or a government-created pledge.

Would you be offended if the pledge said "under Allah?" Or if there was a public prayer from an imam and everybody got down on a prayer rug?

add: Wisesayer above is incorrect. It was added by President Eisenhower.

Answer 8

Well let's say it was the other way around for the pledge bit. Let's say atheists are the majority. How would you feel about a pledge that ended "One godless nation with liberty and justice for all." Or if we were a majority Muslim nation. "One nation, under Allah, with liberty and justice for all." I don't know if this would bother you personally, but hopeefully it's at least a little more understandable.

As for the schools, schools are places where impressionable kids go to learn. You may say that prayer isn't forced on them, but if a kid is surrounded by not only other students but teachers, role models, praying, how are they supposed to feel comfortable not participating? Especially when now all the other kids know exactly who they can taunt about going to hell.

Answer 9

I'm not an atheist but im willing to answer this question. It is by law mandatory for people to stand during the pledge of allegiance, im not sure what they do if your not following this rule, but the main reason people dont stand is because they dont believe in god. This country was built on the "idea" of freedom of religion. but pretty much anyone you ask will say this is a christian country. If this were to be an equal relious country than you would either have to say one nation, under god/yahweh/buddah/ zeus/no one....etc... or you would just take that phrase out which would sound easier. Now let me reverse your question, would it really offend you if they took one word out of the pledge?

Answer 10

prayer in school is more, the classroom saying a prayer before they go to the lunch room. It's your right to say a prayer before you eat, but it's not MANDATORY.

To allow a classroom to say a prayer together is...choosing one religion over the other. And because of separation of church and state, this cannot be. No bias, so no religion at all.

and you do realize that in the original pledge of allegiance, 'under god' was not in it.

Answer 11

I understand you're being respectful and genuinely puzzled.

I have kids. They feel marginalized because they don't believe like other kids. For real, my son can't join the boy scouts because of it. So, to put it in some perspective - try to put the shoe on the other foot.

Honestly, how would you feel if everyone knelt down and bowed toward Mecca before every game. You had a choice, pretend and go along with them or stand up and call attention to yourself? And every morning at school, your kids had to pay lip service to Allah while saying the pledge. The "under god" bit was only added during McCarthyism, during the Great American Communist Freakout. What's wrong with the way it was for 150 years? You can even see old Bing Crosby movies with no "under god" in there.

So, we don't see why you have to cram god into any of that stuff. Isn't it more polite to just make everybody welcome, than to have some people (not just atheists) feel ostrasized? Espeically kids - who really can't help having atheists parents .