Is Atheism taking christian rights away?

Question

Is it just me, or does it seem atheists are trying to take God out of everything? This country was founded by the Christian faith, now they are trying to take His name out of the Pledge of Allegiance.
This question is for serious christians, if you don't believe in God, or you just wanna get on here with dumb jokes about God just to be funny don't answer, if you don't like it, why even waste your time answering me?

Answer 1

God doesn't BELONG in certain places. Neither does any religious concept. Separation of church and state.... ever heard of it?

Answer 2

Andrew: I am sorry you are feeling persecuted. Perhaps you will feel better if you learn history and law in a sober, unbiased way. Specifically, the following facts:

1. The First Amendment entitles YOU to practice YOUR religion more or less without governmental interference. It does NOT, however, entitle you to live in an observant religious society. Contrary to your statement, the Founding Fathers specifically decided not to establish a state religion. You have a right to worship your God. You don't have a right to force ME to worship your God.

2. This country was not "founded by the Christian faith". This country was founded by people who, while mostly Christian and some even devout, were sick and tired of governments in Europe stuffing religion down people's throats.

3. The people who founded this country did not write the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892, more than 100 years after the American Revolution, and the words "under God" were added only in 1954.

Personally, I think that many religious displays that have been under attack since the 1960's are pretty innocuous. The attacks are also selective: the row over the Ten Commandments at a courthouse in Alabama was mostly about the fact that this was in Alabama. After all, a large statue of Moses holding the Tablets has been over the entrance to the Brooklyn courthouse for over 40 years, and no one complains about it -- I guess the unspoken consensus being that New Yorkers can be trusted to live and let live (but people in the Bible Belt cannot). My personal observations aside, however, you don't have any constitutionally protected right to have your belief endorsed by the government -- and you most certainly don't have a right to have the government force others to observe your religion.

Answer 3

Well, for starts, this country was NOT founded by the christian faith. That's one of the big lies you folks keep repeating. Secondly, the phrase "under god" has only been in the pledge since the fifties, during the famous red scare, to set our country apart from those evil commies, so what makes you think you have any sort of "right" to keep that phrase in? Where exactly is that in the constitution? Try to wrap your brain around this thought; this country belongs to ALL of us, not just you christians. The pledge, the money, the courthouses, all should reflect that fact.

Answer 4

Last time I checked, you can still practice whatever religion you want to. You can still pray whenever, where ever you want to. You can still say "Atheism and Islam and anything that isn't exactly the same as what I believe is stupid". You've got it pretty good, considering people in other countries are being killed for what they believe (or don't believe).

This country was founded on the idea that everyone in the country should be treated equally. Anyone who is concerned about his own place in this country should realize that religion needs to be kept out of the government. I don't care what you believe - at any given point in time, what you believe may suddenly become the minority belief, and then won't you be in trouble if all the laws of our country are adjusted for whatever the majority belief becomes.

Let's turn the tables for a second. Suppose in the next ten years Islam takes off in America, and LAWS start appearing....laws that actually prohibit you from doing something that is important for your Christian religion. Or laws that force you to behave in a way that goes against what you believe. That, to put it bluntly, would suck.

And so it goes that Atheists are just as concerned about the government taking on a Christian flavor as you should be about it taking on some other religious flavor. The only way to protect everyone from their own government is:
(a) grant everyone the right to practice whatever religion they choose to practice, without fear of punishment, and
(b) prohibit the government from promoting one religion over another.

And what do you know, that's exactly what our founding fathers did. It's a shame that Christians in high government positions are twisting the intent of our forefathers to push their beliefs on everyone in the country.

...And FYI: God wasn't in the original Pledge of Allegiance. He was added in later....

Answer 5

So, you think that by telling me I can't answer this question, that is going to make me stay away? Think again. Just want pats on the back from people who think JUST like you? This is not the right place for you.

I have not read a single answer given to you yet, but I can almost guarantee that someone has mentioned the Treaty of Tripoli, the fact "under God" was added to the pledge much after the founding of the nation, that "in God we trust" was added to paper and coined money long after the founding of the nation, that many of the founding fathers.. not the pilgrims, but the men who created our Declaration of Independence and Constitution.. were Deists, not Christians.

We are not taking ANYTHING from you. We are INSURING that this country, which exists for the good of ALL people, keeps its promises. Want to live in a theocracy? This is not the right country for you.

Answer 6

Sorry,, but you can't ask a question like that and expect the atheists keep their silence. Let's just take this a sentence at a time.

I find it interesting that you capitalize "Atheism" but not "christian."

The only place from which I have ever removed God or gods is from my own worldview.

The United States was founded by Christians, but not by the Christian Faith: there is a difference. I do not include "under God" in the Pledge, but have no objection to hearing others do so.

I answer you because some misconceptions and absurdities must be countered with intelligent discourse. With all due respect, there are only a few intelligent voices in this forum, and I happen to be one of them.

Answer 7

God was only added to the pledge of Allegiance since 1954. If the pedge started in the 1890s, then it's been out of the pledge just as long has it's been in it.

And since God wasn't mentioned first -- I suppose the question could be turned around to ask, "why are Christians trying to put God in everything?"

Answer 8

As a Christian there is nothing an Atheists could ever take away from me. I am saved and Nothing can ever snatch me from my Father's hand.

Having said that I am also an historian and the premises that this nation was founded on Christan beliefs is not exactly true. Most of the founding fathers were deist, who believed in an abstract God who created the universe and then left it to its own devices.

As Christians we hurt our own cause when we confuse politics and our faith. Could we as a political movement force our beliefs down the throats of every one else? Likely we could. But would that serve our mission of making disciples of all the world? Is a person who is forced into salvation truly saved?

Taking the words "Under God" out of the Pledge no more effects me then taking prayer out of a school. When I say the Pledge of Allegiance I am still free to say "Under God" and I am still free to pray in school.

Secular society can take God out of every part of secular society, but we have a first amendment and so we will always have our churches. We will always be able to stand as an example.

I would rather one person come to Christ because they see the way we live as Christians Then a thousand people say a pledge and not know what "under God" even means.

Answer 9

Jesus effin christ another ignorant christian rears its ugly head

help help i'm being persecuted.

listen kid this country was NOT founded on the christian faith GET OVER IT. And not everyone believes in God so if you are going to say "one nation under god" then you need to add EVERY single other entity out there in the P.o. A to make it fair. The only thing everyone can agree on is that this country was founded on freedom OF religion. sooo....we really shouldnt be promoting one OR any of them now should we?

Answer 10

This country was NOT founded on Christianity. It was founded by SECULARISTS. Men who believe that people could believe whatever they wanted to. Have you read a something called the "Declaration of Independence" Read it, in it you won't find the words "God", "Jesus" or "Christianity" because the author of this great document, Thomas Jefferson, a founding father was indeed, an Atheist. Shocking to believe that an Atheist could be the writer of something about freedom peace. And how much blood has been spilled in the name of God or Jesus?

Answer 11

I think it is opposite.
Although it was founded by Christian men...one of the big reasons why this country was founded was for freedom OF religion and freedom FROM religion. Everyone in America supposedly has a right to live without the influence of someone elses religion. I personally believe that God doesnt exist and that the thought of there being a spiritual being that rules over us human beings is preposterous. I plan on raising my children to know a little about the concept of religion, but for them to decide if they want to pursue a spiritual path on their own, when they are old enough to make reasonable decisions in their life. Therefore, making sure there is no religious influence in their PUBLICLY FUNDED, mandatory schooling is very important to me.
The fact that homosexual marriage is not allowed in the United States of America is totally absurd! The ONLY reason why it is not legal is because the majority of this country and its leaders happens to be Christian, and homosexuality is not accepted by Christianity. For people of a certain faith to deny someone else the freedom of legally uniting themself to their partner, the ultimate act of love, to deny them the right to have any participation in their partner's life in the case of finances, health insurance benefits, hospitalization situations and even denying them the right to have any say in their partner's death wishes is unfair and senseless.
As far as the Pledge of Allegiance issue, it does not bother me that "God" is mentioned. But you have to understand why it COULD bother some people. The existance God to an Atheist is like the existance of a leprechaun to a sane person. Which would equate "one nation, under God" to "one nation, under a big purple unicorn" It just doesnt sound credible to us.
Even in saying "this question is for serious Christians, if you dont believe in God...dont waste your time answering." you are being absolutely unfair, closed minded and totally one sided. You have to be open minded and realize that there are other people in this country who are being HINDERED by your faith and belief system because it still exists in our government...which was meant to be "for the people" not "for Christians only."