So lately I keep seeing posts on facebook about God in schools. People seem to think that Christians should have the freedom to pray in schools and teach religion in our classrooms. Most schools no longer say the Pledge of Allegiance because it says "under God." There is so much outrage because of the lack of "freedom" for Christians. This annoys me so much because they do not care about the freedom of non theists! Should my freedom be taken away to not have to listens to teachers preach in my classroom. I agree that we should say the Pledge of Allegiance but AFTER we return it to its originality without "under God." Recently there was a post for a boycott against Pepsi's new cans that have the Pledge of Allegiance but do not include "under God." I am thankful for Pepsi's choice on this matter and think it is ridiculous for people to boycott this. It's not like us atheists would stop buying Pepsi if it did say "under God." Religion does not belong in our state, whether it is our schools or the Pepsi can on the shelf. Why is it that it seems to only matters that Christians get their freedom to have God in our state but it does not matter that we atheists should have the freedom not to have God shoved down our throats?

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Comment by Earther on January 7, 2013 at 9:25pm

Okay, I am back from Hobby Lobby research.  My question is, what if religion chose to reject any intervention of "God's will" and disallowed any type of medicine?  Would their be no health care for anyone?  If there were a drug that conjured up imagery of Jesus would they allow that?  This debate is another example of bullying the government to get power in the social areas of the public opinion to encourage  more religion.  Evidence based science will always be challenged by the nonevidence  based psychology of religious competiton to secure its future with money for its cause.

Comment by Earther on January 7, 2013 at 7:54pm

I need to research the Hobby Lobby, never heard of it.  I agree with a person's right to supporting home, place, respect of others.  I just do not think it should be a drill as it is today.  Teaching allows for skeptic thought, drills overshadow personal thought.

Comment by ♥Music4life♥ on January 6, 2013 at 11:28pm

There is no problem with wanting to support your country. And I just had a debate with one of my friends about the Hobby Lobby thing! Something about killing babies...yadda yadda... The whole issue is ridiculously blown out of proportion.

Comment by roland707 on January 6, 2013 at 11:04pm

People on my FB are now wanting to boycott US coins. Apparently they don't realize "in god we trust" is stamped on the side. Stupid. I like the new "tragic Hobby Lobby" story, too. haha

Comment by Earther on January 6, 2013 at 8:59pm

There should be no pledge at all.  School is about servicing students to knowledge and skills to develop a psychology of their own in preparation to living responsibly in the world.  Ideology is not a good motivator for learning.

Comment by James Kz on January 5, 2013 at 10:24pm

Cute test for Christian friends: ask them to recite the original pledge, the one not altered as an anti-communist stunt. It did not include "under God."

As originally written by Frances Bellamy (a Baptist minister) and adopted by Congress it was:

I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Bonus question: ask them what the original salute for the pledge was. Hint: look up Bellamy Salute on Wikipedia and note the picture of students in an elementary classroom offering the salute while reciting the pledge. You will find similarities there . . .

Comment by James Kz on January 5, 2013 at 10:19pm

The issue of Pepsi coming out with the supposed patriotic can is bogus: see Snopes at http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/undergod.asp - of note it was debunked in 2002.

Christianity thrives on martyrdom. When they don't have martyrs, they must make their own (even if they have to lie about others to do it).

My understanding about "truth" is that it never needs to be defended with a lie. If Christians can only support what they believe by lying about what others believe or do, their faith is already bankrupt.

To quote Orson Scott Card (a Mormon): And when their children come home from school one day, they will say, "Today I learned what evolution really is. And you lied to me.

"And if you lied to me about that, what else did you lie to me about? Did you lie to me about Jesus? About sin and forgiveness and repentance? Was it all lies? Why should I ever believe you again?

"And if you can only support what you believe by lying about what others believe, your faith is bankrupt. The best and brightest of your children will not follow you. Yours is the last generation."

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