UNDER GOD!

Published on September 14, 2005 By ----- In Religion

With the ruling recently that the words "Under God" in the pledge of allegiance, are unconstitutional, it makes you think whether the founding fathers are spinning in their graves. The first amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

-Well you know what, in essence, the judge's ruling violates the free exercising there of. Right? Our nation was established by religious people.

A Table of the Religious Affiliations of American Founders

Signer State Doc. Office Affiliation (Ref.)

Adams, Andrew CT A CO(l)
Adams, John MA D President CO(b)UN(a)
Adams, Samuel MA D/A CO(
Adams, Thomas VA A
Banister, John VA A
Baldwin, Abraham GA C CO(j,k)PR(n)
Bartlett, Josiah NH D/A CO(
Bassett, Richard DE C ME(g,j,m,n)
Bedford, Gunning, Jun. DE C PR(j,m)
Blair, John VA C Justice PR(a)EP(n)
Blount, William NC C EP(n)PR(f,j)
Braxton, Carter VA D
Brearly, David NJ C EP(n)
Broom, Jacob DE C QU(n)EP(m)
Butler, Pierce SC C EP(j,m)
Carroll, Charles MD D RC(d)
Carroll, Daniel MD A/C RC(d,j,n)
Chase, Samuel MD D Justice EP(a)
Clark, Abraham NJ D PR(c,e)
Clingan, William PA A
Collins, John RI A Governor
Clymer, George PA D/C QU(j,n),EP(j)
Dana, Francis MA A
Dayton, Jonothan NJ C PR(n)EP(j)
Dickenson, John DE A/C QU(j,m,n)EP(j)
Drayton, William Henry SC A
Duane, James NY A EP(l)
Duer, William NY A
Ellery, William RI(A)MA(D) D/A CO(
Few, William GA C ME(j,k,n)
Fitzsimons, Thomas PA C RC(j,n)
(variant spellings: Fitzsimmons, Fitz-Simons)
Floyd, William NY D PR(c,e)
Franklin, Benjamin PA D/C EP(n)DE(j)
Gerry, Elbridge MA D/A EP(j)
Gilman, Nicholas NH C CO(j,n)
Gorham, Nathaniel MA C CO(j,n)
Gwynnett, Button SC D EP(k,o)
Hall, Lyman SC D CO(b,k)
Hamilton, Alexander NY C EP(j,n)
Hancock, John MA A/D CO(
Hanson, John MD A
Harnett, Cornelious NC A EP(f)DE(f)
Harrison, Benjamin VA D Governor
Hart, John NJ D PR(c)
Harvie, John VA A
Hewes, Joseph NC D EP?(f)
Heyward, Thomas SC A
Heyward, Thomas, Jr. SC D
Holton, Samuel MA A
Hooper, William NC D EP(f)
Hopkins, Stephen RI D
Hopkinson, Francis NJ D Ep(l)
Hosmer, Titus CT D
Huntington, Samuel CT D/A CO(
Hutson, Richard SC A PR(l)
Ingersoll, Jared PA C PR(j,n)
Jefferson, Thomas VA D President DE(a)
Jennifer, Dan oF St. Thomas MD C EP(j,n)
Johnson, Wm. Saml. CT C Justice PR(a)EP(j,n)
King, Rufas MA C EP(j)CO(n)
Langdon, John NH C CO(j,n)
Langworthy, Edward GA A EP(o)
Laurens, Henry SC A HU(l)
Lee, Henry Lightfoot VA D/A
Lee, Richard Henry VA D/A Senator
Lewis, Francis NY D/A
Livingston, Phil. NY D P(c)
Livingston, Wil. NJ C PR(j,n)
Lovell, James MA A
Lynch, Thomas Junr. SC D
Madison, James Jr. VA C President EP(a,j,n)TH(i)
Marchant, Henry RI A
Mathews, John SC A
McHenry, James MD C PR(j,n)
Middleton, Arthur SC D
Miflin, Thomas PA C QU(n)LU(j)
M'Kean, Thomas DE D/A PR(m)
Morris, Gouv. NY(A)PA(C) A/C EP(j)DE(i,n)
Morris, Lewis NY D
Morris, Robert PA D/A/C EP(j,n)
Morton, John PA D
Nelson, Thomas Jr. VA D
Paca, William MD D
Paine, Robert Treat MA D CO(
Paterson, William NJ C Justice PT(a)PR(j,n)
Penn, John NC D/A UK(f)
Pinckney, Charles SC C EP(j,n)
Pinckney, Chas. Cotesworth SC C EP(j,n)
Read, George DE D/C EP(j,m,n)
Reed, Joseph PA A
Roberdeau, Daniel PA A
Rodney, Caesar DE D EP(m)
Ross, George PA D
Rush, Benjamin PA D PR(c,e)UN
Rutledge, Edward SC D Justice CE(a)
Rutledge, J. SC C EP(j,n)
Scudder, Nathaniel NJ A
Sherman, Roger CT D/A/C CO(b,j,n)
Smith, James PA D PR(c,e)
Smith, Jona. Bayard PA A
Spaight, Richard Dobbs NC C EP(f,j,n)
Stockton, Richard NJ D PR(c,e)
Stone, Thomas MD D
Taylor, George PA D PR(c,e)
Telfair, Edward GA A
Thornton, Matthew NH D PR(c,e)
Van Dyke, Nicholas DE A EP(m)
Walton, George GA D AN(o)
Walton, Jno. GA A
Washington, George VA C President EP(a,j,n)TH(i)
Wentworth, John Junr. NH A
Whipple, William NH D CO(
Williams, Jonothan NC A UK(f)
Williams, William CT D CO(
Williamson, Hu NC C PR(f,n)DE(j)
Wilson, James PA D/C Ch. Justice* EP(a)PR(e,n)DE(j)
Witherspoon, Jonothan NJ D/A Minister PR(c)(e)
Wolcott, Oliver CT D/A CO(
Wythe, George VA D EP(j)

______________________________________________________________________________

DOCUMENT

A = Articles of Confederation
D = Declaration of Independence
C = United States Constitution

AFFILIATION

CE = Church of England
CO = Congregationalist
DE = Deist
EP = Episcopalian
HU = Huguanot
LU = Lutheran
ME = Methodist
QU = Quaker
PR = Presbyterian
PT = Protestant
RC = Roman Catholic
TH = Theist
UK = Unknown
UN = Unitarian

-As you see, several of the signers of the declaration of independence, and constitution proclaimed a religious affiliation. Those who arn't shown, are they atheist? Perhaps. Did they flaunt it around, demanding their way? No. They respected other peoples rights, they knew: "Oh geez, if i don't want to believe that way, i don't have to."

Now, i believe whole heartedly in a persons rights, but (and a big but ) one must take in their rights in moderation and with responsibility, such flaunting of ones rights begins to erode what meaning they have.

Atheists do not have to say the pledge, its within their rights, they are not going to be lined up and shot. I'm sure some people might want to do so after this. (Not me, i'm just 'annoyed')

So the argument that “its against their rights” is a pile of poo. They have the right to excuse their child, or themselves from the area in which a “violation” of their rights is occurring.

Essentially, they are violating others rights.

Link

Comments (Page 2)

ParaTed2k

on Sep 15, 2005

I guess the Constitution itself should be ruled "unconstitutional" since it makes a specific reference to Jesus Christ.

For that matter no teacher should ever use the year 2005... being based on "the year of our Lord"....

Or is it really just the fact that Newdow likes the limelight. ;~D

-----

on Sep 15, 2005

The words, Under God was not added until 1945.

-Looking back i think i should have re-worded some things, this was a reactionary article...

Believe it or not, that does happen. My daughter refused to recite the words 'Under God' and got sent to the principal's office. I had to go and stand up for her decision and argue her case with the school.

-And thats your right as a parent and hers as an american... (Unless you as a parent tell her she has to, don't know how you parent and don't want to get into that.)

What kind of a message is that sending to the child and the other students? Why should that child have to leave? why can't they just pledge alleigance to their country and leave the 'under god' part out?

-Thats my point, they have options/paths to solve the problem other than a (from what i read of mr. nedow) "crusade", but apparently mr. nedow isn't that reasonable...

Anyway...

(Oh, Karen, btw, hope you weren't insulted by my last email, was a bit blunt was just kinda...put off...i guess...)

-----

on Sep 15, 2005

Also, a thinkg to look at is Mr. Nedow's attitude towards religion (according to a NY Times Article):

The man who brought this court challenge, Michael Newdow, aims "to ferret out all insidious uses of religion in daily life," according to the New York Times. "Why should I be made to feel like an outsider?" he asked. The Court of Appeals in San Francisco agreed that the words "under God" sent "a message to unbelievers that they are outsiders, not full members of the political community."

Link

-What does this say of Mr. Nedow? Is he really being violated? Or is he, in his crusade, being narrow minded and stubborn?

bakerstreet

on Sep 15, 2005

It doesn't matter what you think of Nedow. The fact is the statement "under God" and "In God We Trust" were enacted to create a national identity opposite of that of the atheistic Soviet Union. If the founding fathers had felt something like this was necessary or even preferable, they would have done it themselves.

I think the founding fathers were spinning nicely during the 1950's when America suffered the witch hunts of McCarthyists. I think they would spin to think of us imposing a national religious identity as a knee jerk reaction to another nation that did the same.

James

on Sep 16, 2005

You are correct, The words UNDER GOD were not added in 1945 but 1954. I put the wrong year. NEVERTHELESS, the real issue here is the fact that we are allowing the foundation of the U.S.A. to be taken from under us by those who have nothing better to do than to wage war on the Christian beliefs on which this country was founded. All I want to know is, from those who claim that there is No God, if that be true, Whay are they fighting against Him so hard? You are a fool to fight against something that you say is not real!!!!!!!

James

on Sep 16, 2005

bakerstreet

on Sep 16, 2005

"I put the wrong year. NEVERTHELESS, the real issue here is the fact that we are allowing the foundation of the U.S.A. to be taken from under us by those who have nothing better to do than to wage war on the Christian beliefs on which this country was founded."

The 1954 thing seems to be evading you. This has nothing to do with how the nation was founded, rather it is about a bunch of hateful McCarthyists who loved to witchhunt and blacklist, and who decided that we had better establish a national religious identity to set ourselves apart from 'godless Soviets'.

People yap and whine about Pat Robertson now, but they'd gag if they had to deal with the kind of people who spearheaded the changes that were made in the 1950's. Lives were ruined by rumor. People were persecuted and destroyed because of their religious or political beliefs.

If you want to call that the "Christian beliefs on which this country was founded", you have an odd idea of Christian beliefs.

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