Who's Really Being Unconstitutional?

"The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals." That doesn't sound like force to me. No religion has been mentioned. No god, by name, has been mentioned. No one is required to pray. You are right that our nation was founded by people who were escaping religious persecution and church run states. That is why the first amendment is worded as it is. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." The atheist from the church of "Freedom From Religion Foundation" are trying, through the courts, to prohibit the free exercise of other religions by forcing their religion on our nation. You may not agree that atheism is a religion, but going by the definition of religion, it is. I'm glad you are not bothered by the National Day of Prayer. Does the establishment of the atheist religion through the federal courts bother you?

Best, I have worked for family businesses for over 10 years, and I can tell you that their religion has been forced on me. I am not religious myself, and I just explain that to people. All of my employers have been understand of this, and haven't look differently at me because of this. However, I do know of people, and companies that do, and that is wrong. The problem with acknowledging all religions is that some contradict others, and people get crazy over religion. That is why I think we should change the constitution to state that there is, and should be a separation of church and state. I don't agree with an atheist religion, but I do agree that the government shouldn't support one religion over another, even though we all know it does.

I don't believe there should be a national day of prayer. The athiests do no pray, so their beliefs to not believe are being neglected by having a prayer day forced on them.

"The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals." The above is what the bill for the National Day of Prayer says. Do you see the word, "may"? Where is the force? The atheist may not pray to a deity, but what makes you think they don't pray?

"Not everyone believes in God. So, I disagree with you." I'm not quite sure to what you are disagreeing. If you are disagreeing that this Foundation is not a religion, go back to my original post to read the definition of religion. It doesn't have to be belief in a deity. It can be a set of strongly held beliefs or an attitude that somebody lives by. It can also be a cause. The Freedom From Religion Foundation's belief is atheism. Their cause is to educate the public on matters relating to atheism, agnosticism and non theism. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ." Through the federal courts, the Freedom From Religion Foundation is trying to prohibit the free exercise of all other religions while establishing their religion. What they are doing is unconstitutional.

Do you mean like, "luck be a lady" a prayer to lady luck? "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." What religion is being establish on the National Day of Prayer? To what god are we being forced to pray? The only religion that I can see being established is the atheist religion. They are trying to force their principles on the rest of us.

Atheism is a faith, a faith in what? Proselytizing like intelligence designers trying to get their religion masquerading as a science into biology text books. As to the Universal Studio not closing down for a single holiday, that tells me the customers wanted to spend their money on a holiday. It wasn't like Universal was forcing anyone to come into their establishment.

Yeah, you just have to be careful with some of those people. I worked one Christmas when a family screamed at my friend for inviting them to watch the Christmas show. They accused him of trying to convert them (they were Jehovah's Witnesses). The funny side note was that my friend who told them about the Christmas show was Jewish.

Taskr, I'm glad you understand what I was saying. I put down two definitions of religion in hopes that readers would understand. Atheist are trying to force their religion on our nation. It's a shame there are federal judges who are helping them to break the law. Gewcew, faith is not mentioned in the first amendment, religion is. Atheism is a religion and the atheist are trying to force their religion on us all.

"If it's only for Christians, how did other religions get the idea the Day was also for them? " For the same reason people who aren't Christian celebrate Christmas? It's about inclusion, but people's perception of the day isn't going to be the focal point. It will be the text that's debated, as it should be.

"Atheist group sues Bush over National Day of Prayer - The Freedom From Religion Foundation sued Friday in U.S. district court, arguing that the president's mandated proclamations calling on Americans to pray violates a constitutional ban on government officials endorsing religion. "The day of prayer, held each year on the first Thursday of May, creates a 'hostile environment for nonbelievers, who are made to feel as if they are political outsiders,' the lawsuit said." Posted 10/6/2008 USA Today THE PLURALISM PROJECT At Harvard University America's National Day of Prayer (2006) "Interfaith Celebrations of the National Day of Prayer in 2005 - In response to this call, many groups have organized public gatherings. Several of these have been notable for their inclusion of many faiths. In Oklahoma City, 150 people attended a ceremony outside the Capitol building, including Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Pagan, and atheist leaders. Attendees spoke on the virtues of religious freedom and tolerance; Stephanie Urquhardt of the Military Pagan Network remarked, “This is how we create a world of beneficence and creativity.” "Two different visions of religious America collide on the National Day of Prayer. One reflects a vision of America as solely a Christian country, and supports a politicized version of conservative evangelical Christianity. This religious America is founded on these Christian prayers, and seeks to strengthen the nation through emphasizing one version of its majority faith. The other vision of America recognizes that our religious landscape contains far more than a single interpretation of Christianity, and that this diversity is in itself a strength. At these events, people are not asked to set aside their different faiths, but rather to draw on each one’s beliefs, bringing all the varied prayers for compassion, peace, and dreams of a better world together. The National Day of Prayer Task Force is correct that 'a particular expression of [the National Day of Prayer] can be defined by those who choose to organize it.' The freedom of every group to gather and pray publicly must be upheld; to do otherwise is to deny the freedom of free exercise of religion in America. The organizers of a National Day of Prayer event are free to hold a ceremony that does not contradict their beliefs." The law suit declares the National Day of Prayer creates a hostile environment, but in Oklahoma City in 2005, atheist participated in the celebration. Seems to me the law suit is based on a lie. There are also a number of other religions participating. If it's only for Christians, how did other religions get the idea the Day was also for them?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." "The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the establishment of a national religion by the Congress or the preference of one religion over another, non-religion over religion, or religion over non-religion." Wikipedia The National Day of Prayer doesn't establish a religion, but if the atheist get their way, the federal courts will be promoting atheism over other religions. http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45874

I don't think the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. The word, "may," says we can pray if we like or not pray if we don't wish to.