US Government and Religion
By foxyfire33
@foxyfire33 (10005)
United States
February 9, 2007 8:28am CST
Our Constitution gives "freedom of religion". We have laws preventing religion and government from being intertwined. ie: no school prayer, public buildings such as court houses cannot display Christian symbols such as Nativity scenes or the 10 Commandments, schools can not teach the creation theory. At the same time our money displays "in God we trust, the Bible is used during swearing in ceremonies, and we even have laws that seem to support Biblical teaching more than what has become the social norm. ie prohibition of gay marriage. Our Pledge of Allegience states "one nation under God"
What do you feel "freedom of religion" really means? Is it that we are free to practice any or no religion without fear of persecution? Or does it mean that we as a country are free FROM religion, meaning no trace of any religion should be found anywhere but houses of worship. If you are of a religion other than Christianity does it bother you to use the name of God? If you are Christian, are you bothered that many people want God to be removed from so many things?
2 people like this
2 responses
@kelly60 (4546)
• United States
6 Apr 07
When this country came to be, it was based on several things including the freedom of religion. Our government has been taking away one freedom after the other over the years. We have lost many of our rights and our freedoms to this government. I think that the government has overstepped its bounds. I feel that they should step back and Return the freedom to the people.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
7 Apr 07
I agree that it has overstepped its bounds on many occasions. I also think they need to back to how it was and was intended to be. Now that's not to say we should be prejudiced and closed minded either. This country once welcomed immigrants from all over and those same immigrants wanted to "become" American. That's what we need to get back to.
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
7 Apr 07
I think that freedom of religion means that you have the right to practice whatever religion you choose to or to have no religion at all without the fear of persecution. Since the word "God" means different things to different people...I see no harm in the word as it is used to describe a "greater being" of whatever kind. I agree that if indeed we are to be seperate (church and state) then we do have a lot of things that would need to change in order to abide by that way of thinking. However, we are a nation that makes "broad statements that are supposed to fit thgough narrow passages". Our society and government have always been selective when picking what they consider right and wrong AND it can change if the right people want it to, not always for the better of this country.
