Subject: Pledge, "under God", WWJD? |
Bible Note: Greetings Parable! There is quite a bit of debate about whether or not the pledge is constitutional. I happen to believe it is constitutional since the 'seperation' clause is not actually in the constitution. But, even if it is true that a law making 'under God' part of the pledge is unconsitutional, there is nothing in the constitution which would prohibit me from saying it, even in a public school. I am not a 'government', nor a law passed by the government, so I cannot violate the constitution by saying something religious, even in the public setting. The real debate should be whether or not the current understanding of the constitution is correct. The founders only included two provision about religion in the consititution. The state cannot establish a state religion, nor can it prohibit the free exercise of religion. The state has done plenty of the second by passing laws which limit my ability to worship when and where I please. As far as the first is concerned, this has been interpreted to mean that the state cannot even allow the mention of religion or God in a public or governmental setting. Yet, if this is what the founders intended, why is God mentioned in the preamble to the consititution? Why does congress open with prayer, including the first congress? Clearly, the founding fathers did not intend for the constitution to be interpreted in the manner it has been interpreted. They were concerned about the government coming in and saying that everyone had to be Church of England, or such. They were not concerned that God might actually be mentioned in public. So, if I as a private individual, say 'under God' even in a public school, which part of the constitution am I violating? ;-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |