One Nation Under Buddha?

The pledge of allegiance is back in the news for having the words “under God” as a part of its makeup. This time, the case is being brought before the highest court in our land.

If you do a search on this web sight you will find that I have covered this topic on a few occasions. It seems that the time has come to cover this once again.

Before I get into it, let me first submit a few questions for you to think over. Please answer the following questions honestly to yourself.

1. Is the United States of America founded on the principles of freedom for all?

2. Does the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States say, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;...”?

3. Would you be offended if your children had to pledge their allegiance to our flag as one nation under Buddha?

If your answer was yes to these three questions, then you must surely see that having every child in school swear allegiance to our flag under God is not respecting everyone’s beliefs. How could you not?

I would rather change the pledge back to its previous form before it was forced to be changed by a religious group in 1954, so that all may pledge their allegiance without concern that they are also pledging allegiance to God.

You read that last paragraph correctly. The “under God” part of the pledge was only added in 1954. So all of you nut jobs that think it was something we have been saying since 1776 need to get a reality check.

I’ve heard Senator’s saying crap like, "Our Founding Fathers must be spinning in their graves. This is the worst kind of political correctness run amok, …" – Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri

As I have shown in previous articles, our founding fathers were not proponents of a government in which God was prominently a part. In fact, I recently found this interesting quote from a Baptist preacher who wrote about the proper relationship between church and government. John Leland (1754-1841) agreed with Thomas Jefferson’s and James Madison’s view on religion and the government. The following is an excerpt from a July 4th oration on July 5th 1802.

“. . . Disdain mean suspicion, but cherish manly jealousy; be always jealous of your liberty, your rights. Nip the first bud of intrusion on your constitution. Be not devoted to men; let measures be your object, and estimate men according to the measures they pursue. Never promote men who seek after a state-established religion; it is spiritual tyranny--the worst of despotism. It is turnpiking the way to heaven by human law, in order to establish ministerial gates to collect toll. It converts religion into a principle of state policy, and the gospel into merchandise. Heaven forbids the bans of marriage between church and state; their embraces therefore, must be unlawful. Guard against those men who make a great noise about religion, in choosing representatives. It is electioneering. If they knew the nature and worth of religion, they would not debauch it to such shameful purposes. If pure religion is the criterion to denominate candidates, those who make a noise about it must be rejected; for their wrangle about it, proves that they are void of it. Let honesty, talents and quick dispatch, characterize the men of your choice. Such men will have a sympathy with their constituents, and will be willing to come to the light, that their deeds may be examined. . . .”

This is just one of many such views on the same subject. Our founding fathers fled religious persecution in England. Heck, many of our immigrants from the time this country was founded have arrived here for the very same reason. Religious freedom! This same reason is what continues to draw many people to this country.

Now, suddenly, Christians think they own this country, and its laws, and scream holy hell if someone tries to level the playing field. The fact is you zealots, you don’t own this country, or its laws, or the rest of us who live here and don’t believe as you do.

As I have said in the past, it’s the religious freedom that we are fighting for that will ensure that Christians will also be allowed to practice their religion unmolested however they choose. But when you start trying to shove it down the throats of people who do not believe as you do, then you cease to be good examples of your faith, and instead show the ugliness of humanity that people gather in spiritual groups to avoid.

I welcome your comments, and better yet, meet me in the forums and we can discuss your views if they conflict with mine. I welcome an opportunity to discuss this matter further.

A large part of living in this world in peace comes from the end of our pledge, which states, “indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”